Duane Thomas
Dallas, Texas, U.S. | |||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
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Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Lincoln (Dallas) | ||||||||||||
College: | West Texas State | ||||||||||||
NFL draft: | 1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Duane Julius Thomas (born June 21, 1947) is an American former professional
.Early years
Born and raised in
After a freshman year with just 10 carries for 42 yards, he led the country with 7.2 yards per carry on still-limited duty his sophomore season (83 carries for 596 yards). After 113 carries for 708 yards his junior year, he broke through his senior year with 199 carries for 1,072 yards and 10 touchdowns. He ended his college career with 396 carries for 2,376 yards (then 2nd all-time to Bill Cross, currently 8th).In 1970, he played in the Coaches All-America Game.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys (first stint)
Thomas was selected by the
During the offseason Thomas requested his three-year contract be rewritten. When Cowboys management refused to renegotiate, he called team president
In October 1971, Thomas scored the first touchdown in the new Texas Stadium playing against the Patriots.[8] That same season, Thomas led the league in rushing touchdowns (11) and total touchdowns (13). He also was named All-Pro and led the Cowboys with 95 rushing yards and a touchdown in Dallas' 24–3 win over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, the franchise’s first. When asked about playing in the “ultimate game” before the contest, he responded, "If it's the ultimate (game), how come they're playing it again next year?"[9] In a postgame interview following that Super Bowl, CBS television announcer Tom Brookshier noted Thomas' speed and asked him, rhetorically, "Are you that fast?" Thomas responded, "Evidently." According to Hunter S. Thompson, "All he did was take the ball and run every time they called his number—which came to be more and more often, and in the Super Bowl Thomas was the whole show."[10]
Thomas was reportedly voted as the
During the 1972 off-season he became even more isolated and insubordinate, so he was traded to the San Diego Chargers for Mike Montgomery and Billy Parks on July 31, 1972.[12]
San Diego Chargers
Thomas began his stint with the Chargers by earning a 20-day suspension for failing to report to the team, and matters deteriorated from there. He never played a game for the Chargers, as the team placed him on the reserve list, making him ineligible for the rest of the 1972 season.
On July 20, 1973, the Chargers traded Thomas to defending NFC champion Washington in exchange for the Redskins' first draft choice (#22-Mike Williams) in the 1975 NFL draft and their second draft choice (#46-David Hill) in 1976.[13]
Washington Redskins
Thomas played with the
The Hawaiians (WFL)
In August
Dallas Cowboys (second stint)
On May 1, 1976, the Dallas Cowboys signed Thomas again for a comeback, but he was waived before the season started.[18]
British Columbia Lions (CFL)
Thomas signed with the
Green Bay Packers (NFL)
In March 1979, Thomas was signed by the Green Bay Packers, but was waived before the season started.[19][20] He finished his NFL career with 2,038 rushing yards, 453 carries and 21 touchdowns. He also caught 38 passes for 297 yards and 3 touchdowns.
NFL career statistics
Legend | |
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Led the league | |
Bold | Career high |
Regular season
Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
1970 | DAL | 14 | 8 | 151 | 803 | 5.3 | 47 | 5 | 10 | 73 | 7.3 | 17 | 0 |
1971 | DAL | 11 | 10 | 175 | 793 | 4.5 | 56 | 11 | 13 | 153 | 11.8 | 34 | 2 |
1973 | WAS | 13 | 0 | 32 | 95 | 3.0 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 40 | 8.0 | 13 | 0 |
1974 | WAS | 11 | 3 | 95 | 347 | 3.7 | 66 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 3.1 | 9 | 1 |
49 | 21 | 453 | 2,038 | 4.5 | 66 | 21 | 38 | 297 | 7.8 | 34 | 3 |
Playoffs
Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
1970 | DAL | 3 | 3 | 75 | 313 | 4.2 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 45 | 7.5 | 14 | 1 |
1971 | DAL | 3 | 3 | 55 | 205 | 3.7 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 5.4 | 11 | 0 |
6 | 6 | 130 | 518 | 4.0 | 23 | 4 | 11 | 72 | 6.5 | 14 | 1 |
Legacy
With the help of freelance sportswriter
Before he was out of football, Thomas got a job at Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in the Legal Department and decided to go back into football. He was called by the Green Bay Packers and went there to try out, but they used him mainly as a blocking back during that preseason and he did not make the team.
In 2004, he was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame.[21]
In 2006, Thomas was one of three Cowboys, along with Bob Lilly and Roger Staubach, interviewed for 1971 Cowboys edition of America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, the NFL Network anthology series chronicling each Super Bowl champion.
References
- ^ a b c Aiello, Greg (June 11, 1976). "New Duane Thomas: Finally I know where I'm going". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Florida. (Los Angeles Times / Washington Post). p. 3F.
- ^ "Duane Thomas Unhappy With 3 Year Contract". The Day. Associated Press. May 11, 1971. Retrieved February 19, 2016 – via Google News.
- ^ See list at Football Reference.com; a feat since accomplished by three players.
- ^ "Thomas Arrested in Drug Incident," United Press International (UPI), Sunday, January 30, 1972. Retrieved October 23, 2020
- ^ "Cowboys unload Thomas, obtain Garret from Pats". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. August 1, 1971. p. 4B.
- ^ "Thomas packs bags, exits Patriot camp". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. August 4, 1971. p. 2B.
- ^ "Thomas trade called off". Victoria Advocate. (Texas). Associated Press. August 5, 1971. p. 2B.
- ^ "Pats Routed". The Lewiston Daily Sun. October 25, 1971. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ Scheiber, Dave. "Super Bowl XXXIX: Patriots vs. Eagles," St. Petersburg (FL) Times, Sunday, February 6, 2005. Retrieved October 23, 2020
- ISBN 978-0-87932-053-9
- ISBN 978-0-7603-3651-9.
- ^ "Cowboys trade Duane Thomas". Victoria Advocate. Texas. Associated Press. August 2, 1972. p. 1B.
- ^ Reid, Ron (August 27, 1973). "Staring and starring". Sports Illustrated. p. 16.
- ^ "Redskins have full stomach, free Duane Thomas". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). Associated Press. August 14, 1975. p. 19.
- ^ "Redskins release Duane Thomas". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. August 14, 1975. p. 31.
- ^ "Duane Thomas playing for Hawaiians". Tuscaloosa News. Alabama. Associated Press. August 25, 1975. p. 11.
- ^ "Thomas refuses to take cut". St. Petersburg Independent. Florida. Associated Press. October 10, 1975. p. 2C.
- ^ "Cowboys Sign Duane Thomas". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. May 1, 1976. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ "Green Bay Packers cut Duane Thomas". Lakeland Ledger. Florida. August 21, 1979. p. 4D.
- ^ "Thomas cut as Packers trim roster". Milwaukee Sentinel. August 21, 1979. p. 1, part 2. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
- ^ "Ex-Cowboy Duane Thomas 'found peace in the game'". Retrieved February 19, 2016.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·