Role American football player Parents Stanley Thomas Name Bryan Thomas Weight 118 kg | College: UAB 40 yard dash time 4.47 seconds Height 1.93 m | |
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Position: Linebacker / Defensive End Date of birth: (1979-06-07) June 7, 1979 (age 36) NFL draft: 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22 Education University of Alabama at Birmingham Similar People Woody Johnson, Rex Ryan, Todd Bowles | ||
Place of birth: Birmingham, Alabama High school: Adamsville (AL) Minor | ||
Bryan Thomas (born June 7, 1979) is a former American football linebacker and defensive end. He was drafted by the Jets 22nd overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Contents
- Early life
- 2002 NFL Draft
- 2002 season
- 2003 season
- 2004 season
- 2005 season
- 2006 season
- 2007 season
- 2008 season
- 2009 season
- 2010 season
- 2011 season
- 2012 season
- References
Early life
Thomas was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he played college football for the UAB Blazers.
2002 NFL Draft
The 6'4" Thomas had an impressive combine performance that elevated him from a mid-second round pick to the first round.
2002 season
Thomas played 15 games in his rookie year of 2002 collecting a half-sack and 5 total tackles.
2003 season
Thomas played all 16 games (10 started) in 2003 with a sack, 3 passes defended, one fumble recovery, and 26 total tackles.
2004 season
Thomas played in 14 games (6 started) of the 2004 season with 1.5 sacks, a pass defended, and 28 total tackles.
2005 season
Playing 16 games (4 starts) of the 2005 season, Thomas has 3.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 25 total tackles
2006 season
Thomas led the New York Jets in sacks with 8.5 sacks. This was his breakout season playing as an outside linebacker with new head coach Eric Mangini. At the end of the 2006 season, Thomas was awarded a new contract.
2007 season
In 2007, Thomas reverted to the disappointing play that had previously been the hallmark of his career. This raised concerns that Thomas was a "one year wonder" or a "contract year" player. In particular, comments made by Thomas during the 2007 season where he said he had not thought it necessary to "continue to work to improve" left many Jets fans extremely concerned. Overall, Thomas finished the 2007 season with 2.5 sacks, one pass defended, a forced fumble, and 39 total tackles.
2008 season
Thomas had a mediocre 2008 season as he collected 5.5 sacks, one pass defended, 2 forced fumbles (1 recovery), and 38 total tackles.
2009 season
Thomas collected 2 sacks, one pass defended, 2 fumble recoveries, and 41 total tackles. He led the Jets into the playoffs until the team lost in the AFC Championship to the Indianapolis Colts.
2010 season
In 2010, Thomas changed his jersey number to 58. He collected 6 sacks, one pass defended, a fumble recovery, and 31 total tackles. He led the Jets to the playoffs for the second season in a row but lost the AFC Championship to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
2011 season
Thomas did not play long during the 2011 season as he suffered a torn Achilles tendon on October 2, 2011, which knocked him out for the rest of the season. Overall, he recorded 10 total tackles and one pass defended in 4 games played.
2012 season
Thomas was released by the Jets on September 22, 2012 after suffering a hamstring injury. Two days later, the Jets re-signed him. Thomas finished the 2012 season with 2.5 sacks, one pass defended, and 18 total tackles. Thomas was released after the season was over.
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