CANTON, Ohio — While Derrick Thomas' death will forever haunt football fans, the star linebacker remains alive in spirit to this day.
Thomas, who died in February 2000 following a car accident, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday — a moment Kansas City Chiefs fans have looked forward to ever since the play-maker's shocking death.
"For all Derrick Thomas fans, the light has gone back on," said former Chiefs president Carl Peterson, who presented Thomas.
The induction came nine years after Thomas' death at 33 years old. The Chiefs' sack artist of the 1990s was critically injured in an automobile accident on Jan. 23, 2000 as he was en route to the airport to catch a flight to see the NFC Championship game in St. Louis.
Thomas, who was driving a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban that went off Interstate 435 during a snowstorm, was ejected from his vehicle and left paralyzed from the waist down. He later died at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
"Today, Derrick Thomas joins the company of the finest who have ever played the game of professional football," said Peterson, who closed his speech by calling Thomas his son. "It's appropriate he takes his place besides the two great Kansas City linebackers, who are here, Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier. I know the other Chiefs Hall of Famers here, and some have passed, welcome Derrick also."
Thomas was joined in the Class of 2009 by Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith, Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr., Pittsburgh cornerback Rod Woodson, Minnesota offensive guard Randall McDaniel and Dallas Cowboys receiver Bob Hayes, who was also inducted posthumously.
Derrick Thomas Career Notes:
- Thomas was the first defensive player selected in the 1989 NFL Draft. He was one of three future Hall of Famers taken in the first four picks that year – QB Troy Aikman went first overall, RB Barry Sanders No. 2 and Thomas as No. 4.
- Derrick created the "3rd and Long" program to help inner city kids learn to read.
- Thomas played tight end and running back at South High School in Miami.
- His heroes were listed as Pro Football Hall of Famer linebackers Mike Singletary and Lawrence Taylor.
- Thomas’s final game came in the 1999 season finale played on Jan. 2, 2000. He became the only player in Chiefs history to play in a game in three separate decades.
- The Chiefs had winning seasons 10 times during his 11-year career. In the 15 seasons prior to his arrival the Chiefs only had two winning seasons.
- Thomas was well known for stripping the ball while sacking quarterbacks. Of his team record 45 forced fumbles, 34 came on quarterbacks of which 20 were recovered by the Chiefs. Four of those were returned for touchdowns.
- Had 27 multi-sack games in his career. Kansas City was 22-5 in those games.
- Won AFC Defensive Player of the Week Award in his second NFL game after recording seven tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in KC’s 24-19 win over the Raiders on Sept. 17, 1989.
- Was first linebacker ever drafted in first round by the Chiefs.
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