Orlando Thomas
Encyclopedia
Orlando Thomas is a former defensive back
who played in the NFL
from 1995 until 2001. He played his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings
.
Thomas stood 6-1 and weighed 225 pounds during his playing career. He was a second-round draft pick out of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana
) in 1995. He started 87 of 98 games for the Vikings, intercepting 22 passes, including 9 during his rookie season, before retiring following the 2001 season.
On June 29, 1997, he was arrested in his hometown of Crowley, Louisiana
and charged with inciting a riot and two counts of disturbing the peace. The charges were reduced to one count of disturbing the peace, and Thomas plead no contest. He was ordered to pay a $100 fine, pay court costs, and perform 50 hours of community service.
Thomas married his wife Demetra on February 27, 1998, only two months after their first date and five months after first meeting at Cheese Car Wash in north Minneapolis. They have two children, Alexis and Orlando Jr. Demetra has a child from a previous relationship.
In 1999, Thomas was charged after allegedly assaulting his wife Demetra. He later pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of simple battery.
Thomas revealed in June 2007 that he is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
.
On October 28, 2009, it was reported on the Minnesota Vikings' website that Thomas had died. This was incorrect. The organization has withdrawn the report and apologized to Thomas and his family.
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
who played in the NFL
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...
from 1995 until 2001. He played his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
Thomas stood 6-1 and weighed 225 pounds during his playing career. He was a second-round draft pick out of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana
University of Louisiana
University of Louisiana may refer to:* University of Louisiana System, public multi-campus university system** Northwestern State University of Louisiana...
) in 1995. He started 87 of 98 games for the Vikings, intercepting 22 passes, including 9 during his rookie season, before retiring following the 2001 season.
On June 29, 1997, he was arrested in his hometown of Crowley, Louisiana
Crowley, Louisiana
Crowley is a city in and the parish seat of Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 14,225 at the 2000 census. The city is noted for its annual International Rice Festival. Crowley has the nickname of "Rice Capital of America", because at one time it was a major center for...
and charged with inciting a riot and two counts of disturbing the peace. The charges were reduced to one count of disturbing the peace, and Thomas plead no contest. He was ordered to pay a $100 fine, pay court costs, and perform 50 hours of community service.
Thomas married his wife Demetra on February 27, 1998, only two months after their first date and five months after first meeting at Cheese Car Wash in north Minneapolis. They have two children, Alexis and Orlando Jr. Demetra has a child from a previous relationship.
In 1999, Thomas was charged after allegedly assaulting his wife Demetra. He later pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of simple battery.
Thomas revealed in June 2007 that he is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
.
On October 28, 2009, it was reported on the Minnesota Vikings' website that Thomas had died. This was incorrect. The organization has withdrawn the report and apologized to Thomas and his family.