Christopher Dixon II (born November 15, 1981) is a former professional
indoor football quarterback
The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...
who currently serves as the
head coach
A head coach, senior coach, or manager is a professional responsible for training and developing athletes within a sports team. This role often has a higher public profile and salary than other coaching positions. In some sports, such as associat ...
for
Cactus Shadows High School in
Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in eastern Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, and is part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Named Scottsdale in 1894 after its founder Winfield Scott (chaplain), Winfield Scott, a retired Chaplain Corps (United States ...
. He ended his long playing career with a stint for the
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm were a professional arena football team based in Tampa, Florida, US. It played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Originally the team was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and operated as the Pittsburgh Gladiators. The ...
of the
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...
(AFL) before returning to the Sioux Falls Storm near the end of their 2019 season. Dixon attended
Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College is a public community college in San Pablo, California, United States. It is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college s ...
for two years before attending
Humboldt State University
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt or Humboldt) is a public university in Arcata, California. It is one of Cal Poly (disambiguation), three polytechnic universities in the California State University (CSU) sys ...
, where he was an all-conference player.
After failing to be drafted, Dixon played semi-professional outdoor football before becoming an indoor football player. In 2005, he made his professional debut with the
Black Hills Red Dogs, playing both quarterback and
wide receiver
A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...
. Upon his release, Dixon signed with the
Billings Mavericks, where he would play for 5 seasons, winning 3 championships and throwing 369 touchdowns. Upon the folding of the Billings franchise, Dixon signed with the
Sioux Falls Storm, where he won two championships in as many seasons. In 2012, Dixon signed with the
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played it ...
, it was the first time in Dixon's career that he played
arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football designed to be played indoors. The game is played on a smaller field than American or Canadian football, designed to fit in the same surface area as a standard North American ice hockey rink, an ...
instead of indoor football.
Dixon is considered the greatest indoor football quarterback of all time, winning six championships, as well as the first indoor football player to throw for 500 career touchdowns.
He was inducted into the
Indoor Football League Hall of Fame in 2015.
College career
Dixon attended
Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College is a public community college in San Pablo, California, United States. It is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college s ...
for two years before attending
Humboldt State University
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt or Humboldt) is a public university in Arcata, California. It is one of Cal Poly (disambiguation), three polytechnic universities in the California State University (CSU) sys ...
for his final two years of school.
Professional career
Oakland Vipers
Dixon played for the Oakland Vipers of the Golden State Amateur Football League (GSAFL) for a single season in 2003, and he held the record for the most passing yards in a single game (471) as of 2005.
Eastside Hawks
Dixon began playing indoor football when he signed with the
Eastside Hawks, who at the time was playing semi-professional in the Northwest Football League (NWFL).
He led the Hawks to an NWFL Championship, allowing them to enter the North American Football League (NAFL) national playoffs where they won the NAFL National Championship. Dixon won Championship Game MVP and NWFL Rookie of the Year honors.
Black Hills Red Dogs
In
2005
2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
, Dixon signed with the
Black Hills Red Dogs of
United Indoor Football
United Indoor Football (UIF) was an indoor American football league in the United States that operated from 2005 to 2008. Ten owners from the National Indoor Football League, including one expansion (the Dayton Warbirds, which never played a ...
. While with the Red Dogs, Dixon played quarterback, receiver, and defensive back, completing 59 of 114 passes for 493 yards with five touchdowns, while also having 12 receptions for 202 yards and three touchdowns. After starting the season 0–7, however, Dixon asked to be released from the team due to family affairs.
Billings Mavericks / Outlaws
Dixon quickly signed with the
Billings Mavericks of the
National Indoor Football League
The National Indoor Football League (NIFL) was a professional indoor football league in the United States. For their first six years, the league had teams in markets not covered by either the Arena Football League or its developmental league, ...
(NIFL), where he would split time with
Bob Bees at quarterback during the remainder of the
2005 season.
Dixon led the Outlaws to three championships (2006, 2009 & 2010) throughout his five seasons with the team.
Sioux Falls Storm
In 2012, Dixon threw his 500th career touchdown pass, when he hit James Terry with a 42-yard pass during a May 19 game against the
Green Bay Blizzard
The Green Bay Blizzard are a professional indoor football team based in the Green Bay metropolitan area that competes in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The franchise was founded in 2003. The Blizzard began play in the IFL in 2010, after hav ...
.
With his 500th touchdown, Dixon became the 10th player to throw for a 500th touchdown at any professional level.
