RIP Derrick Thomas...13 Years Ago Today

[RyFo18]

Hard to believe it's already been 13 years. Take this in this morning:

[stevenidol]

Always wear your seat belt. Make sure you have a will prepared.

[Chiefaholic]

Originally Posted by Ghost of Maslowski

Chiefs had 10 sacks that game and DT had 6 all by himself, one of which was for a safety on Jeff George right after that pic was taken (i believe).

I only remember DT "calling" for a safety twice and that game was one of them.

edit: Sept 11th, 1994, SF @ KC was the other game i was thinking of, where DT called a safety and then got it. That time it was Steve Young and KC won the game 24-17.

According to Carl Peterson's HOF induction speech for DT, Thomas "called" his shot 3 times and got it, but i only remembered those two.

I was lower level, Chiefs side, on the 15 yard line for the Raider game. That game was one of the loudest I recall at Arrowhead.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by DC.chief

Such a great guy

You and I must have completely different definition of "great guy".

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

DT WAS the 90s Chiefs.
Posted via Mobile Device

[HolyHat]

This is an article that was done on Jan 23rd (the day the accident happened)

http://www.chiefs360.com/2013/01/23/...mas/#more-1310

On this day, (January 23rd) 13 years ago , Derrick Thomas’ 1999 Chevrolet Suburban went off I-435 as he was driving to Kansas City International Airport during a snowstorm. He was going to fly to St. Louis to watch the NFC Championship game. Thomas and one of the passengers were not wearing seat belts and both were thrown from the car. The passenger was killed instantly. The second passenger, who was wearing his safety belt, walked away from the scene uninjured. Thomas was left paralyzed from the chest down, he passed away the morning of February 8, 2000 due to complications from the accident.

In his 11 seasons with the Chiefs, Thomas was responsible for 126 sacks and 642 tackles. He still holds the single game record of 7 quarterback sacks. He is one of only 25 NFL players to achieve 100 or more sacks. He was truly a pass rush specialist at 6’3″, 243-pounds.

His contribution to the Chiefs franchise was nearly immeasurable. Prior to his arrival in Kansas City, the team had made just one playoff appearance since 1971. In the 11 years that Thomas anchored the defense, the Chiefs finished first or second in the AFC West ten times, made seven playoff appearances, and won three division titles.

As much as anything Derrick did on the football field, beyond the NFL record of seven sacks in one game, and yet with all the sacks in his career, all the fumbles caused and recovered, and all the tackles, it was his contributions off the field that stand out to me. Derrick’s continuing legacy is the Third and Long Foundation, a reading program he established soon after coming to Kansas City and to which he devoted countless hours and finances. More than 1,000 children have gone through that program since it’s inception.

Derrick Thomas loved football and he loved people. His attitude was infectious. He made everyone around him pick up the pace. Still, he always had time for everyone because he had a huge heart and a smile that was as big as Derrick himself.

On January 31, 2009, Derrick Thomas was one of six players selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was his fifth year of eligibility. He was officially inducted in Canton, Ohio on August 8, 2009. The Kansas City Chiefs retired his number 58 on December 6, 2009 when the Chiefs played the Denver Broncos.



Kansas City not only lost a Hall of Fame football player 13 years ago, they also lost a Hall of Fame person.

[RyFo18]

Man...wear a damn seat belt.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by RyFo18

Man...wear a damn seat belt.

And a condom.

[spanky 52]

It was because of this I've worn a seat belt every time I'm in a vehicle. Such an easy habit to get into. Yeah, he was a great football player but not such a great person.

[Chief Roundup]

Originally Posted by Ghost of Maslowski

October 4th, 1998. KC won 17-6 after a 50+ minute rain delay.




This has always been one of my favorite pics. Long time Chiefs fans will remember what happened next.

Definately an awesome pic. I have the other angle for my avatar. Never have changed it. Never will.