Michael Daniel Dawson (October 16, 1953 – March 14, 2008) was an American football defensive end in the National Football League who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round (22nd overall) of the 1976 NFL Draft. A 6'4", 256 lb. defensive end from the University of Arizona, Dawson played in nine NFL seasons from 1976 to 1984 for the Cardinals, the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs.