Derrick Thomas
Encyclopedia
Derrick Vincent Thomas (January 1, 1967February 8, 2000), nicknamed D.T., was an American football
linebacker
and defensive end
for the Kansas City Chiefs
of the National Football League
(NFL). He played his entire 11-year career for the Chiefs after being drafted fourth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft
. Thomas, part of the class of 2009 entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a premier football player throughout the 1990s and is considered one of the best pass rushers of all-time. In 1990 against the Seattle Seahawks, he set an NFL record with seven sacks in a single game. On February 8, 2000, Thomas died from a massive blood clot that developed in his paralyzed lower extremities and traveled to his lungs. His paralysis
was the result of severe injuries sustained in a car accident
weeks earlier.
, Florida
, Thomas was raised by his mother. His father, Air Force
Captain and B-52 pilot Robert James Thomas, died during a mission in the Vietnam War
. Thomas started playing football when he was three years old. He played high school football at South Miami Senior High School.
, Thomas smashed many Crimson Tide defensive records, including sacks in a single season. He was awarded the Butkus Award in 1988 after a season which saw him set an NCAA record 27 sacks along with finishing 10th in Heisman Trophy
balloting. He currently holds the single season NCAA FBS sack record with 27 and what was the career sack record with 52 career sacks. He was also selected as a unanimous All-American at the conclusion of the 1988 season. He was awarded the Sington Soaring Spirit Award by the Lakeshore Foundation. This annual award is named for University of Alabama football legend Fred Sington
.
, fourth overall, and was signed by the Chiefs. He would remain with the Chiefs for his entire career.
Thomas's rookie year was very successful, earning him Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News, and was the first Chiefs' linebacker to be elected to the Pro Bowl
in his first season since Hall of Fame player Bobby Bell
. He would appear in nine Pro Bowls during his career.
Thomas was perhaps most well known for his ability to sack the quarterback and was named an All-Pro 9 times and was voted to 9 Pro Bowls. He totaled 126.5 sacks in his career, ranking 12th all-time in NFL history, and still holds the single game record of 7 quarterback sacks, breaking his own previous NFL record of 6, a feat which occurred against Seattle
's Dave Krieg
on Veterans Day
, 1990. Ironically, it was the sack that Thomas didn't get that decided the game: on the last play, Krieg eluded a blitzing Thomas and threw a touchdown pass to give the Seahawks a 17-16 win.
He is one of only 25 NFL players to achieve 100 or more sacks
, and ranks fifth all-time in Chiefs' history with 649 career tackles. During his career, he also recorded 1 interception and recovered 19 fumbles, returning them for 161 yards and 4 touchdowns. Thomas established Chiefs career records for sacks, safeties, fumble recoveries, and forced fumbles. Off the field, Thomas established the Third and Long Foundation in 1990, which helps inner city youth learn to read and teaches life skills through educational and cultural programs.
On January 31, 2009, Thomas was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his fifth year of eligibility.
went off Interstate 435
as he and two passengers were driving to Kansas City International Airport
during a snowstorm, where he was going to fly to St. Louis to watch the NFC Championship game; police reports indicate that Thomas, who was driving, was speeding and weaving through traffic at the time of the accident. Thomas and one of the passengers were not wearing seat belts and both were thrown from the car; the passenger was killed instantly. The second passenger, who was wearing his safety belt, walked away from the scene uninjured. Thomas was left paralyzed from the chest down. By early February, Thomas was being treated at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital
. The morning of February 8, 2000, while being transferred from his hospital bed to a wheelchair on his way to therapy, Thomas told his mother he was not feeling well. His eyes then rolled back, recalled Frank Eismont, an orthopedic surgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Eismont said the Chiefs star went into cardio-respiratory arrest and died as a result of a pulmonary embolism
, a massive blood clot that developed in his paralyzed lower extremities and traveled through his venous system to his lungs.
. He was officially inducted in Canton, Ohio
on August 8, 2009. He had been a finalist for induction for four years before his induction. The Chiefs announced on June 23, 2009 that they would retire #58 in honor of Thomas, and the retirement ceremony took place on December 6, 2009 when the Chiefs played the Denver Broncos
.
