Bryan Thomas (American football) facts for kids
Thomas in 2009.
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| No. 99, 58 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Outside linebacker/Defensive end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | June 7, 1979 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Minor (Adamsville, Alabama) | ||||||||
| College: | UAB | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2002 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Bryan Thomas Sr (born June 7, 1979) is a former American football player. He played as a linebacker and defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). Bryan Thomas was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He went to the University of Alabama at Birmingham and played college football for the UAB Blazers. The New York Jets picked him 22nd overall in the 2002 NFL draft. He played his entire 11-year career with the Jets.
Playing in the NFL
Bryan Thomas was a very strong player. He was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 265 pounds. His impressive skills helped him get picked early in the draft.
In his first year, 2002, Thomas played in 15 games. He made 5 tackles and had half a sack. He continued to play well in 2003, starting 10 games. That year, he had a sack and recovered a fumble.
During the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Thomas kept improving. He played in most games and contributed to the team's defense. He had 1.5 sacks in 2004 and 3.5 sacks in 2005.
Changing Positions
In 2006, Bryan Thomas changed his position. He moved from a defensive end to an outside linebacker. This happened when the Jets started using a new defense style. This was a great year for him! He led the New York Jets in sacks with 8.5 sacks. This strong performance earned him a new contract.
After his great 2006 season, Thomas continued to play for the Jets. In 2007, he had 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He kept working hard to help his team.
In 2008, Thomas had 5.5 sacks and forced two fumbles. He was a key part of the Jets' defense. The next year, 2009, he had 2 sacks and recovered two fumbles. He helped the Jets reach the playoffs, but they lost in the AFC Championship game.
Later Career
For the 2010 season, Bryan Thomas changed his jersey number to 58. He had 6 sacks and helped the Jets get to the playoffs again. They made it to the AFC Championship for the second year in a row. However, they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In 2011, Thomas faced a challenge. He got a serious injury, a torn Achilles tendon, in October. This meant he couldn't play for the rest of the season. He had played in 4 games before his injury.
Thomas returned in 2012. He was released by the Jets in September but then re-signed a few days later. He finished the season with 2.5 sacks. After the 2012 season, Thomas was released by the Jets. He had played his entire 11-year NFL career with the team.
Family Life
Bryan Thomas has a son who also played college football for South Carolina. Bryan Thomas also helped coach his son's high school football team.
