Kevin Dyson
The wide receiver who caught the lateral for the Music City Miracle and was tackled one yard short in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Kevin Tyree Dyson, born June 23, 1975, is an American former professional football player who played wide receiver in the NFL. Selected 16th overall by the Tennessee Oilers in the 1998 NFL draft after starring for the Utah Utes, Dyson wore #87 for the franchise from 1998 to 2002. He is best known for his role in two historic plays: the Music City Miracle and The Tackle during Super Bowl XXXIV. Alongside his brother Andre, he became the first brothers in NFL history to score touchdowns in the same game. After retiring, Dyson pursued higher education, earning two master's degrees and a doctorate before becoming a middle school principal and later a high school principal.
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- College
- University of Utah
- Draft Year
- 1998
- Super Bowl Appearance
- XXXIV, XXXVIII
- NFL Seasons
- 6
- Total Receptions
- 178
- Receiving Yards
- 2,325
- Touchdowns
- 18
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Dyson's NFL career is defined by two contrasting moments that occurred during the 1999 playoffs. In the divisional round, he was the recipient of Frank Wycheck's famous lateral, known as the Music City Miracle, which secured a dramatic victory for the Titans. Conversely, in Super Bowl XXXIV against the Rams, Dyson caught a pass and ran toward the end zone before being tackled by Mike Jones exactly one yard short of scoring what would have been the game-tying or winning touchdown as time expired. Throughout his six NFL seasons, he played for the Tennessee Titans (1998–2002), Carolina Panthers (2003), San Diego Chargers (2004), and briefly signed with the Washington Redskins in 2005 before being cut on September 3. His brother Andre Dyson was also an NFL cornerback and former teammate, making them the first brothers to score touchdowns in the same game.
In Their Own Story
Dyson's journey began in Logan, Utah, where he graduated from Clearfield High School in 1993 after helping his team win the 1992 State 4A championship. He played five seasons for the University of Utah (1993–1997), graduating with a Bachelor of Science in sociology. In his four seasons as a starter, he caught 192 passes for 2,726 yards and 18 touchdowns. Drafted 16th overall in 1998, he played his prime years with the Titans, appearing briefly in Super Bowl XXXVIII while with the Carolina Panthers in 2003 before injuries limited his action. He finished his career with 178 receptions for 2,325 yards and 18 touchdowns across 59 regular-season games. After football, Dyson earned a Master of Education from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2007, followed by a doctorate from the same school. He served as a counselor and coach at Glencliff Comprehensive High School (2007–2009), then moved to Independence High School where he became head coach in 2010. He later served as principal of Grassland Middle School and, on April 22, 2021, was named principal at Centennial High School.
Reader's Guide
He wore number 87 for the Tennessee Titans from 1998 to 2002. His career statistics include 178 receptions, 2,325 yards, and 18 touchdowns over six seasons. While he played in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Titans and Super Bowl XXXVIII with the Panthers, there is no record of Pro Bowl selections or specific franchise return records in the provided source. His post-football career focused on education, leading to roles as a middle school principal and eventually a high school principal in Franklin, Tennessee.
Did You Know?
- Kevin Dyson and his brother Andre were the first brothers in NFL history to score touchdowns in the same game.
- Dyson was tackled by Mike Jones exactly one yard short of scoring a potential game-winning touchdown as time expired in Super Bowl XXXIV.
- After retiring from football, Dyson earned two master's degrees and a doctorate before becoming a high school principal.
- He played five seasons for the Utah Utes (1993–1997), catching 192 passes for 2,726 yards in his four years as a starter.
- Dyson was selected by the Tennessee Oilers 16th overall in the 1998 NFL draft.
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