Thomas' mother established the Moms2Moms58 Foundation to honor her son's legacy. The foundation works with professional football players, non-profit organizations, community leaders, political figures and entertainers to educate the public on car seat and seatbelt safety, children's health and sports safety outreach to inner-city youth. Each year Moms2Moms58 hosts the "Celebration of Life Celebrity Weekend" in Derrick's hometown of Miami, FL. The Celebration of Life was established to honor the life and charitable works of Thomas through music, entertainment and fundraising for community enrichment programs. Moms2Moms58 and Celebration of Life are administered through 501(c)(3) status.
He is one of 79 players on the ballot for College Football Hall of Fame.
The Derrick Thomas Academy
, a charter school
in Kansas City, Missouri
, opened in September 2002. It serves 950 children from kindergarten through eighth grade.
rather than his father’s alma mater the University of Alabama
. Shortly after committing to Missouri, he announced that would be attending Longview Community College in Lee's Summit, MO to work on his GPA. His commitment will still be honored.
At the time of Thomas' death, he left no will, and the children's mothers filed suit with the probate court for a share of his $1.16 million in assets, touching off a lengthy court battle.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
for the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
of 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...
(NFL). He played his entire 11-year career for the Chiefs after being drafted fourth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft
1989 NFL Draft
The 1989 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24 , 1989...
. Thomas, part of the class of 2009 entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a premier football player throughout the 1990s and is considered one of the best pass rushers of all-time. In 1990 against the Seattle Seahawks, he set an NFL record with seven sacks in a single game. On February 8, 2000, Thomas died from a massive blood clot that developed in his paralyzed lower extremities and traveled to his lungs. His paralysis
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
was the result of severe injuries sustained in a car accident
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
weeks earlier.
Early life
Born in MiamiMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Thomas was raised by his mother. His father, Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Captain and B-52 pilot Robert James Thomas, died during a mission in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Thomas started playing football when he was three years old. He played high school football at South Miami Senior High School.
College career
Alongside Cornelius BennettCornelius Bennett
Cornelius O'Landa Bennett is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000...
, Thomas smashed many Crimson Tide defensive records, including sacks in a single season. He was awarded the Butkus Award in 1988 after a season which saw him set an NCAA record 27 sacks along with finishing 10th in Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
balloting. He currently holds the single season NCAA FBS sack record with 27 and what was the career sack record with 52 career sacks. He was also selected as a unanimous All-American at the conclusion of the 1988 season. He was awarded the Sington Soaring Spirit Award by the Lakeshore Foundation. This annual award is named for University of Alabama football legend Fred Sington
Fred Sington
Frederic William Sington was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. He would also play professional baseball as an outfielder with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Washington Senators...
.
NFL career
Thomas was selected in the first round of the 1989 NFL Draft1989 NFL Draft
The 1989 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24 , 1989...
, fourth overall, and was signed by the Chiefs. He would remain with the Chiefs for his entire career.
Thomas's rookie year was very successful, earning him Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News, and was the first Chiefs' linebacker to be elected to the 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...
in his first season since Hall of Fame player Bobby Bell
Bobby Bell
Bobby Lee Bell, Sr is a former professional American football linebacker/defensive end. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Chiefs' team that won Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings.- High school career :He excelled in...
. He would appear in nine Pro Bowls during his career.
Thomas was perhaps most well known for his ability to sack the quarterback and was named an All-Pro 9 times and was voted to 9 Pro Bowls. He totaled 126.5 sacks in his career, ranking 12th all-time in NFL history, and still holds the single game record of 7 quarterback sacks, breaking his own previous NFL record of 6, a feat which occurred against Seattle
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
's Dave Krieg
Dave Krieg
David Michael Krieg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He attended Milton College and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent...
on Veterans Day
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark...
, 1990. Ironically, it was the sack that Thomas didn't get that decided the game: on the last play, Krieg eluded a blitzing Thomas and threw a touchdown pass to give the Seahawks a 17-16 win.
