Warrick Dunn

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Lore & Background

Dunn's journey to the NFL was marked by profound personal loss. On January 7, 1993, two days after his eighteenth birthday, his mother Betty Smothers, a Baton Rouge police officer, was murdered while working an off-duty security job. This tragedy forced Dunn to become the head of his household and raise his siblings. Despite this hardship, he excelled at Florida State University, winning a national championship in 1993 and rushing for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. His resilience carried him into the pros, where he was named the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1997. In Atlanta, his running style produced memorable moments, including leading the league with a 5.4 yards per carry average and scoring nine rushing touchdowns in the 2004 season despite splitting carries with T.J. Duckett.

In Their Own Story

In 2005, Dunn achieved another milestone by earning his third Pro Bowl selection after leading the Falcons in rushing again. His versatility was showcased during the 2007 season when starting quarterback Byron Leftwich suffered a high ankle sprain; Dunn stepped up as the emergency third-string quarterback behind Joey Harrington and Chris Redman. However, his time with Atlanta concluded on March 3, 2008, when the Falcons released him at his request, one day after signing Michael Turner. Even before leaving the field, Dunn had already cemented his legacy off it. In December 2009, he returned to the organization not as a player, but as a minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons, completing a full-circle journey from the grieving son who raised his siblings to a leader shaping the team's future.

Reader's Guide

Fans should look for Dunn's name among the retired jersey numbers honored by Florida State, where number 28 is displayed in the Moore Athletic Center. On the field, he holds significant Falcons franchise records as of the 2017 off-season, including playoff rushing yards (310) and a playoff game record of 142 yards against St. Louis on January 15, 2005. He also set playoff single-game records for rushing touchdowns (2) and yards per attempt (8.35). His career totals with the Falcons included leading the team in rushing yards in both 2004 and 2005. Off the field, his impact is defined by the Homes for the Holidays program started in 1997 and expanded through Warrick Dunn Charities in 2002. This initiative partners with Habitat for Humanity to provide complete home furnishings and down-payment assistance. Notably, one of these homes went to the family of future NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson in 2006.

Did You Know?

• Dunn served as an emergency third-string quarterback for the Falcons during a 2007 game when starter Byron Leftwich was injured.
• He met with one of his mother's murderers, Kevan Brumfield, and offered him forgiveness after she was killed in 1993.
• Dunn rushed for over 1,000 yards in three straight seasons at Florida State and won a national championship there in 1993.
• The Homes for the Holidays program assisted one of the homes to future NFL star Deshaun Watson's family in 2006.
• Dunn holds multiple Atlanta Falcons playoff records, including 310 career playoff rushing yards and 142 yards in a single game.