Phillip Dorsett and Tony Dorsett are both well-known names in the world of football. Phillip Dorsett is a wide receiver who currently plays for the Las Vegas Raiders in the NFL, while Tony Dorsett is a former running back who had a legendary career with the Dallas Cowboys. Both of them are fast, agile, and talented players who have made their mark on the sport. But are they related in any way? Do they share a family connection that explains their similar surnames and skills? The answer is no. Despite the common speculation and assumption, Phillip Dorsett and Tony Dorsett are not related by blood or marriage. They are separate individuals with different family backgrounds and histories. Here is why.
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The Origin of the Dorsett Surname
The surname Dorsett is derived from the name of a county in England called Dorset. According to Ancestry.com, the name was originally given to people who lived in or near that region. The name Dorset itself comes from the Old English words “dor”, meaning “door” or “gate”, and “set”, meaning “dwelling” or “settlement”. The county of Dorset was known as a gateway to the south-west of England, hence the name.
The surname Dorsett is not very common in the United States. According to Forebears.io2, there are only about 5,000 people with that surname in the country, ranking it as the 6,647th most common surname. The majority of them live in Texas, followed by Florida, Georgia, California, and Alabama. The surname Dorsett is more prevalent in England, where it ranks as the 2,378th most common surname, with about 10,000 people bearing it.
The Family Background of Phillip Dorsett
Phillip Dorsett was born on January 5, 1993, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is the son of Phillip Dorsett Sr. and Nicole Williams. His father was a track star at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and later became an assistant track coach at the same school. His mother was also an athlete who played basketball at Florida International University. Phillip Dorsett has two younger sisters, Brianna and Deja.
Phillip Dorsett attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where he excelled as a wide receiver and a sprinter on the track team. He then went to the University of Miami, where he continued to shine as a football player and a track athlete. He set several records for the Hurricanes, including the most receiving yards in a single game (272) and the most career receptions (121). He also ran the 100-meter dash in 10.37 seconds and the 200-meter dash in 21.11 seconds.
Phillip Dorsett was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He played for three seasons with the Colts before being traded to the New England Patriots in 2017. He won his first Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in 2019. He then signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2020 but missed the entire season due to a foot injury. He joined the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 as a free agent.
The Family Background of Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett was born on April 7, 1954, in Rochester, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Wes and Myrtle Dorsett. His father was a steelworker who also played semi-professional football for a local team called the Hopewell Blue Devils. His mother was a homemaker who raised seven children. Tony Dorsett has three brothers (Wes Jr., David, and Michael) and three sisters (Donna, Mary Ann, and Brenda).
Tony Dorsett attended Hopewell High School, where he starred as a running back and a defensive back on the football team. He then went to the University of Pittsburgh, where he became one of the greatest college football players of all time. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1976 as the best player in college football. He also led his team to a national championship that same year. He finished his college career with 6,082 rushing yards, which was then an NCAA record.
Tony Dorsett was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He played for 11 seasons with the Cowboys and won his first Super Bowl ring as a rookie. He became one of the most prolific running backs in NFL history, rushing for 12,739 yards and scoring 91 touchdowns. He also holds the record for the longest run from scrimmage in NFL history (99 yards). He played his final season with the Denver Broncos in 1988 before retiring.
Tony Dorsett has four children from two marriages. His first wife was Julie Simon, whom he married in 1976 and divorced in 1985. They have two daughters, Jazmyn and Madison. His second wife is Janet Dorsett, whom he married in 1986 and is still married to. They have a son, Anthony, and a daughter, Mia. Anthony followed his father’s footsteps and played football at the University of Pittsburgh and in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans and the Oakland Raiders.
The Conclusion
Phillip Dorsett and Tony Dorsett are not related, despite the similarities in their last names and their involvement in football. They are separate individuals with different family backgrounds and histories. While they both have achieved success and recognition in the sport, they have no known connection or relationship. The surname Dorsett is derived from the name of a county in England and is not very common in the United States. Therefore, it is just a coincidence that these two football players share the same surname.
