How the same traits Eric Dickerson showed with Duke football help Eagles at Super Bowl
Eric Dickerson has never sought out the spotlight. He isn’t the face of the Philadelphia Eagles’ high-powered offense or one of the stars fans immediately recognize on game day, even at Super Bowl 59 when the Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs.
However, inside the Eagles building, among the players and coaches, his name carries weight.
As the Eagles’ offensive quality control coach, Dickerson is the type of person who makes a team better — not only with his football mind but with his presence. Since joining the Eagles’ coaching staff in 2021, Dickerson has been a valuable member of the team.
“Eric just does so many good things to help us get ready for games and the thankless jobs,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “I love being able to talk about him because he is a guy that doesn’t get a lot of attention. But again, it takes everybody, and we can’t be great at our jobs without the greatness of others, and that sure shows with Eric and the players and the coaching staff.”
Eagles players echo the same sentiment. Offensive tackle Lane Johnson credits Dickerson for shaping the scout defense and ensuring that practices prepare the team for the gamedays.
Similarly, offensive tackle Jordan Mailata highlights Dickerson’s ability to break down defensive schemes and illustrate run lanes, making complex strategies easier to execute.
“Eric is a big part of our run game,” Mailata said. “It takes time to draw up our paths so even when we install our plays, draw up the defense and see what the run game looks like it has been pretty impactful this year in regards to understanding the play, understanding the scheme and going out there to execute it.”
Authentic from the start
But Dickerson’s influence extends beyond X’s and O’s. He is known for his genuine nature and how he builds strong relationships through authenticity, not obligation.
That authenticity has been clear to everyone who’s worked with him throughout his career. His former head coach at Duke, David Cutcliffe, quickly recognized the strong values Dickerson brought to the program.
“I recognized early that Eric was raised well, with an outstanding value system, and that he genuinely cares for others,” Cutcliffe said. “I’m not just talking about players—Eric is a sincere, caring individual, and I’ve seen no change in him over the years.”
During his three-year stint at Duke as a football operations assistant and special teams coach, Dickerson became known for his unwavering commitment.
“Anyone who interacts with Eric in the building knows they’re talking to a positive person,” Cutcliffe said. “He’s dedicated to the success of the organization, not just when it’s convenient.”
Eagles quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier has witnessed Dickerson’s high level of commitment firsthand and has seen how it has helped improve the team.
“This guy puts in more time than any of our offensive coaches,” Nussmeier said. “He’s done an exceptional job, very smart. He has a really good gift of being able to look at the defense, also know what we do, and always brings great ideas and input when we’re game planning. He’s got a great career ahead of himself.”
Impacting Duke before his NFL rise
While at Duke, Cutcliffe saw Dickerson develop standout special teams players including Damond Philyaw-Johnson, who earned All-America honors for his kickoff return skills, and kickers Austin Parker and AJ Reed, who received All-ACC recognition.
Additionally, during his first season working with the offense, Duke set a program record for passing touchdowns while also surpassing 2,000 rushing yards.
On Sunday, Dickerson will look to help the Eagles capture their second Super Bowl title as they take on the Chiefs.
He was always one of Cutcliffe’s go-to guys, and now, he is in the same position under Sirianni. Dickerson has remained successful at the NFL level.
“The kind of person Eric is gains respect in any organization,” Cutcliffe said. “I don’t care whether you would talk to players, other coaches, or people that are in the building, working, they would tell you, ‘Eric, that’s a really good young man.’ He has really just accelerated his knowledge and his ability to coach at that level.”
This story was originally published February 9, 2025 at 12:30 PM with the headline "How the same traits Eric Dickerson showed with Duke football help Eagles at Super Bowl."