Derrick Thomas

Derrick Vincent Thomas (January 1, 1967 – February 8, 2000), nicknamed "D.T.", was an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL).

He was awarded the Butkus Award in 1988.

He was also selected as a consensus All-American at the conclusion of the 1988 season, a season which culminated in the Crimson Tide's thrilling 29-28 victory over Army in the 1988 Sun Bowl.

Thomas played college football at University of Alabama, where he won the Butkus Award, and was selected fourth overall by Kansas City in the 1989 NFL draft.

During his career, he received nine Pro Bowl and two first-team All-Pro selections, and set the single-game sacks record.

Thomas was selected fourth overall in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

He was the first selection made by new head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

Thomas would record his first career sack in the Chiefs week 2 game against the Los Angeles Raiders.

That game was also his first multi-sack game as he finished with 2.5 sacks.

He would record another 7.5 sacks that season finishing with 10 his rookie year.

He was named AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He was also named to the Pro Bowl.

In his second year, Thomas recorded at least a half of a sack in each of the Chiefs first 5 games.

In the Chiefs week 10 game against the Seattle Seahawks, he broke Fred Dean's 7-year old record of sacks in a single game with 7 sacks.

The quarterback he sacked in that game, Dave Krieg, would become his teammate 2 seasons later.

However, on the game's final play, Thomas had a clear shot for an eighth sack, but missed it and the Seahawks would throw a game winning touchdown after the missed sack.

He would later call that play the one play in his career he wished he could have a second chance at.

After the Chiefs' 1999 season, Thomas died of a pulmonary embolism following being injured in a car crash.

In the Chiefs 1999 season, Thomas recorded a career low for sacks with 7.

He would also record his first career interception in the Chiefs week 8 win over the San Diego Chargers.

He would record the final sack of his career in the Chiefs week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In what would be the final game of his career, as he would die 37 days later, the Chiefs played their rival the Oakland Raiders.

With a victory in the game, the Chiefs would qualify for the playoffs.

The Chiefs lost in overtime 41–38.

He didn't manage to record a sack on his former teammate Rich Gannon, but he did record 6 total tackles.

Considered one of the greatest pass rushers of all time, he played 11 seasons with the Chiefs until his death in 2000.

In 2000, Thomas was named a Sun Bowl Legend.

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.

He was posthumously inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

Born in Miami, Florida, Thomas was raised by his mother Edith Morgan.

His father, Air Force Captain and B-52 pilot Robert James Thomas, died during a mission in the Vietnam War.

Thomas played his high school football at South Miami Senior High School.

Alongside Cornelius Bennett and later Keith McCants at Alabama, Thomas spearheaded one of the best defensive lines in college football and smashed many Crimson Tide defensive records, including sacks in a single season.

Thomas was posthumously inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.

He would finish the season with what would prove to be a career high 20 sacks, setting a franchise record that stood until it was broken by Justin Houston in 2014.

He finished 2nd in defensive player of the year voting and was named 1st team All-Pro.

The following season, he would record his first career touchdown on a 23-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Chiefs week 11 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Thomas would record double digits sacks for each of the first four seasons in his career.

In total, 7 of his 11 seasons in the NFL he recorded double digit sack totals.