Derrick Thomas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Derrick Vincent Thomas (January 1, 1967 – February 8, 2000) was an NFL linebacker who played his entire professional career for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League.

[edit] Early life

Born in Miami, Florida, Thomas was raised by his mother, as his father, Russell Lee Thomas, was (an Air Force captain and pilot) died during a mission in the Vietnam War. Thomas started playing football when he was three years old. He played high school football at South Miami Senior High School, where he was an outstanding athlete and student.

[edit] College career

One of the finest players in University of Alabama history, Thomas smashed many Crimson Tide defensive records, including sacks in a single season. He was awarded the Butkus Award in 1988 after a season which saw him record 27 sacks along with finishing 10th in Heisman Trophy balloting. He was also selected as a unanimous All-American at the conclusion of the 1988 season. He was awarded the Sington Soaring Spirit Award by the Lakeshore Foundation. This annual award is named for University of Alabama football legend Fred Sington.

[edit] NFL career

Thomas was selected in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft, fourth overall, and was signed by the Chiefs. He would remain with the Chiefs for the entirety of his career.

Thomas's rookie year was very successful, earning him Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News, and was the first Chiefs' linebacker to be elected to the Pro Bowl in his first season since hall of fame player Bobby Bell. He would appear in nine during his career.

He was known as one of the best defensive players in NFL history, and one of the most highly visible Chiefs players throughout his career. Thomas was perhaps most well known for his ability to sack the quarterback and was named All-Pro 8 times and was voted to 9 Pro Bowls. He totaled 126.5 sacks in his career and still holds the single game record of 7 quarterback sacks, a feat which occurred against Seattle's Dave Krieg on Veterans Day 1990. (He had dedicated the game to his late father, and said he would've traded the sack record for a Chiefs victory.) He is one of only 22 NFL players to achieve 100 or more sacks, and ranks fifth all-time in Chiefs' history with 649 career tackles. During his career, he also recorded 1 interception and recovered 19 fumbles, returning them for 161 yards and 4 touchdowns. Thomas established Chiefs career records for sacks, safeties, fumble recoveries, and forced fumbles. His 45 forced fumbles are also an NFL career record. Off the field, Thomas established the Third and Long Foundation.

[edit] Death

On January 23, 2000, Thomas' SUV went off the road as he was driving to Kansas City International Airport, where he was going to fly to St. Louis to watch the NFC Championship game. Not wearing safety belts, Thomas and one of his two passengers were thrown from the car. That passenger was killed instantly. The second passenger, who was wearing his safety belt, walked away from the scene uninjured. Thomas was left paralyzed from the chest down. He died on February 8, 2000, in Miami, of a pulmonary embolism, a massive blood clot that developed in his paralyzed lower extremities and traveled through his venous system to his lungs.

[edit] Legacy

While no player has worn it since his death, the Chiefs have not retired Thomas' #58. Thomas was also elected to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2001. He was a finalist for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005, his first year of eligibility. The following three years, Thomas was named a finalist but was not elected.

[edit] External links

• Pro Football Hall of Fame: HOF 2007 Finalist profile
• ESPN.com Old Derrick Thomas Profile
• Derrick Thomas at ESPN.com
• NFL.com Derrick Thomas Profile
• KCChiefs.com Derrick Thomas Profile
• Remember Derrick Thomas