Dwight Hicks
Dwight Hicks (born April 5, 1956) is an American former professional football player who competed as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons, principally with the San Francisco 49ers.[1] After playing college football at the University of Michigan, where he earned All-Big Ten honors, Hicks entered the NFL as a free agent with the 49ers in 1979 following a brief stint with the Toronto Argonauts.[2] During his tenure with San Francisco from 1979 to 1986, he amassed 32 interceptions, 602 interception return yards, 14 fumble recoveries, and four defensive touchdowns, establishing himself as a key member of the team's secondary.[3] Hicks was named to the Pro Bowl four consecutive years from 1981 to 1984 and served as defensive captain, contributing to the 49ers' victories in Super Bowl XVI in 1982 and Super Bowl XIX in 1985.[1][4] Post-retirement, Hicks transitioned to acting, securing roles in notable films such as Armageddon (1998) alongside Bruce Willis and The Rock (1996) with Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage, as well as appearances in television series including Scorpion and Rebel.[5] A member of SAG-AFTRA, he has continued to engage in entertainment while occasionally participating in 49ers alumni events and charitable activities.[6]Early Life and Education
High School Years
Dwight Hicks attended Pennsauken High School in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, where he competed in football, basketball, and track and field as a multitalented athlete.[7][1] As a defensive back on the football team, Hicks contributed to a 9–1 record during the 1972 season, earning the squad a number-two ranking in South Jersey according to the Courier-Post.[8] He received first-team all-star recognition as a back that year from local newspapers.[9]College Football at Michigan
Dwight Hicks enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1974 and played college football for the Wolverines as a defensive back from 1974 to 1977.[3] During his tenure, Michigan compiled a 34–9–2 record, including Big Ten Conference championships in 1976 and a shared title in 1977.[10] Hicks contributed on defense and special teams, intercepting five passes over his varsity career.[10] As a junior in 1976, Hicks earned All-Big Ten honors while starting at safety, recording two interceptions in 12 games and handling two punt returns for 12 yards.[11][3] In his senior year of 1977, he served as defensive captain and received first-team All-Big Ten recognition along with second-team All-American honors from the Associated Press.[12] That season, Hicks notched three interceptions for 32 yards in 11 games, led the Big Ten with 161 punt return yards on 16 attempts (10.1 average), and added one kickoff return for 14 yards.[11] Hicks' performance in 1977 helped Michigan to a 6–4 record, though the team fell short of a postseason berth.[13] His versatility as a safety and return specialist drew NFL attention, leading to his selection by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round (150th overall) of the 1978 NFL Draft.[1] Earlier, in 1975 as a sophomore, Hicks received the John Maulbetsch Award as the team's most improved player.[14]Professional Football Career
Early Professional Experience
Hicks was selected by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round, 150th overall, of the 1978 NFL Draft following his college career at the University of Michigan.[1] Opting not to sign with the Lions, he instead began his professional football career with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League in 1978, appearing in three games as a defensive back and punt returner while recording two interceptions.[3][15] In 1979, Hicks signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent midway through the season, marking his entry into the NFL.[16][8] Playing primarily as a free safety, he appeared in eight games, starting four, and led the team with five interceptions for 57 yards, including a longest return of 29 yards; he also recovered one fumble and contributed on special teams with 13 punt returns for 120 yards and two kickoff returns for 36 yards.[1][17][18] These performances established him as a key contributor in the 49ers' secondary during his rookie NFL season.[17]San Francisco 49ers Era
Dwight Hicks joined the San Francisco 49ers midway through the 1979 NFL season as a free agent safety after spending the prior year with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League.[16][19] In his partial rookie NFL campaign, he appeared in eight games and recorded five interceptions for 57 return yards, establishing himself in the secondary alongside Ronnie Lott.[1] Hicks broke out in 1981, starting all 16 games and leading the team with a career-high nine interceptions for 239 yards and one touchdown, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and a Second-Team All-Pro honor.[1][19] That season, he contributed a fumble return touchdown and played a pivotal role in the playoffs, including an early-game interception in Super Bowl XVI against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 24, 1982, which helped secure the 49ers' 26–21 victory and their first NFL championship.[20][1] From 1982 to 1984, Hicks maintained elite production as part of the 49ers' renowned "Hot Licks" secondary, earning consecutive Pro Bowl nods each year.[1][3] In 1982, despite missing seven games due to injury, he notched three interceptions and scored twice on defense in a single game against the Washington Redskins on October 3, returning a fumble 80 yards and an interception 32 yards for touchdowns.[21] The following year, 1983, he intercepted two passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns.[1] Hicks was voted defensive captain by teammates for the 1983–1985 seasons, anchoring the unit during the 49ers' dynasty run.[3] In the 1984 season, Hicks started all 16 games with three interceptions, helping the 49ers to a dominant playoff performance culminating in a 38–16 win over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX on January 20, 1985.[1] His final year with the team, 1985, saw him record four interceptions and one sack across 16 games, contributing to another strong defensive effort before departing as a free agent.[1] Over seven seasons with San Francisco, Hicks played 96 games, amassed 30 interceptions for 586 yards and three touchdowns, and was instrumental in two Super Bowl championships.[1]| Year | Games | Interceptions | INT Yards | INT TDs | Sacks | Fumble Recovery TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 8 | 5 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1980 | 16 | 4 | 73 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
| 1981 | 16 | 9 | 239 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1983 | 15 | 2 | 102 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 16 | 3 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | 16 | 4 | 68 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 96 | 30 | 586 | 3 | 1.5 | 1 |
Later NFL Seasons and Retirement
In June 1986, the San Francisco 49ers waived Hicks after failing to reach a contract agreement, ending his tenure with the team after seven seasons.[22][23] He subsequently signed with the Indianapolis Colts during the season and appeared in nine games, starting six.[7] In limited action, Hicks recorded two interceptions for 16 yards, including a longest return of 16 yards, along with one forced fumble, contributing an approximate value of 3 to the Colts' defense.[1] Hicks retired from professional football following the 1986 season, concluding an eight-year NFL career that included 32 interceptions and two Super Bowl victories with the 49ers.[1][8]Career Statistics and Accolades
Dwight Hicks appeared in 105 regular-season games during his NFL career, starting 97 of them across eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (1979–1985) and Indianapolis Colts (1986–1987).[1] His defensive contributions included 33 interceptions for 602 return yards and three touchdowns, as well as 14 fumble recoveries for 112 yards and one touchdown.[1] Hicks also recorded 1.5 sacks.[1]| Defensive Statistic | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 105 |
| Games Started | 97 |
| Interceptions | 33 |
| Interception Yards | 602 |
| Interception TDs | 3 |
| Fumble Recoveries | 14 |
| Fumble Recovery Yards | 112 |
| Fumble Recovery TDs | 1 |
| Sacks | 1.5 |