What he did: In the NFL, where daily headlines seem to be about current players doing something wrong or former stars battling concussion syndromes, Warrick Dunn has to be one of the league's best stories ever.
The former running back for the Falcons is all about doing good.
His program to get homes for single moms has reached into the 100s. He received his MBA from Emory, and he said, “There is a particular way I want to live the rest of my life and I am trying to do it.’’
From Baton Rouge, La., Dunn’s mother, Betty, supported the family by working as a police officer. At Catholic High School, Dunn was a star as an option quarterback and defensive back. Most major colleges saw his future on defense because of his tremendous ability to change directions, though Dunn was set on running the ball. He led Catholic to its first appearance in the state championship game as a sophomore and was named an All-American as a senior.
However, during the recruitment process, his mother was shot and killed while escorting a grocery store manager to the bank. Dunn was left with his five younger brothers and sisters to look after and his life would change forever.
Then came Florida State coach Bobby Bowden into the picture. Bowden and FSU told Dunn he could play running back, and off he went to Tallahassee.
Dunn started as a freshman and holds several school rushing records. He ran for a school-record 3,959 yards during his career and is the only player in Seminoles history to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons: 1,026 as a sophomore, 1,242 as a junior and 1,180 as a senior. He scored 37 touchdowns on the ground and another 12 through the air, catching 132 passes. He was on the 1993 national championship team and also ran track, in which he was named an Associated Press All-American and ran a personal-best 10.3 seconds in the 100 meters.
In 1997, Falcons president Rich McKay was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and drafted Dunn with the 12th pick in the first round. In his rookie season, he rushed for 978 yards and caught 39 passes and made the Pro Bowl. He also was NFC Rookie of the Year.
He would spend four seasons in Tampa, collecting two 1,000-yard seasons and leaving the season before the Bucs would hire Jon Gruden as their head coach and win Super Bowl XXXVII.
He became a free agent, signing with the Falcons in the 2002 offseason and immediately making an impact. He played six seasons in Atlanta and rushed for 5,981 yards and 30 touchdowns, including three 1,000-yard seasons and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2005. Teaming with quarterback Michael Vick for five seasons, the duo was one of the more explosive in the NFL and led the team to the NFC Championship game in the 2004 season.
Dunn was presented with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2005, which “recognizes a player for his community service as well as for his excellence on the field.” Also that year Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, and Dunn had a lot of family affected by the storm. He was the first to challenge all NFL players to donate at least $5,000 to help New Orleans, leading to more than $5 million in contributions.
But after the 2007 season, when the Falcons hired a new head coach and general manager, Dunn asked for his release after the Falcons signed free agent Michael Turner.
He signed a two-year, $6 million deal to go back to Tampa, but played only one season, running for 786 yards. He was released before the 2009 season and retired.
Since then, Dunn has become a minority owner of the Falcons and his FSU jersey, along with other players such as former Falcon Deion Sanders, has been retired. He also wrote a 2008 autobiography titled “Running For My Life’’ which talked extensively about his mother’s murder and his longtime battle with depression.
Where he lives: Dunn, now 40, lives in east Atlanta and has one son. He is not married.
What he does now: Dunn continues to lead the Homes for the Holidays, which he started and 1997 as well as Warrick Dunn Charities, establishing in 2002. He continues to be recognized for many achievements and received the Giant Steps Award in civic leadership from former President Bill Clinton. Also, in 2007 with other athletes like Muhammad Ali, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Mario Lemieux, he helped found Athletes for Hope, "a charitable organization that helps professional athletes, sports industry professionals and fans get involved in charitable causes.''
On taking care of his family at the age of 18 after his mother was killed: "I was the oldest, and it was my responsibility to do it. It was hard, but it had to be done."
On going to FSU: "They were the only school that was going to let me play running back. The other schools wanted to bring me in as a defensive back. I had played defensive back and quarterback in high school, but I wanted to run the football.''
On his relationship with FSU coach Bobby Bowden: "That relationship continues today, and when I see him I always try to reach out to him. When I was in school he was definitely someone I could go talk to. He was always an ear for me when I needed advice.''
On his times in Tampa: "I was able to get off to a good start there. I was part of something special being built because they did real well the year I left (won Super Bowl under new coach Jon Gruden)."
On watching his former team win a Super Bowl: "It was tough, but I was happy for those guys. When I was there the thing we were missing was that explosive type of offense, and the new coach (Gruden) brought that in.''
On why he didn't re-sign with the Buccaneers: "One of the issues is every athlete wants to make as much money as they can, but the biggest thing with Atlanta was the relationship I was developing with Arthur Blank. He was the deciding factor.''
On playing for the Falcons: "I enjoyed it and have stayed very close with the team. I felt very good about being offered a minority ownership of the team. That made me feel really good.''
On playing with Michael Vick: "He sure was exciting to watch. But I think there were times where he was as shocked as I watching me run. But he was someone who certainly could impose his will on other defenses.''
On his feelings about Vick on his comeback: "I have a lot of respect for what he has done to turn around his life. He has a lot of resolve, and I see he is close to paying everybody back and there is something to be said for that."
On giving back so much to the community: "I always treat people the way I want to be treated and that is with respect. I have learned a lot from my experiences and want to give back to the community. I was helped by many at a very young age. I just don't want to talk the talk. And these homes that we are helping single mothers with, it is not just the house, it's helping rebuild their lives. I can look at these people and see the difference we are making. When I lost my mom that early, I knew what her dream was and that was to help put our family in a position where we would be successful long-term. I want that for a lot of families."
On his legacy: "I am thankful I have had the platform to help advance the lives of individuals, but sometimes that is good and bad. People sort of recognize me as the philanthropist and not the football player. But I do want to be recognized on the field because I think I could argue I had a pretty good career and was one of the elite players at one time. I always had to prove that I could play at the highest level.''
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