The St. Louis Cardinals selected Dawson in the second round (45th pick overall) in the 1984 NFL draft, and he played for the Cardinals from 1984 to 1986.[4] He subsequently played four seasons for the Houston Oilers (1990–1993) and his final season for the Cleveland Browns (1994). He played in a total of 106 NFL games, and started 70 of them.
He has had a career as a wealth management advisor in the Houston area for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company where he ranks in the company's top 20 all-time.[5]