Old School Heroes of the NFL: Derrick Thomas

At 6'3" and 247lbs. Derrick Thomas wasn't small and neither was his defensive game going back to his Alabama days in college. All he did there was set a school record of 52 sacks during his time there and in 1988 won the Butkus Award which is given to the best NCAA linebacker in the country. It was only a matter of time before a team in the NFL draft would be happy to take Thomas.

In 1989 the Kansas City Chiefs were selecting 4th in the draft and after Troy Aikman, Tony Mandarich, and Barry Sanders were taken the team couldn't pass up on the Crimson Tide superstar. Thomas was one their best investments as he spent the next 11 seasons specializing in sacking quarterbacks accumulating 126.5 sacks which of course is the Kansas City Chief record. He also holds Chiefs records for safeties (3), fumble recoveries (18), and forced fumbles (45) and producing the single season sack record in Kansas City history at 20 in 1990. In fact between 89-90 Thomas had 30 sacks overall. Each year the team has its own club MVP award which is now named after Thomas.

However, as Thomas grew in popularity in the NFL his community grew around him. He was well known as one of the spokesman of the United Way over the course of his career and starting the 3rd and Long Foundation helping and encouraging children to read. Other accomplishments include the National Football League Man of the Year award, Sports Illustrated Kids Good Sport Award, and several more that left Chiefs fans and many others around the country admiring the Kansas City Chiefs prized possession.

So much more could have been done with many years left ahead of him, but an accident in the year 2000 when his SUV rolled leaving him paralyzed from a spinal injury. As it later looked as though he would recover, Thomas had a heart attack 16 days into recovery and died on February 8, 2000. The football world mourned the loss of a true hero and after the announcement was made of his passing over 2,500 sports fans paid their respects relaying messages to ESPN about their most memorable moments of Derrick Thomas.

Today you can still find in downtown Kansas City The Derrick Thomas Academy which is a tuition free school for Kindergarten-8th grade. A school where parents are encouraged to come interact in their child's classes the DTA as many call it has become a central schooling location for over 900 students around the city. 83% of the students qualify or receive free lunches within the school while another 7% qualify for reduced lunches. If you would like further information on the school you can find it by clicking the link within this paragraph.

All in all Derrick Thomas was a citizen that many admired for the efforts he made to the community. He was a great football player with a greater purpose which is why he is an Old School Hero of the NFL.