Del Thompson facts for kids

Delbert Ray Thompson (born February 21, 1958) is a former American football player. He was a running back, which is a player who carries the ball. Del Thompson played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League (NFL). He was also briefly part of the New York Jets team.

Playing in the NFL

Del Thompson was chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1982 NFL Draft. This is when professional teams pick new players from college. He was the 130th player picked overall that year.

Time with the Chiefs

Thompson played in six games for the Chiefs during the 1982 football season. He was a running back, trying to gain yards for his team. In 1983, he was placed on the injured reserve list. This means he was unable to play due to an injury.

Moving to the Jets

In 1984, the New York Jets team picked up Del Thompson. This happened through a process called "waivers." It allows teams to claim players who are no longer with their previous team.

Before the Pros

Before playing in the NFL, Del Thompson went to several colleges. He started at the University of Texas at Austin. Later, he transferred to Ranger College. Finally, he played college football at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). He also went to Hamlin High School in Hamlin, Texas.