Pride of Western NC, Landon Dickerson key part of Eagles’ push to topple KC Chiefs

Despite spending four years in Philadelphia, Landon Dickerson has never been a fan of the cold. In fact, it’s not uncommon for him to wear five or more sweatshirts to practice when temperatures drop.

However, despite his dislike for the cold, Dickerson’s physicality and intelligence on the field are undeniable. As a key piece of the Eagles’ offensive line, Dickerson controls the line of scrimmage and moves defenders with ease while processing the game at a high level.

The North Carolina native first got his start in football at Hickory High School before transferring to South Caldwell High School. Growing up, Dickerson attended games at Lenoir-Rhyne and Appalachian State University in addition to Carolina Panthers games.

In 2016, Dickerson committed to Florida State where he spent three seasons playing football before transferring to Alabama to finish his collegiate career.

During his time with the Crimson Tide, Dickerson established himself as one of the most dominant interior linemen in college football. He won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center in 2020 and was a unanimous First-Team All-American.

However, Dickerson credits the majority of his success to his teammates and coaches at both the high school and collegiate level.

“For me, it’s been a tremendous opportunity to be surrounded by, who I regard, are some of the best coaches to coach college football,” Dickerson said. “Some of the smartest minds, some of the best players, and having those learning opportunities to be able to grow myself as a player.”

Dickerson anchored an offense that led the Power 5 in scoring (48.5 PPG) and ranked second nationally in total offense (541.6 YPG) in 2020. His versatility and leadership were instrumental in Alabama’s dominant championship run, which led to him being drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 2021 draft.

Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts has seen firsthand how adaptable and versatile Dickerson has been.

“Landon has been a true student of the game,” Hurts said. “He came in and has moved from position to position and I know he is always listening. He has a great deal of respect for other guys and he is very knowledgeable.”

A cornerstone on Eagles’ line

During his first four NFL seasons, Dickerson has established himself as a cornerstone of the Eagles’ offensive line. As a three-time Pro Bowler, his physicality helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl in 2022. His consistency has been just as valuable as his dominance — starting 62 of 63 career games, he’s become one of the most reliable linemen in the league.

Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson believes that reliability, paired with Dickerson’s raw strength, makes him a key piece of the Eagles’ success.

“He’s so strong and powerful, that he can really be dominating two positions, center and guard,” Johnson said. “He’s made three straight Pro Bowls and he’s just scratching his potential.”

Leadership and character

Outside of his football capabilities, Dickerson is also known for his leadership and character. He’s a vocal presence on the offensive line and sets the tone with his physicality and intelligence.

His size and strength allow him to dominate on the field, but his approach to the game truly sets him apart — something that Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert admires about Dickerson.

“Landon is awesome. He’s one of the smartest football players I’ve ever met,” Goedert said. “He’s such a big part of our offense. And then you go look at his size and the things that he plays through. He’s an incredible player. He moves people and anytime you get an offensive line as smart as us, it just puts us in great positions.”

Dickerson’s growth extends beyond the field. In the off-season, Dickerson can be found doing home renovations or miscellaneous DIY projects according to his teammates.

He’s also made strong connections with his teammates, including offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, who has become a big part of his life.

“He’s had a long journey to where he’s at today,” Mailata said. “And so I think just our experiences together, we kind of relate and piggyback off each other, giving advice, whatever it is.”

On Sunday, Dickerson will look to add a Super Bowl ring to his list of accolades. But despite his success, it’s his genuine love for the game that drives him.

“[Western North Carolina] is really just a place where we all enjoyed football,” Dickerson said. “We love playing football and I think that mindset of enjoying what you do for a living and you’ll never work a day in your life, that’s how I feel with football. It doesn’t really feel like a job to me, it’s just a continuation of the same thing I’ve been doing since I was four years old.”

This story was originally published February 8, 2025 at 6:00 AM.