Dwight Hicks
Hicks in September 2008
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| No. 22 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | April 5, 1956 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Mount Holly Township, New Jersey | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Michigan | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: |
1978 / Round: 6 / Pick: 150 (By the Detroit Lions) |
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| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Interception: | 32 |
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| INT yards: | 602 |
| INT return TDs: | 3 |
| Player stats at NFL.com | |
Dwight Hicks (born April 5, 1956) is a former professional American football player who played safety for the Toronto Argonauts in 1978, the San Francisco 49ers from 1979 to 1985, and for the Indianapolis Colts in 1986.
Hicks played high school football at Pennsauken High School in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, where he led the football team to a 9-1 record in 1972 and a #2 ranking in South Jersey by the Courier-Post. Before his pro career, Hicks played for the University of Michigan.
Hicks started his professional football career with the CFL Toronto Argonauts in 1978 playing 3 games as defensive back and punt returner.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection from 1981 to 1984, Hicks was a key player on the 49ers dynasty in the 1980s, assisting his team to NFL Championship wins in Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XIX. In the 1981 season, Hicks led the NFL in interceptions (9) and return yards (239), and went on to make a big impact in the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. After the 49ers lost a fumble on the opening kickoff, the Bengals had a great scoring opportunity and drove to San Francisco 5-yard line. However, Hicks made a clutch interception to prevent the Bengals from scoring. His interception set up a 49ers touchdown on their ensuing drive and helped San Francisco build up a 20-0 lead at halftime, eventually winning the game 26-21.
Hicks arrived with the 49ers merely by happenstance. Hicks was one of a bevy of defensive backs used by the 49ers during the 1979 and 1980 NFL seasons. Before being signed by the 49ers, John Facenda noted in a team highlight film that Hicks was "Managing a health food store" in Detroit. Hicks, who was interviewed for the America's Game episode focusing on the 49ers Super Bowl XIX champions, notes that Facenda was wrong. Hicks was simply working in the stock room of a health food store at the time of his signing. Only 25 years old, Hicks found himself suddenly the veteran leader of the 49ers secondary in the 1981 season, when the 49ers decided to rebuild their defensive backfield through the draft. Playing in only his second full season, Hicks was considered the leader of a secondary that also featured rookies Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright and Carlton Williamson. The young, but hard-hitting secondary would affectionately be known as "Dwight Hicks and his Hot Licks". Despite this lack of experience, the 49ers defense ranked among the best in the NFL and spurred the 49ers on to a surprising victory in Super Bowl XVI.
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