Dermontti Dawson

Every generation the NFL produces a player who redefines their position—and in the 1990s, that player was Dermontti Dawson.

A graduate of Bryan Station High School in Lexington, Dawson played under head coach Dr. Steve Parker, who would later become the founding board chair of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame. Parker recognized Dawson’s potential early and encouraged him to continue his football career at the University of Kentucky. There, Dawson played for the Wildcats from 1984 to 1987, earning second-team All-SEC honors as a senior.

Dawson was selected 44th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He began his professional career as a guard but made a pivotal switch to center in 1989, stepping into the role previously held by Hall of Famer Mike Webster. At 6-foot-2 and 292 pounds, Dawson combined rare agility with elite strength, transforming the center position. He pioneered the ability for centers to pull and block downfield—techniques that were nearly unheard of at the time.

Throughout the 1990s, Dawson anchored one of the NFL’s most dominant offensive lines, helping lead the Steelers to three AFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl XXX appearance. Pittsburgh consistently ranked among the league’s top rushing offenses during his tenure.

Dawson was named to seven straight Pro Bowls starting in 1992 and earned First-Team All-Pro honors six times from 1993 to 1998. In 1993, he was named co-AFC Lineman of the Year by the NFL Players’ Association. He was also recognized as the NFL Alumni’s Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1996—the same year Pittsburgh secured its third consecutive division title.

A member of both the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team and the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team, Dawson left a lasting mark on the game. Though the Steelers have not officially retired his No. 63 jersey, it has not been worn by any player since his retirement.

Over his 13-year career, Dawson played in 184 regular season games, including 170 consecutive starts—the second-longest streak in franchise history.

In 2012, Dawson was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In a fitting tribute, his high school coach and early mentor, Dr. Steve Parker, served as his presenter.