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Thomas Named 2000 Chiefs Hall of Fame Enshrinee
Feb. 14, 2001
Kansas City Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and President Carl Peterson announced on Wednesday that the late Derrick Thomas will be honored as the 2000 enshrinee in the Chiefs Hall of Fame. Thomas will become the 31st member of that illustrious group when he is officially inducted at Kansas City’s annual 101 Banquet on March 3rd.
A three-year waiting period following a player’s retirement is customary before an individual is considered for this honor, but according to Hunt, that requirement was waived in the case of Thomas.
"We thought it would be a little more meaningful while there are still a lot of guys on the team who played with Derrick," said Hunt of the decision to waive the three-year waiting period. "He was a great player and a great personality who will always be missed."
The cornerstone around which Peterson rebuilt the Chiefs franchise, Thomas was Peterson’s initial first round draft choice upon joining the Chiefs organization in ’89. Selected with the fourth overall pick out of the University of Alabama that year, Thomas would go on to spend 11 glorious seasons in a Kansas City uniform from ‘89-99.
"Given the magnitude of his contribution to this franchise and the Kansas City community, both Lamar and I felt it was appropriate that Derrick be considered for induction into the Chiefs Hall of Fame at this time," Peterson commented. "I know I speak for the countless individuals whose lives he touched when I say that Derrick Thomas will always be a Kansas City Chief and will always hold a very special place in our hearts. On behalf of the entire Chiefs family, we take great pride in welcoming Derrick Thomas into the Chiefs Hall of Fame."
Thomas, who tragically passed away on February 8, 2000 following a serious auto accident on January 23, 2000, becomes the sixth Kansas City linebacker to enter the Chiefs Hall of Fame. He was proceeded by Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, E.J. Holub, Jim Lynch and Sherrill Headrick. Bell and Lanier are also enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Thomas becomes eligible for Pro Football Hall of Fame consideration in 2005.
"I don't think there's any question that in five years' time, he'll be strongly considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame," added Hunt.
This pass rusher extraordinaire served as the heart and soul of the Chiefs franchise during his tenure with Kansas City, helping guide the club to 10 winning seasons and seven playoff appearances over his career. He played in 169 games (158 starts) from ‘89-99 and produced nine consecutive Pro Bowl appearances following the ‘89-97 seasons, the most of any player in team history.
Thomas not only a bona fide star in terms of his contributions on the field, but also illuminated countless lives through his charitable efforts, spearheaded by his "Third and Long Foundation." He received the ’93 NFL Man of the Year Award, the ’95 Byron "Whizzer" White Humanitarian Award and was named former President George Bush’s "832nd Point of Light". In ’99 he also received the prestigious Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall of Fame Award at the 100th VFW National Convention in Kansas City.
On the field, he was one of the most dominant defensive players of his day thanks to his patented sack-and-strip maneuver. Thomas still holds Chiefs career records for sacks (126.5), safeties (3), fumble recoveries (18) and forced fumbles (45). His 126.5 sacks were the fourth-highest total ever by a linebacker at the time of his death. He produced a club-record 20.0 sacks in ’90, including an NFL-record seven sacks in a single game vs. Seattle (11/11/90). He is fifth in team history with 728 career tackles and also produced one interception, 34 passes defensed and 444 quarterback pressures during his 11-year playing career.
His is only player in Chiefs history to see action with the club in three different decades with his final contest coming on January 2, 2000. He also owns a share of another franchise mark with 10 career playoff appearances. A regular attendee at the 101 Banquet, Thomas won the Mack Lee Hill Award as a rookie in ’89 and was the initial two-time winner (’91, 94) of the club’s Most Valuable Player Award which was subsequently renamed the Derrick Thomas Award following his death.
A native of Miami, Florida, Thomas posthumously received his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Social Welfare from the University of Alabama in May of 2000. During his tenure with the Crimson Tide, he established a school record with 52.0 sacks and won the Butkus Award as the nation’s best collegiate linebacker following his senior campaign in ’88. In addition to his induction in the Chiefs Hall of Fame, Thomas is also a member of the University of Alabama Hall of Fame.
from kc chiefs.com
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