He is one of only 25 NFL players to achieve 100 or more sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, and ranks fifth all-time in Chiefs' history with 649 career tackles. During his career, he also recorded 1 interception and recovered 19 fumbles, returning them for 161 yards and 4 touchdowns. Thomas established Chiefs career records for sacks, safeties, fumble recoveries, and forced fumbles. Off the field, Thomas established the Third and Long Foundation in 1990, which helps inner city youth learn to read and teaches life skills through educational and cultural programs.
On January 31, 2009, Thomas was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his fifth year of eligibility.
Statistics
| Season | Age | Team | G | GS | TTAC | SOLO | AST | SACK | SF | FF | FR | BK | TD | INT | YDS | AVG | TD | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 1989 NFL season The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement... |
22 | Kansas City 1989 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1989 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 8–7–1 record and second-place finish in the AFC West. The season was the first with head coach Marty Schottenheimer and general manager Carl Peterson.... |
16 | 16 | 75 | 56 | 19 | 10.0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 1990 NFL season The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period... |
23 | Kansas City 1990 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1990 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with an 11–5 record and Wild Card spot in the 1991 playoffs. In Marty Schottenheimer's first playoff appearance with the Chiefs, the lost to the Miami Dolphins 16–17 in the Wild Card round. Starting with the home opener, the Chiefs began an NFL-record... |
15 | 15 | 63 | 47 | 16 | 20.0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 1991 NFL season The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills.... |
24 | Kansas City 1991 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1991 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 10–6 record and Wild Card spot in the 1992 playoffs. The Chiefs defeated their division rival, the Los Angeles Raiders in the Wild Card round, resulting in the franchise's first playoff victory since Super Bowl IV in 1970... |
16 | 15 | 79 | 60 | 19 | 13.5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 1992 NFL season The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that... |
25 | Kansas City 1992 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1992 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 10–6 record and Wild Card spot in the 1993 playoffs. The Chiefs were shut out by the San Diego Chargers 0–17 in the Wild Card round.... |
16 | 16 | 67 | 54 | 13 | 14.5 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 1993 NFL season The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new... |
26 | Kansas City 1993 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1993 Kansas City Chiefs season was arguably the franchise's most successful in 22 years: The Chiefs won the AFC Western Division and finished with a 11–5 record... |
16 | 15 | 43 | 32 | 11 | 8.0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 1994 NFL season The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season... |
27 | Kansas City 1994 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1994 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 9–7 record and Wild Card spot in the 1995 playoffs. The Chiefs lost to the Miami Dolphins 27–17 in the Wild Card round. Alongside celebrating the NFL's 75th anniversary season, the Chiefs also honored their 35th season as a franchise... |
16 | 15 | 71 | 67 | 4 | 11.0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1995 1995 NFL season The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Carolina Panthers and the Jacksonville Jaguars... |
28 | Kansas City 1995 Kansas City Chiefs season -Schedule:-Playoffs:-References:... |
15 | 15 | 53 | 48 | 5 | 8.0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 1996 1996 NFL season The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end... |
29 | Kansas City 1996 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1996 Kansas City Chiefs season resulted in a 9–7 record and second place finish in the AFC West. Following the Chiefs' painful loss in the playoffs the year before, the Chiefs could not match their might from 1995... |
16 | 14 | 55 | 49 | 6 | 13.0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 1997 1997 NFL season The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee... |
30 | Kansas City 1997 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1997 Kansas City Chiefs were an above-average football team without any major flaws. The 1997 Chiefs are widely considered a major disappointment. The Chiefs finished with a 13–3 record and AFC West division champions... |
12 | 10 | 34 | 30 | 4 | 9.5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 1998 NFL season The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS... |
31 | Kansas City 1998 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1998 Kansas City Chiefs season began with high hopes of the team avenging its loss in the 1998 playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, but instead the Chiefs failed to succeed in the highly competitive AFC West. The team finished with a 7–9 record and 4th place in the AFC... |
15 | 10 | 42 | 35 | 7 | 12.0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 1999 NFL season The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season... |
32 | Kansas City 1999 Kansas City Chiefs season The 1999 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the promotion of Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham to Head coach following the resignation of Marty Schottenheimer after the Chiefs' 1998 season. The team finished with a 9–7 record and 2nd place in the AFC West... |
16 | 16 | 60 | 54 | 6 | 7.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 0 | 5 |
| Career | 169 | 157 | 642 | 532 | 110 | 126.5 | 3 | 41 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 20.0 | 0 | 19 | ||
Death
On January 23, 2000, Thomas' 1999 Chevrolet SuburbanChevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet offered a station wagon body, built on the 1/2 ton truck frame. This model was specifically built for National Guard units and Civilian Conservation Corps units. Much of the body was constructed from wood, and could seat up to eight occupants....
