Tim Dwight
Encyclopedia
Timothy Deutch Dwight, Jr. (born July 13, 1975) is an American football
wide receiver
and return specialist
who is currently a free agent
. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Iowa
.
Dwight is perhaps best known for his 94-yard touchdown return on a kickoff in Super Bowl XXXIII
against the Denver Broncos
. He has also played for the San Diego Chargers
, New England Patriots
, New York Jets
and Oakland Raiders
in his career.
s (5); his yardage mark has since been eclipsed by three others and Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. has surpassed his touchdown mark. Dwight held the University of Iowa
football record for career receiving touchdowns (21) until 2011, when his mark was surpassed by Marvin McNutt
. He held the record for career receiving yards (2,271) until 2010 when Derrell Johnson-Koulianos became the all time leader in receiving yards. In 1997, was a consensus All-American and finished seventh for the Heisman Trophy. He also competed in track
events; in 1999, he was Big Ten Champion in the 100 meter dash, and he also was part of the 1999 Big Ten Champion 4 x 400 meter relay
, the 1999 Big Ten Champion 4 x 100 meter relay
, and the 1998 Big Ten Champion 4 x 100 meter relay.
by the Atlanta Falcons
. In Super Bowl XXXIII
, he returned five kickoffs, including one for 94 yards and a touchdown. He is second all-time in Super Bowl
kick return yardage for a single game (210), and his 42.0 yards per return in the game was a Super Bowl career record.
as part of the deal that enabled the Falcons to select quarterback Michael Vick
with the 2001 draft's top selection (which the Chargers originally held pursuant to their 1-15 record in 2000).
. As a New England Patriot, Dwight caught 19 passes for 332 yards and 3 touchdowns and also gained 523 yards returning punts and kickoffs.
, Dwight signed a four-year, $4.2-million contract to play for the New York Jets
, and was expected to play as the fourth wide receiver and perform return duties. But on August 27, 2006, Dwight was released by the Jets after spending all summer on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
in October, 2007. He returned one kickoff, and totaled 98 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver. He became a free agent after that season but did not play in the NFL in 2008.
, when he caught 32 passes for 669 yards (a 20.9-yard average per catch) with seven touchdowns, and 2002
, when he caught 50 passes for 623 yards. He also scored five return touchdowns in the NFL — three on punts and two on kickoffs.
Dwight has a number of interests outside football. He founded the Tim Dwight Foundation to help needy kids with scholarships and provide assistance to the Children's Hospital of Iowa. He also owns his own yoga studio in Iowa.
In 2007, The Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette sports staff voted Dwight the all-time greatest athlete from that newspaper's circulation area, topping other notables like NFL quarterback Kurt Warner
and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
and return specialist
Return specialist
A Return Specialist is a player on American football or Canadian football special teams who specializes in returning punts and kickoff returns. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most play other positions as well. The special teams counterpart of a return specialist is a...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes football
The Iowa Hawkeyes football team is the interscholastic football team at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes have competed in the Big Ten Conference since 1900, and are currently a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
.
Dwight is perhaps best known for his 94-yard touchdown return on a kickoff in Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...
against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He has also played for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in his career.
College career
Dwight (aka "White Lightning") finished his college career with Big Ten records for punt return yardage (1,102) and punts returned for touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s (5); his yardage mark has since been eclipsed by three others and Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. has surpassed his touchdown mark. Dwight held the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
football record for career receiving touchdowns (21) until 2011, when his mark was surpassed by Marvin McNutt
Marvin McNutt
Marvin McNutt is a 215 pound, 6'4" junior at the University of Iowa where he majors in interdepartmental studies. McNutt is the first team wide receiver for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He is also the all time leader for Iowa in receiving touchdowns, which he accomplished on October 22nd, 2011 against Indiana...
. He held the record for career receiving yards (2,271) until 2010 when Derrell Johnson-Koulianos became the all time leader in receiving yards. In 1997, was a consensus All-American and finished seventh for the Heisman Trophy. He also competed in track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
events; in 1999, he was Big Ten Champion in the 100 meter dash, and he also was part of the 1999 Big Ten Champion 4 x 400 meter relay
4 x 400 metres relay
The 4 x 400 meters relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams comprise four runners who each complete 400 meters or one lap. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events, the first 500 meters is run in lanes...
, the 1999 Big Ten Champion 4 x 100 meter relay
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
, and the 1998 Big Ten Champion 4 x 100 meter relay.
Atlanta Falcons
Dwight was drafted in the fourth round (114th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
by the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...
, he returned five kickoffs, including one for 94 yards and a touchdown. He is second all-time in Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
kick return yardage for a single game (210), and his 42.0 yards per return in the game was a Super Bowl career record.
San Diego Chargers
After three seasons with Atlanta, Dwight was traded on April 20, 2001 to the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as part of the deal that enabled the Falcons to select quarterback Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
with the 2001 draft's top selection (which the Chargers originally held pursuant to their 1-15 record in 2000).
New England Patriots
Dwight became a free agent following the 2004 season, and on March 11, 2005 he signed with the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. As a New England Patriot, Dwight caught 19 passes for 332 yards and 3 touchdowns and also gained 523 yards returning punts and kickoffs.
New York Jets
After the 2005 NFL season2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
, Dwight signed a four-year, $4.2-million contract to play for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and was expected to play as the fourth wide receiver and perform return duties. But on August 27, 2006, Dwight was released by the Jets after spending all summer on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Oakland Raiders
Dwight signed a one-year contract with the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in October, 2007. He returned one kickoff, and totaled 98 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver. He became a free agent after that season but did not play in the NFL in 2008.
Accomplishments and reputation
Despite being only 5'8" tall and weighing 185 pounds, Dwight was a prolific punt and kick returner during his career. He was labeled "injury-prone" because he rarely played a season without missing a significant number of games. The 2005 season was the only season in which Dwight appeared in all 16 of his team's games. Dwight's most productive seasons as a wide receiver have been 19991999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
, when he caught 32 passes for 669 yards (a 20.9-yard average per catch) with seven touchdowns, and 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
, when he caught 50 passes for 623 yards. He also scored five return touchdowns in the NFL — three on punts and two on kickoffs.
Dwight has a number of interests outside football. He founded the Tim Dwight Foundation to help needy kids with scholarships and provide assistance to the Children's Hospital of Iowa. He also owns his own yoga studio in Iowa.
In 2007, The Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette sports staff voted Dwight the all-time greatest athlete from that newspaper's circulation area, topping other notables like NFL quarterback Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner
Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson
Zach Johnson
Zach Johnson is an American golfer, winner of the 2007 Masters Tournament.Zach Johnson may also refer to:* Zack "Jick" Johnson, one of the creators of Kingdom of Loathing* Zachary Johnson, former drummer for The Fray...
.
Trivia
- On July 9, 2001 ESPN The MagazineESPN The MagazineESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
published a photographPhotographA photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
of him in the act of shaving his entire body with a razor. He explained that he does this on a regular basis (he also shaves his head completely).
- He also holds an annual football camp in Iowa City, IowaIowa City, IowaIowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
called The Tim Dwight Football Camp.