OU Mourns the Loss of Rickey Dixon

NORMAN — Former University of Oklahoma defensive back and 2019 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame inductee Rickey Dixon passed away today. He was 53.

Dixon, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2013, was one of the fiercest and most accomplished safeties in OU history. The 1987 consensus All-American became OU's 22nd player and first full-time defensive back in the College Hall of Fame last December. He was the first Sooner to win the Jim Thorpe Award, given to college football's top defensive back, and earned first-team All-Big Eight honors as a junior and senior in 1986 and '87.

OU, in conjunction with the NFF and College Hall of Fame, honored Dixon at halftime of the Sooners' 2019 season-opening game vs. Houston. Dixon, who was able to travel to Norman from his home in DeSoto, Texas, that weekend, watched the game at the house of his collegiate head coach, Barry Switzer.

Dixon finished his career with 170 total tackles, 17 interceptions and 303 interception return yards. His 17 career interceptions are one shy of the OU record while his nine picks in 1987 still stand as the school single-season standard. Only Derrick Strait (397 in 2000-03) has more interception return yards in Oklahoma history.

"As much as any of his accomplishments on the field, however, he should be remembered for his extreme courage and spirit of perseverance."
Joe Castiglione

"Ever since he left OU, Rickey has been regarded as one of the finest football players in school history," said OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione, "and his enshrinement last year into the College Football Hall of Fame is certainly validation of that. As much as any of his accomplishments on the field, however, he should be remembered for his extreme courage and spirit of perseverance. Overcoming the daily physical struggles he faced the last several years is a testament to his determination, to his resolve and to his fighter's mentality, as well as to those closest to him who provided so much loving support. When we think of Rickey we will reminisce about everything he achieved during and after his playing career, and we extend our sincerest condolences to his wife Lorraine, their children and the entire Dixon family."

Oklahoma went a combined 42-5-1 (.885) in Dixon's four years under Switzer and played in the Orange Bowl each season. The 1985 squad beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl to claim OU's sixth national championship.

Dixon was the star of the "Game of the Century II" in 1987, with Nebraska rated No. 1 in the country and OU ranked No. 2. The safety from Dallas intercepted two Huskers passes, the second of which came in the fourth quarter to help seal OU's 17-7 road win and OU's Orange Bowl berth.

Dixon, who joined OU teammates Brian Bosworth, Tony Casillas and Keith Jackson - and Switzer - in the College Hall of Fame, was selected No. 5 overall in the 1988 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in the league for six seasons with the Bengals and Los Angeles Raiders, and made an appearance in Super Bowl XXIII with Cincinnati against the San Francisco 49ers.

Following his football career, Dixon became a motivational speaker for at-risk youth. He also owned a landscaping business, coached high school football and taught physical education at Red Oak High School in Texas.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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