Dunn loyal to his roots
Dave Southorn
dsouthorn@idahopress.com
Updated 6 hours 7 minutes ago
TAMPA, Fla. — On the football field or off it, things never came easy for Warrick Dunn.
At 5-foot-9, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back is one of only three players in NFL history shorter than 5-11 to rush for 10,000 yards in a career.
That doesn’t compare to the challenges he faced just two days after he turned 18.
His mother, Baton Rouge, La., police officer Betty Smothers, was killed during an armed robbery, and Dunn became the head of his family, which included five siblings. After a fruitful career at Florida State, he’s now entering his 12th NFL season. He also started the Warrick Dunn Foundation in 1997, which helps single parent families.
“It was always her dream to provide a good home for us,” Dunn said. “I wanted to make that a reality for other families. You never know what hand you’ll be dealt. I had to work my butt off, but I did it because my family was my main priority.”
For his humanitarian efforts, Dunn will be inducted into Boise’s World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame on June 24.
Smothers was never able to own her own home, so with his clout as a pro athlete, Dunn established the Homes For The Holidays program in Baton Rouge. It has since spread to Tampa, Atlanta and Tallahassee, Fla.
The recipients are provided a new home, for which Dunn’s foundation makes the down payment and pays for appliances, furniture and home decor. To date, the foundation has assisted 78 families, which includes 205 children, a stat he finds more important than his three Pro Bowls, 10,181 rushing yards and 62 total touchdowns.
“It’s always humbling to be recognized for your efforts,” Dunn said. “Sure, you like being recognized for your talent in football, but there’s things that last much longer in life — things that can make an impact for years and years down the road.”
Dunn, who re-signed with Tampa Bay during the offseason after playing with Atlanta from 2002-07, was named the Walter Payton/NFL Man Of The Year in 2005.
“Warrick is a person who understands his responsibility not only as a professional football player, but as a man and community servant,” said Falcons owner Arthur Blank after the award was given. “Every sports team — and every professional athlete — should take a page from his book. We are all in a position to step up and be leaders in philanthropy.”
With the foundation bearing his name, Dunn has done anything but hide behind the name. He’s actively helped in building the home, and has presented each family with the keys to their new home. He’s even inspired Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner to start a partnership in St. Louis, and former teammate Shelton Quarles did the same in Nashville, Tenn.
“I feel I have to be at the forefront so they know I understand,” Dunn said.
Dunn, who said he’s never been to Boise, will be inducted in the class of 2008 alongside Olympic medalist Jimmie Heuga and 16-year NBA veteran Vlade Divac. He joins former NFL stars Drew Bledsoe, Mel Blount, Tom Landry, Steve Largent and Steve Young to be inducted in the Boise hall of fame.
“It’s nice to feel like you’re doing something right,” Dunn said.