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 is a former American professional football player. He played as a linebacker and defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). Bryan Thomas spent his entire 11-year career with the New York Jets. The Jets picked him 22nd overall in the 2002 NFL draft. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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Early Life and College Football
Bryan Thomas was born on June 7, 1979, in Birmingham, Alabama. He went to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). There, he played college football for the UAB Blazers team.
Playing in the NFL
Bryan Thomas was known for his impressive skills before joining the NFL. He was chosen by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft.
First Years with the Jets (2002-2005)
Thomas played 15 games in his first year, 2002. He made 5 tackles and had half a sack. In 2003, he played all 16 games and started 10 of them. He had one sack and recovered a fumble. He continued to play regularly in 2004 and 2005. During these years, he made tackles and had several sacks for the team.
Breakout Season and Position Change (2006)
In 2006, Bryan Thomas had a great year. He had been playing as a defensive end, but the Jets changed their defense. He then became an outside linebacker. This change helped him a lot. He led the New York Jets in sacks with 8.5 sacks that season. This was his best year, and he earned a new contract with the team.
Later Seasons and Playoffs (2007-2010)
After his big 2006 season, Thomas continued to play for the Jets. In 2007, he had 2.5 sacks and 39 total tackles. He continued to be an important part of the defense. In 2008, he collected 5.5 sacks and forced two fumbles.
In 2009, Thomas helped the Jets reach the playoffs. They made it all the way to the AFC Championship game. However, they lost to the Indianapolis Colts. In 2010, he changed his jersey number to 58. He had 6 sacks that year. For the second year in a row, he helped the Jets reach the AFC Championship. This time, they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Injuries and End of Career (2011-2012)
The 2011 season was tough for Bryan Thomas. On October 2, 2011, he suffered a serious injury. He tore his Achilles tendon, which meant he could not play for the rest of the season. He had played only 4 games that year.
In 2012, the Jets released him in September after he had a hamstring injury. But just two days later, they signed him back to the team. Thomas finished the 2012 season with 2.5 sacks and 18 total tackles. After the season ended, he was released by the Jets for good. He finished his entire 11-year career playing for the New York Jets.
Family Life
Bryan Thomas has a son who also played college football. His son played for the South Carolina team. Bryan Thomas also helped coach his son's high school football team.
