Cleveland Browns: Top 20 All-Time first-round draft picks
By Randy Gurzi
CB, Southern Miss. 1981 (No.22). HanfordDixon. 9. player. Pick Analysis. 2387. Scouting Report
Cleveland Browns top first-round draft picks All-Time No. 9: Hanford Dixon, CB, Southern Miss
Hanford Dixon spent nine seasons playing for the Browns after they chose him in the 1981 NFL Draft. The Southern Miss stand-out became a starter right away for the Browns and eventually formed one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL.
He and teammate Frank Minnifield made life hard on opposing wide receivers during their time together with the Browns. As for Dixon, he ended up making two All-Pro Teams and three Pro Bowl rosters during his career. Statistically, he ended his time with Cleveland posting a respectable 26 interceptions, but he’s beloved for another reason.
Dixon is credited with coining the phrase “Dawg Pound” for the fans in the Cleveland seats. He reportedly used to bark at teammates on the sidelines to get them pumped up and even signs his name with the words “Top Dawg” according to a piece by the Sports Collectors Digest.
The former defensive back loved interacting with fans and is still often heard from as he does plenty of work as an analyst in Cleveland. On top of all that, Dixon continued to work on the sidelines as the head coach of the Cleveland Crush — a lingerie football team.