William Thomas (linebacker)

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For other persons of the same name, see William Thomas.

William Thomas
'
Position(s): Linebacker	Jersey #(s): 51, 59
Born: August 13, 1968 (1968-08-13) (age 39) Amarillo, Texas
Career Information
Year(s): 1991–2001
NFL Draft: 1991 / Round: 4 / Pick: 104
College: Texas A&M
Professional Teams
Philadelphia Eagles (1991-1999) Oakland Raiders (2000-2001)
Career Stats
Sacks	37
Interceptions	27
Touchdowns	2
Stats at NFL.com
Career Highlights and Awards
Pro Bowl (x2) (1995, 1996) 20/20 Club

William Harrison Thomas (born August 13, 1968 in Amarillo, Texas) is a former American football linebacker for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles (1991 – 1999) and Oakland Raiders (2000 – 2001) franchises.

Thomas attended Palo Duro High School and later played college football at Texas A&M University. After college, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Thomas in the fourth round, 104th overall in the 1991 NFL Draft. He will later played for the Eagles in nine NFL seasons. His most notable seasons were in 1995 and 1996 which he was selected as a member of the NFC's Pro Bowl team. After his Eagles contract expired, Thomas signed with the Oakland Raiders which were head coached by former Eagles assistant, Jon Gruden.

In his last NFL game, Thomas played in the January 19, 2002 AFC divisional playoff game between the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots in a snowstorm which endured through the entire game. The Patriots were behind in the game 13-3 in the fourth quarter. However, it would later change after the Patriots quarterback Tom Brady dropped the football which was originally ruled to be a Brady fumble was reversed by referee Walt Coleman as an incomplete pass based upon the "tuck rule". After review, Coleman ruled that, because Brady's arm was moving forward when he lost the football, he was deemed to have been in the act of throwing when he lost control of the ball. The Patriots retained the football and eventually won the game. In 2005, now then-head coach Jon Gruden reminisced the game as "the last game [cornerback] Eric Allen ever played and the last game [linebacker] William Thomas ever played."

William Thomas ended his career with 37 sacks and 27 interceptions and is a member of the 20/20 Club. He was also known as an exceptional pass-coverage linebacker during his career.

Thomas will join the coaching staff at La Salle University as a volunteer assistant.

William Thomas's sports agent was Leigh Steinberg.