Ken Thomas (American football)
Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Hanford, California | February 11, 1960||||||||||||
Died: | November 13, 2002 | ||||||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 211 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Hanford (Hanford, California) | ||||||||||||
College: | San Jose State | ||||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 1983 / Round: 7 / Pick: 173 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Player stats at PFR |
Ken Thomas (February 11, 1960 — November 13, 2002) was a professional American football running back who played in the National Football League. He played college football at San Jose State.
Early life and high school[]
Thomas was born and grew up in Hanford, California and attended Hanford High School, where he competed in football, track and basketball.[1] Thomas was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame in 2010.[2]
College career[]
Thomas was named All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association in 1979 and 1981, when he was also a second-team NEA All-America selection. Thomas tied the school record with 14 interceptions and holds the record for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a season (3) and for a career (5).[3] Thomas also ran track at SJSU and was named an All-American 1981 as a member of the Spartans' 400-meter relay team that finished fifth at the NCAA championships.[2]
Professional career[]
Thomas was selected in the seventh round of the 1983 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.[4][5] He was moved to running back in the preseason and rushed for 55 yards on 15 carries and caught 28 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown.[6] Thomas injured his knee in a preseason game in 1984 an spent the season on injured reserve and 1985 on the physically unable to perform list before ultimately retiring.[7]
Personal life[]
Thomas's older brother, Jewerl Thomas, also played football at SJSU and in the NFL. Thomas died in 2002.[2]
References[]
- ^ "Thomas changes spots again". Spartan Daily. August 30, 1982.
- ^ a b c "Trio to join HHS grid hall". Hanford Sentinel. June 18, 2010.
- ^ "San Jose State University Football 2017 Media Guide" (PDF).
- ^ McMullen, Matt (April 7, 2020). "A Historical Look at the Chiefs' Seventh-Round Draft Picks". Chiefs.com.
- ^ "The Greatest Kansas City Chiefs, By the Numbers: #35". arrowheadpride.com.
- ^ Stallard, Mark (2001). "KC Chiefs All-Time Roster". Kansas City Chiefs Encyclopedia. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 303. ISBN 9781582612751.
- ^ "The Kansas City Chiefs waived 10 players Monday, including..." United Press International.
- 1960 births
- 2002 deaths
- American football running backs
- San Jose State Spartans football players
- Kansas City Chiefs players
- Players of American football from California
- People from Hanford, California
- American football defensive backs
- San Jose State Spartans men's track and field athletes