Todd Thomas (American football)

Todd Thomas
No. 61, 62, 74, 77
Position: Center / Long snapper / Tackle
Personal information
Date of birth: (1959-12-02)December 2, 1959
Place of birth: Mankato, Minnesota
Date of death: March 5, 2000
Place of death: Houston, Texas
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight: 284 lb (129 kg)
Career information
College: North Dakota
NFL Draft: 1981 / Round: 5 / Pick: 124
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 15
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Todd Thomas (December 2, 1959 - March 5, 2000) was a gridiron football player. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Dakota.

Early years

Thomas graduated from Cedarburg High School in 1977 and was a letterman in football, baseball, and basketball. In football, he was a tackle as well as the team's long snapper.[1] On February 15, 2014, he was inducted into the Cedarburg High School Athletic Hall of Fame.[2]

College career

He played tackle at North Dakota and also served as the long snapper. Thomas was named to the first team All-American squad in 1980. In 1981 he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering.[3] He was inducted into the University of North Dakota Letterwinners Association Hall of Fame in 2000.[4]

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted Thomas in the fifth round (124th overall) in the 1981 NFL Draft.[5] He played in 15 regular season games for the 1981 Chiefs as their long snapper.[6] During a game against the Miami Dolphins on December 13, Thomas incurred a dislocated shoulder.[7][8] He was placed on injured reserve on December 15 through the remainder of the 1981 season. On September 6, 1982 the Chiefs released him.[9]

Todd Thomas - 1983 New Jersey Generals

New Jersey Generals

Thomas signed with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL) on October 15, 1982. He started in 11 games and played in all 18 games during their 1983 Inaugural Season and was frequently used as a blocking tight end.[9]

Arizona Wranglers

On February 14, 1984, the New Jersey Generals traded Thomas to the Arizona Wranglers for linebacker Don Goode.[10] Thomas played in ten games for the Wranglers as a tackle/tight end, and then was released on May 18, 1984.[11]

Pittsburgh Maulers

The Pittsburgh Maulers claimed Thomas off waivers from the Arizona Wranglers on May 18, 1984.[12] He was assigned jersey number 74 (his former high school and college number) and played tackle.[13]

Philadelphia Eagles

After two seasons in the USFL, Thomas returned to the NFL in July 1984 as a center/guard with the Philadelphia Eagles and was assigned jersey number 61.[14] On August 14, 1984, he was placed on the injured reserve list (IR list) with a herniated disc.[15] He remained on the IR list for the entire 1984 season, and then retired from football due to his back injury.

References

  1. ↑ Van Sickle, Gary Badgers star for Sioux The Milwaukee Journal, October 9, 1980, accessed August 12, 2011
  2. ↑ "TODD THOMAS - Athlete (Class of 1977)". www.cedarburg.sportngin.com. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  3. ↑ Thomas named All-American The Milwaukee Journal, December 18, 1980, accessed August 12, 2011
  4. ↑ University of North Dakota Letterwinners Association Hall of Fame
  5. ↑ 1981 NFL Draft, Round 5
  6. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/player/toddthomas/2527290/profile
  7. ↑ Levy, Marv (2004). Where Else Would You Rather Be, p. 245. Sports Publishing L.L.C., ISBN 1-58261-797-X.
  8. ↑ Dolphins Win Playoff Spot; Topple Chiefs The News and Courier, December 14, 1981, accessed August 12, 2011
  9. 1 2 Balzer, Howard (1984). USFL Guide and Register, p. 393. The Sporting News., ISBN 0-89204-171-4.
  10. ↑ Generals Trade 2 And Release 10 The New York Times, February 14, 1984, accessed August 12, 2011
  11. ↑ TRANSACTIONS Spokane Chronicle, May 19, 1984, accessed August 12, 2011
  12. ↑ Cook, Ron Correal shocked by release The Pittsburgh Press, June 8, 1984, accessed August 12, 2011
  13. ↑ 1984 Pittsburgh Maulers Roster
  14. ↑ Eagles sign Thomas Gettysburg Times, July 23, 1984, accessed February 2, 2012
  15. ↑ Parcells names Simms top quarterback, blasts Carson Record-Journal, August 15, 1984, accessed August 12, 2011

External links

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