
While 25-year-old Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is fulfilling his childhood dreamānot only playing in the National Football League, but making headlines as an All-Rookie, Pro-Bowler, and top 100 NFL player for the last two yearsāheās also been working towards another of his goals.
That is, getting his bachelorās degree.
āI remember Nick Saban coming to my house when I was in 11th grade,ā Clinton-Dix, now a safety for the Green Bay Packers, said. āI had goals I wanted to accomplish, and getting my degree was definitely one. He looked me right in my eyes at my momās house and promised me that I would get my degreeāthat if football didnāt work out I would definitely have my degree to fall back on.
āItās something no one can take away from me once football is done.ā
After entering the NFL draft in 2014 after his junior year of college, with two college football national championships under his belt, Clinton-Dix maintained his enrollment at UA and continued taking classes at UA. He even returned to campus the past two springs. And last summer, the NFL superstar completed an internship at the Brown County Courthouse in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as part of his degree in criminal justice. While there, he spent several days shadowing different members of the judicial system, including the district attorney, which he said opened his eyes to how important the system is.
āItās not really about one individual,ā he said. āItās about serving the community and making the world a better environment. Itās really eye-opening to see the decisions that judges have to make based on whatās in front of them.ā

Clinton-Dix was also struck by his time sitting in on treatment courts for heroine, alcohol, and other drugs.
āThe people who came in there throughout the week, they really have mental health issues,ā he said. āI noticed thatās the main problem we have with society today: no one wants to talk about mental health, or no one pays it any attention, and it gets swept under the rug. Sitting in on the treatment courts opened my eyes to whatās really going on in the world.ā
While one childhood dreamāthat of being a police officer and fighting the bad guys like they do in Walker, Texas Rangerāis on hold, another, being part of the NFL, is just beginning.
āThe only reason I can believe Iām here is because I really worked my ass off to get where Iām at now,ā he said. āBut itās a blessingāto dream about something as a kid and fulfill your dream is overwhelming and amazing. Itās crazy, honestly.ā
Reflecting on his time at UA, two things stand out. The first was during his freshman year at football practice when the Orlando-native remembers being ācold as hell.ā
āCoach Terry Jones asked me, āWhatās going to happen when Green Bay drafts you?ā and I told him, āIām not going to Green Bay,āā he said of the town known for its blustery winters. āWhen I got drafted by Green Bay, what he said was the first thing I thought of.ā
Clinton-Dix also remembers UA preparing for life.
āItās so easy to talk about Nick Saban because he was my coach,ā Clinton-Dix said. āBut he was also my teacher. He taught me about the little things: It was about doing the little things right. It was about treating everybody with respect on campus whether that was the garbage man or your math teacher. It was about being on time.
āUA really turned me into a young man.ā
What does he see himself doing after football?
āThe only thing thatās on the horizon for me is impacting the youth and giving back,ā he said. āThatās going to be my purpose when Iām done with football.
āNick Saban always told me, āNobody cares how good of a football player you are. They care about how you were as a human being. How was your heart? How were you? What do people say when they meet you?ā If I could change one kidās life and turn it around after Iām done with football, my life here on earth is done. Iām complete.ā
2020 Update
Since leaving the Green Bay Packers in 2018, Clinton-Dix has played for several other NFL teams. He joined the Washington Football Team in 2018, followed by the Chicago Bears. He currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys. He also appeared on the NFLās Top 100 Players of 2018.