Orlando Predators
Dixon has signed with the
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played it ...
of the
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League (AFL) was a professional arena football league in the United States. It was founded in 1986, but played its first official games in the 1987 Arena Football League season, 1987 season, making it the third longest-runnin ...
for the 2013 season. Dixon was named the backup quarterback to
Kyle Rowley to start the season. In the Predators first game, Dixon appeared in one play, a
zone read play near the goalline, where Dixon was tackled for a 1-yard loss. Dixon didn't play again until the Predators' Week 3 game against the
Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia soul, sometimes called Philly soul, the Philadelphia sound, Phillysound, or The Sound of Philadelphia (TSOP), is a genre of late 1960s–1970s soul music characterized by funk influences and lush string and horn arrangements. The ...
. Dixon came in to replace the struggling Rowley, and completed 9 of 13 passes for 120-yards. Dixon also had 2 touchdown passes and one interception against the Soul. Dixon was released in late May.
New Orleans VooDoo
On May 30, 2013, Dixon was assigned to the
New Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo were a professional arena football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They were members of the Arena Football League from 2004 to 2015.
The VooDoo were the second team to play in the Arena Football League and play in ...
. In Dixon's first game action with the VooDoo, he replaced starter
Kurt Rocco, who was struggling against the
San Antonio Talons
The San Antonio Talons were a professional arena football team based in San Antonio, Texas. They played in the Arena Football League (AFL). Their home arena was the Alamodome, following their relocation to San Antonio for the 2012 season.
The ...
' pass-rush. Dixon could evade defenders, running for 66 yards, and did not get sacked once. Dixon took over trailing 21–6 and led the VooDoo to a 56–53 loss after he was tripped up as he was attempting to make a pass on the final play of the game. Dixon's playing style caught the attention of many in the league. Dixon is one of the few players to ever play arena football out of the
shotgun
A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, peppergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge (firearms), cartridge known as a shotshell, which discharges numerous small ...
. Dixon's play helped the VooDoo fight to get back into the playoff picture for 2013.
Sioux Falls Storm (second stint)
On January 6, 2014, it was announced that Dixon would be returning to the Storm, citing his desire to graduate from
Augustana College and be close to his family as his reasons for return. After the 2014 season, Dixon announced his retirement as a player.
Tampa Bay Storm
Texas Revolution
Sioux Falls Storm (third stint)
After making it to their 17th straight playoff appearance, the Storm signed Dixon for the
2019 IFL playoffs. The Storm would go on to win the
2019 United Bowl, making it Dixon's ninth championship of his career.
Arizona Rattlers
On March 30, 2023, following quarterback
Drew Powell being placed on short-term injured reserve, it was announced that Dixon was signed to the
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional indoor American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area that competes in the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team in the Arena Football League ...
.
Coaching career
Billings Senior HS
In 2006 and 2007, Dixon coached at
Billings Senior High School
Billings Senior High School is located in Billings, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings Public Schools District, and opened in 1940. Billings Senior High School is a comprehensive public institution.
Notable alumni
*Stanley Anderso ...
under head coach Mark Sulser.
Billings Wolves
In late July 2014, the
Billings Wolves
The Billings Wolves were a professional indoor football team based in Billings, Montana and members of the Indoor Football League (IFL) from 2015-2016. The Wolves began play in 2015 as an expansion team of the IFL and were owned by Ron Benzel ...
of the
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional indoor American football league in the United States. The league comprises 14 teams, divided equally between the Eastern Conference (EC) and Western Conference ...
announced they had signed Dixon as head coach for their upcoming inaugural season.
Shepherd HS
Before the 2019 season, Dixon was hired as the head coach of the
Shepherd High School in
Shepherd, Montana.
Arizona Rattlers
Cactus Shadows HS
In July 2022,
Cactus Shadows High School in Scottsdale, Arizona announced they had selected Dixon to lead their football program.
His first two seasons with the Falcons ended with a 4–6 record.
Head coaching record
Professional
High school
Personal life
Dixon's oldest son Chishon played basketball at
Montana State Billings before transferring to
Montana Tech. His son Donivan plays for
Cactus Shadows High School as the starting
quarterback
The quarterback (QB) is a position in gridiron football who are members of the offensive side of the ball and mostly line up directly behind the Lineman (football), offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually consider ...
.
References
External links
Sioux Falls Storm profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixon, Chris
1981 births
Living people
Contra Costa Comets football players
Humboldt State Lumberjacks football players
Billings Outlaws players
Sioux Falls Storm players
Orlando Predators players
New Orleans VooDoo players
Tampa Bay Storm players
Richmond High School (Richmond, California) alumni
High school football coaches in Montana
Arizona Rattlers coaches
High school football coaches in Arizona