Derrick Thomas Inducted Into NFL Hall of Fame
by outsidethesidelines on Jan 31, 2009 2:10 PM CST
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PrintFinally, after having to wait a few years longer than I and many others think he should have, former Alabama linebacker Derrick Thomas has been inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Click here for the full story.
For those of you who do not remember Thomas fully, his football career was prolific. He came to Alabama out of Miami, and was an instant success. He was arguably the greatest defensive player we've ever had at Alabama, and he still holds many Alabama records, including the most sacks in a single season with 27 (and keep in mind that occurred in an era when the SEC was still largely three yards and a cloud of dust). He left Alabama as an All-American, and was a top five draft pick with the Kansas City Chiefs. While in Kansas City, he became the cornerstone of the franchise, garnering nine Pro Bowl selections, and becoming one of the most feared players in the game. He still holds the all-time NFL single same sack record with seven.
Unfortunately, Thomas' career and life was cut short in early 2000 when he died from injuries suffered in an auto accident. Even though he left with a few years of his prime still remaining, it is nevertheless good to see Thomas' on-field achievements honored. Anyone who ever watched him play would agree he was one of the greatest ever, and we can now include the Hall of Fame voters as being in agreement.
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Great to Hear
Probably the first player I recall being both a great NFL player and an Alabama alumnus, that I actually saw play. Him and Cornelius Bennett.
Amen brotha!
As a Raiders fan, I hated it when they played KC. I’ve always loved DT, but couldn’t root for his pro team. Hated ’em as a matter of fact. Even when DT blew up and terrorized Raider personnel on the field, I hoot and hollered for his every “stick”, “stuff”, & “booya”.
One of the greatest ever INDEED! Of ALL TIME!
"I was INVERTED!" -Maverick in Top Gun
NFL Network
had a show about the top football factories and when they featured Alabama, Gunther Cunningham, former Kansas City head coach and defensive coordinator, said something like, “If there were an offensive player or coach who said he wasn’t afraid of Derrick Thomas, I’d call him a liar.”
What a dominant, intimidating player.
DT...
…was one of a kind. If KC hadn’t moved him to DE from LB, he would have made the Hall on his first attempt (which, as noted above, he should have, anyway). The game he had vs. Seattle when he set the NFL single-game sack record was surreal. The season he had 27 sacks at Bama was insane…and is two more than the career sack total of the man in second place. He was all muscle, incredibly fast, and one of the three best LBs I have ever seen. RTR.
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jan 31, 2009 3:30 PM CST reply actions
When I briefly played football...
…I was upset that a defensive back couldn’t wear #55. He was my all time favorite Alabama player.
We need a DT NOW!!!
I want a sack monster on our team again.
"I hate everything orange"
It's all about Crimson - ROLL TIDE!!!
I met DT...
a few times. He had a nephew that I grew up with. I was young, but i’ll never forget throwing the pigskin around in the backyard with him. He was a very nice guy too, not like a large portion of today’s players.
Derrick autographed
his KC jersey for me through a mutual friend. I will always treasure it as I felt he was about the best at what he did.
RTR
Sam R.
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