Dermontti Dawson was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on June 17, 1965. He grew up in Lexington and attended Bryan Station High School. He played football and competed in track and field. He was an all-state offensive tackle. He accepted a scholarship to the University of Kentucky. At Kentucky, Dawson played center and guard. He lettered four straight years and helped the team win the Hall of Fame Bowl in 1984. In 1987, he earned second-team All-SEC honors.
In 1988, Dawson was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round. He started his career playing guard. After his rookie year, he became the team’s starting center. Dawson earned seven Pro Bowl selections and six First-team All-Pro honors. He was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. He played 170 consecutive games until injuries shortened his final seasons. He retired after the 2000 season. In 2012, Dawson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After his NFL career, Dawson returned to Lexington. He worked as a real estate developer. He helped establish a graduate fellowship at the University of Kentucky. He served on the university’s board of trustees. He was honored by Kentucky with membership in the Hall of Distinguished Alumni and the Athletics Hall of Fame. Though Dawson later moved to San Diego, his connection to Lexington remained strong. His early years, education, and later contributions to the community tied him closely to his hometown.
Dawson is renowned for revolutionizing the center position with his ability to effectively pull and lead run-blocking downfield.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Dermontti Dawson with the 44th overall pick in the 2nd round of the 1988 NFL Draft.