went off Interstate 435
Interstate 435
Interstate 435 is an Interstate Highway beltway that encircles much of the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area in the states of Kansas and Missouri, USA.- Route description :...
as he and two passengers were driving to Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport , originally named Mid-Continent International Airport, is a public airport located 15 miles northwest of the central business district of Kansas City, in Platte County, Missouri, United States. In 2008, 10,469,892 passengers used the airport...
during a snowstorm, where he was going to fly to St. Louis to watch the NFC Championship game; police reports indicate that Thomas, who was driving, was speeding and weaving through traffic at the time of the accident. Thomas and one of the passengers were not wearing seat belts and both were thrown from the car; the passenger was killed instantly. The second passenger, who was wearing his safety belt, walked away from the scene uninjured. Thomas was left paralyzed from the chest down. By early February, Thomas was being treated at Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital
Jackson Memorial Hospital
Jackson Memorial Hospital is a non-profit, tertiary care teaching hospital and the major teaching hospital of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Florida...
. The morning of February 8, 2000, while being transferred from his hospital bed to a wheelchair on his way to therapy, Thomas told his mother he was not feeling well. His eyes then rolled back, recalled Frank Eismont, an orthopedic surgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Eismont said the Chiefs star went into cardio-respiratory arrest and died as a result of a pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...
, a massive blood clot that developed in his paralyzed lower extremities and traveled through his venous system to his lungs.
Legacy
On January 31, 2009, Derrick Thomas was one of six players selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
. He was officially inducted in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
on August 8, 2009. He had been a finalist for induction for four years before his induction. The Chiefs announced on June 23, 2009 that they would retire #58 in honor of Thomas, and the retirement ceremony took place on December 6, 2009 when the Chiefs played 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...
.
Thomas' mother established the Moms2Moms58 Foundation to honor her son's legacy. The foundation works with professional football players, non-profit organizations, community leaders, political figures and entertainers to educate the public on car seat and seatbelt safety, children's health and sports safety outreach to inner-city youth. Each year Moms2Moms58 hosts the "Celebration of Life Celebrity Weekend" in Derrick's hometown of Miami, FL. The Celebration of Life was established to honor the life and charitable works of Thomas through music, entertainment and fundraising for community enrichment programs. Moms2Moms58 and Celebration of Life are administered through 501(c)(3) status.
He is one of 79 players on the ballot for College Football Hall of Fame.
The Derrick Thomas Academy
The Derrick Thomas Academy
The Derrick Thomas Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Kansas City, Missouri. It opened in 2001 and was named for former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas. As of the 2009-2010 school year, the Academy serves approximately 1,000 students in Grades PreK-8...
, a charter school
Charter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, opened in September 2002. It serves 950 children from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Personal life
Derrick Thomas was survived by his seven children, Burgandie, Derrick Jr., Derrion, Derrius, Robert, Micayla, and Alexa, as well as his mother, sisters, brother, nieces and nephews. Son Derrion attended Blue Springs South High School, in Blue Springs, MO., graduating in 2009, opting to play college football at the University of MissouriUniversity of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
rather than his father’s alma mater the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. Shortly after committing to Missouri, he announced that would be attending Longview Community College in Lee's Summit, MO to work on his GPA. His commitment will still be honored.
At the time of Thomas' death, he left no will, and the children's mothers filed suit with the probate court for a share of his $1.16 million in assets, touching off a lengthy court battle.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: HOF 2007 Finalist profile
- ESPN.com Old Derrick Thomas Profile
- Derrick Thomas at ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
- NFL.com Derrick Thomas Profile
- Remember Derrick Thomas
- The Derrick Thomas Academy