William Thomas (American football)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Thomas
Date of birth	August 13, 1968
Place of birth	Amarillo, Texas
Position(s)	Linebacker
College	Texas A&M University
Pro Bowls	1995, 1996
Statistics	Pro Football Reference
Team(s)
1991 – 1999 2000 – 2001	Philadelphia Eagles Oakland Raiders

William Thomas (born August 13, 1968 in Amarillo, Texas) is a former American football linebacker for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles (1991 – 1999) and Oakland Raiders (2000 – 2001) franchises.

Thomas attended Palo Duro High School and later played college football in Texas A&M University. After college, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Thomas in the fourth round, 104th overall in the 1991 NFL Draft. He will later played for the Eagles in nine NFL seasons. His most notable seasons were in 1995 and 1996 which he was selected as a member of the NFC's Pro Bowl team. After his Eagles contract expired, Thomas signed with the Oakland Raiders which were head coached by former Eagles assistant, Jon Gruden.

In his last NFL game, Thomas played in the January 19, 2002 AFC divisional playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots in a snowstorm which endured through the entire game. The Patriots were behind in the game 13-3 in the fourth quarter. However, it would later change after the Patriots quarterback Tom Brady dropped the football which was originally ruled to be a Brady fumble was reversed by referee Walt Coleman as an incomplete pass based upon the "tuck rule". After review, Coleman ruled that, because Brady's arm was moving forward when he lost the football, he was deemed to have been in the act of throwing when he lost control of the ball. The Patriots retained the football and eventually won the game. In 2005, now Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden reminiscent the game as "the last game [cornerback] Eric Allen ever played and the last game [linebacker] William Thomas ever played."

William Thomas ended his career with 37 sacks and 27 interceptions.

William Thomas's sports agent was Leigh Steinberg.