Derrick Thomas: QBs Crumbled When He Rumbled – Happy Memorial Day. It’s hard to figure out what to write about on such a sacred day as this. Many websites will have stories about the great Arizona Cardinals linebacker Pat Tillman killed by friendly-fire in Afghanistan, as well they should. However, there are other stories, too. Such as that of our own Hall-of-Fame Linebacker Derrick Thomas. Thomas never served in the military, but his father did. As an Air Force pilot in Vietnam, Air Force Captain and B-52 pilot Robert James Thomas was shot down and killed on a mission in Vietnam. D.T. was only five.
In a rare show of good judgement… for the seventies/eighties… the Chiefs (remember, we chose Todd Blackledge ahead of: Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Bruce Matthews, and Darrel Green in 1983, all Hall-of-Famers) then nabbed Mr. Thomas in the 1989 NFL Draft in the first round (4th overall). Once a Chief, he would never don a jersey other than the Red and Gold.
D.T. proved a a sack monster. For all his accomplishments, Derrick Thomas once said:
“On the field accolades are great, but in order to reach your full potential, you have to overstep the boundaries of football and go out into the community and be an All-Pro there too.”
In 1990, Derrick Thomas created the Third and Long Foundation based in K.C. with the promise to “sack illiteracy” in the lives of 9-to-13 year-old urban kids. On the field, he started his first year as a Chief registering 10 sacks. D.T. never looked back. For many years, he and teammate Neil Smith were the face of the Chiefs defense.
Surprisingly, D.T. did not nab too many passes. His only interception in the NFL came in his last season, 1999, but who needs to grab INTs when they can just get to the source, right? Derrick Thomas accrued a total of 126.5 sacks, 19 fumble recoveries, 41 forced fumbles, and 642 tackles (532 solo) over the course of his career. He played a total of 169 games for the city of fountains. By comparison, Lawrence Taylor had 132.5 sacks in 13 seasons while DT had 126.5 in just 11 seasons. The all time NFL sack leader, Bruce Smith, had 200 sacks but it took him 19 seasons to get there (Smith = 10.5 sacks per year compared to DT’s = 11.5 sacks per).
Derrick Thomas thrilled Chiefs fans for eleven seasons. He, along with teammate Neil Smith, founded the Third and Long Foundation to “sack illiteracy” change the lives of 9- to 13-year-old urban children that face challenging and life-threatening situations in the Kansas City area. It still thrives today. His impact on Chiefs Kingdom and the Chiefs organization cannot be overstated. In the victory parade after Super Bowl LIV, Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark acknowledged the contributions and showed his respect for D.T. by wearing his #58 jersey.
Derrick Thomas also once stated:
“I don’t ever want it to be a question whether I’m a Pro Bowl-caliber player. I believe I’m the best at what I do, and it’s my responsibility to play like I’m capable of playing to help this defense as much as possible.”
While others will tout greats like the New York Giants Michael Strahan, the Buffalo Bills Bruce Smith, and the Green Bay Packers Reggie White, all of whom had better statistics than did D.T., nobody — and I mean nobody — did it with as much style, grace, and panache as did Mr. Thomas. Watching D.T. crumble a quarterback was poetry in motion! The man was fluidity in flesh.
Sadly, after the 1999 season, D.T. was in a car accident that paralyzed him from the legs down. Our legendary QB sacker would die just days later from a pulmonary embolism that developed in his legs and traveled to his lungs.
Derrick Thomas was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014. He is, of course, a member of the Chiefs exclusive and hallowed Ring of Honor. His #58 jersey is retired.
I can think of no other Chiefs player whom I could have written about on such a solemn day as today other than Derrick Thomas. Not only because of the tragic loss of his father, in service of his country, at such a young age, but, also, because of his son’s, Derrick Thomas, perseverance. Despite losing seasons, despite subpar squads and coaches, D.T. kept coming. He gave his all on the field every game. It showed and often kept alive the hopes of an otherwise disenchanted Chiefs Kingdom. Heck, I reckon that there are some retired QBs who still have nightmares (yes, Dave Krieg, I’m talking to you).
So, today, as you’re reading this, give a thought or two and think fondly on your remembrances of our own #58. More importantly however, remember his father, AF Captain Robert James Thomas, along with the tens of thousands of other men and women, who also sacrificed their lives so that we might enjoy our freedom.
Enjoy your Memorial Day, Chiefs Kingdom. Please keep the men and women in uniform taken too soon along with their loved ones in your thoughts and your prayers. Stay safe and keep your loved ones safer.
Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne
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