Marcus Dixon
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Marcus Dwayne Dixon (born September 16, 1984) is an American football coach and a former player who is the defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played in the NFL as a defensive end.
Dixon played college football for the Hampton Pirates. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He also played for the New York Jets.
Dixon is also known for a 2003 court case in which, whilst still at high school, he was convicted of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. The latter charge was later overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court.<ref name="2003-06-02 AJC">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Early life
Dixon was a grade A student and excelled on the football field to the point where he had been offered a full scholarship at Vanderbilt University, which he was unable to undertake due to his subsequent imprisonment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
College career
Upon his release from prison, Dixon accepted a football scholarship from Division I-AA Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
In 2010, Dixon saw limited playing time during preseason. He was released on September 4, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
New York Jets
On September 5, 2010, Dixon was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
An exclusive rights free agent, Dixon was signed to a one-year contract on January 26, 2011.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Dixon was released on September 1, 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was re-signed to the active roster on September 4.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He appeared in 3 games, before being released on September 24.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Kansas City Chiefs
On February 9, 2013, Dixon was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was cut on August 31.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tennessee Titans
On January 3, 2014, Dixon was signed to a futures contract with the Tennessee Titans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was released during final cuts on August 29.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
BC Lions
On October 20, 2014, Dixon was signed to the BC Lions practice roster in the Canadian Football League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He made his CFL debut in the final game of the regular season against the Calgary Stampeders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was re-signed on March 2, 2015. He retired on April 30, 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Coaching career
Rams
The Los Angeles Rams hired Dixon as their assistant defensive line coach on February 23, 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Dixon won his first Super Bowl championship when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Denver Broncos
On February 18, 2022, Dixon was hired by the Denver Broncos to serve as the team's defensive line coach for the 2022 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Dixon v. State
Kristie Brown alleged that on February 10, 2003, Dixon forced her to have sex, taking her virginity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She has stated that contrary to Dixon's supporters' belief, she was never Dixon's girlfriend and although they shared classes, they barely knew each other. The jury acquitted Dixon of rape, battery, assault and false imprisonment, but because Brown was only 15 and Dixon 18 at the time of the incident found him guilty of statutory rape and aggravated child molestation. Because of this Dixon was convicted at the mandatory amount under Georgia law, ten years imprisonment.<ref name="snopes.com">Marcus Dixon. snopes.com. Retrieved on October 14, 2013.</ref> If he had been found guilty of rape, he would have faced a much less severe punishment.<ref name="snopes.com"/><ref name="pww">People's Weekly World – Act now to free Marcus Dixon Template:Webarchive</ref>
Supporters of Dixon including the NAACP and the Rev. Joseph Lowery's People's Agenda alleged the charges were racially motivated. The President of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman called it a "Legal Lynching".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Overturned conviction and release
The Georgia Supreme Court overturned Dixon's conviction for child molestation and he was released the same day, on May 3, 2004. The court let his conviction for misdemeanor statutory rape stand. After Dixon's release both he and Brown appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in an attempt to clarify their stories.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
References
Further reading
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External links
- 1984 births
- 21st-century African-American sportsmen
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- American football defensive ends
- Canadian football defensive linemen
- Coaches of American football from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Dallas Cowboys players
- Denver Broncos coaches
- Hampton Pirates football coaches
- Hampton Pirates football players
- High school football coaches in Georgia (U.S. state)
- Kansas City Chiefs players
- Living people
- Los Angeles Rams coaches
- New York Jets players
- Overturned convictions in the United States
- Players of American football from Rome, Georgia
- Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Tennessee Titans players