Bill Thompson (American football)
Encyclopedia
William Allen Thompson is a former American football
cornerback
and safety in the National Football league
. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos
in the third round of the 1969 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Maryland State College
.
Thompson was a three-time Pro Bowl
selection and was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 1987.
from 1969-1981. During his career he was selected to the three Pro Bowl
s in 1977
, 1978
, and 1981
and was an All-Pro
selection in 1977. He is currently second on the Broncos all-time list for games started with 179 and sixth in games played with 179.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
and safety in the National Football league
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 1969 NFL Draft
1969 NFL Draft
The 1969 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft, the third and final year in which the NFL and American Football League held a joint draft of college players. The draft took place on January 28–29, 1969....
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Maryland State College
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
University of Maryland Eastern Shore located on 776 acres in Princess Anne, Maryland, United States, is part of the University System of Maryland...
.
Thompson was a three-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection and was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 1987.
Professional career
Thompson played his entire 13-year career for the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1969-1981. During his career he was selected to the three Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s in 1977
1978 Pro Bowl
The 1978 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 23, 1978 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. The final score was NFC 14, AFC 13. Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears was the game's MVP....
, 1978
1979 Pro Bowl
The 1979 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 29, 1979 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The final Score was NFC 13, AFC 7. Ahmad Rashad of the Minnesota Vikings was the game's MVP. As of 2011, this was the last Pro Bowl to be played on a Monday, and the last one to be...
, and 1981
1982 Pro Bowl
The 1982 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 31, 1982 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 16, NFC 13. Kellen Winslow of the San Diego Chargers and Lee Roy Selmon of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the game's MVPs. The referee was Red Cashion....
and was an All-Pro
All-Pro
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL for the best players of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s...
selection in 1977. He is currently second on the Broncos all-time list for games started with 179 and sixth in games played with 179.