Tommy Thompson (linebacker)

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Tommy Thompson
Washington Redskins
)
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • NFL champion (1950
    )
  • AAFC champion (1949)
  • First-team All-Pro (1953)
  • 2× Second-team All-Pro (1951, 1952)
  • Third-team All-American (1948)
  • 3× All-SoCon (1946-1948)
  • William & Mary Hall of Fame (1969)
  • Virginia Sports Hall of Fame (1975)
Career NFL statistics
Games played:54
Interceptions:6
Fumble recoveries:8
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Thomas Wright Thompson (January 6, 1927 – October 1, 1990) was an American football linebacker and center who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the National Football League (NFL) in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He played college football at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.

Thompson was a standout athlete at his high school in

U.S. military during World War II – and helped the team to a series of winning records and bowl appearances. He was named an all-Southern Conference center three times in college and was a third-string All-American in 1948, his senior
year.

Thompson joined the Browns in 1949 and played primarily as a linebacker as the team won the AAFC championship. The Browns joined the NFL in 1950 and won the league championship that year. Thompson was a leader for Cleveland, serving as its captain in 1952 and 1953, his final two seasons. He was named a first-team

Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
in 1975. He died of cancer in 1990.

Early life and college

Thompson grew up in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey and attended Woodbridge High School.[1][2] He played football there and was named an all-state athlete under head coach Nick Priscoe.[1][2] After graduating, Thompson attended the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where he continued to play football as a center.[2] He also played linebacker on defense for the William & Mary Indians, often staying on the field for the entire duration of games.[3] Thompson played for William & Mary in 1944 and between 1946 and 1948 – his career was interrupted by a brief stint in the U.S. Army during World War II.[4] He was a leader on the team and an anchor of its line.[3][5]

William & Mary finished with an 8–2

College All-Star Game, a now-defunct matchup between the champion of the professional National Football League (NFL) and a selection of the best college players in the country.[3][4]

Professional career

Thompson was drafted in 1948 by the

5-3 defense in his first three seasons.[10]

The AAFC dissolved after the 1949 season, and the Browns were absorbed by the more established NFL.

5-2 defense.[10] He was named a second-team All-Pro in 1951 and 1952 and a first-team All-Pro in 1953.[10] Thompson, who was known as a sure tackler and a tenacious leader on defense, was the Browns' team captain in his final two seasons.[2][10]

Later life and death

Thompson started a career in the financial industry after retiring from football.[5] He was inducted into the William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame in 1969 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.[2][13] Thompson, who served on William & Mary's board of trustees, was appointed a senior vice president at the brokerage Shearson Lehman Hutton in early 1990, heading the company's Baltimore office.[5] He died of cancer in later that year.[5] Thompson and his wife, Elizabeth, had four children.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "1952 Disastrous for Inexperienced High School Grid Team, But Pro Golden Bears' Record Best in Many Campaigns" (PDF). Raritan Township and Fords Beacon. Woodbridge. December 31, 1952. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Thomas Thompson". Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Museum. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d Kalison, Pete (October 10, 2012). "One man's guide to Tribe football's greatest 11". College of William & Mary. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Tommy Thompson". Tribe Athletics. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Thomas Thompson, former football player". The Baltimore Sun. October 3, 1990. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "William & Mary Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  7. ^ "Tommy W. Thompson NFL Football Statistics". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  8. ^ "1949 Cleveland Browns Statistics & Players". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  9. ^ Piascik 2007, pp. 144–146.
  10. ^ a b c d Peticca, Mike (September 4, 2012). "Cleveland Browns' 100 best all-time players: No. 80 -- Tommy Thompson". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  11. ^ Piascik 2007, pp. 141–144.
  12. ^ Piascik 2007, pp. 181, 233, 253, 281.
  13. ^ "Tribe Football in the W&M Hall of Fame". Tribe Athletics. Retrieved August 5, 2013.

Bibliography

  • Piascik, Andy (2007). The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing.
    ISBN 978-1-58979-571-6
    .
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