Demaryius Thomas facts for kids
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Thomas with the Denver Broncos in 2018
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| No. 88, 87, 18 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 25, 1987 Montrose, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Died: | December 9, 2021 (aged 33) Roswell, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | West Laurens (Dexter, Georgia) | ||||||||
| College: | Georgia Tech (2006–2009) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Demaryius Antwon Thomas (December 25, 1987 – December 9, 2021) was an American professional football player. He was a talented wide receiver who played for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He spent most of his career with the Denver Broncos.
Demaryius played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He was recognized as an All-American in 2009. The Broncos chose him in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft. With the Broncos, he was selected for five Pro Bowls. He also helped his team win Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers. Later in his career, Thomas also played for the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, and New York Jets.
Contents
Discovering Demaryius Thomas's Early Life
Demaryius Thomas was born in Montrose, Georgia, on December 25, 1987. He faced challenges early in life. His mother and grandmother had legal troubles and were away for a time. Because of this, Demaryius grew up with his aunt and uncle. He was a quiet child and his uncle gave him the nickname "Bay Bay." Later, President Barack Obama helped his mother and grandmother return home. His mother saw him play football for the first time in January 2016.
High School Sports Star
Thomas attended West Laurens High School in Dexter, Georgia. He was a star athlete in three sports: basketball, football, and track. He played as a wide receiver for the Raiders football team.
Football Achievements in High School
As a junior in 2004, Thomas caught 32 passes for 330 yards and scored three touchdowns. He was named an all-region player. In his senior year, he had an amazing 82 catches for 1,234 yards and 10 touchdowns. Experts like Scout.com and Rivals.com ranked him as a top college prospect in Georgia. He received scholarship offers from several universities, including Georgia Tech.
Track and Field Talents
Beyond football, Thomas also excelled in track and field. He placed fourth in the triple jump at the 2006 Georgia Olympics. He also ran fast, with a personal best of 10.99 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
College Football Journey
Thomas chose to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). He studied management there. He spent his first year, 2006, as a redshirt freshman. This meant he practiced with the team but did not play in games to gain experience.
First Seasons (2007 and 2008)
Thomas made his college debut in 2007. He caught his first touchdown pass, a 56-yard play, against Virginia. He had a great game against Maryland with nine catches for 139 yards and a touchdown. He finished the 2007 season with 35 catches for 558 yards and four touchdowns. He was recognized as a top freshman player in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
In 2008, a new coach, Paul Johnson, brought in a run-heavy offense. Thomas thought about leaving but decided to stay. He still led the team with 39 catches for 627 yards and three touchdowns. He even had 230 receiving yards in one game against Duke, which was the second-most in school history.
Breakout Junior Year (2009)
Thomas had an outstanding junior year in 2009. He started strong with 101 receiving yards in the first game. He had six catches for 133 yards and a touchdown against Miami. Against Mississippi State, he caught eight passes for 174 yards and a touchdown.
Georgia Tech had a great season, finishing 10–2. They won the ACC Championship Game against Clemson, where Thomas scored a 70-yard touchdown. He ended the 2009 season with 46 catches for 1,154 yards and eight touchdowns. This earned him First-Team All-ACC honors. He decided to enter the 2010 NFL draft after this successful season.
Professional Football Career
Joining the Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos selected Demaryius Thomas as the 22nd overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft. He was the first wide receiver chosen that year. He signed a five-year contract with the team.
Rookie Season (2010)
In his very first NFL game, Thomas caught eight passes for 97 yards and scored a touchdown. This was a strong start for a rookie. He also scored a touchdown against All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis. However, injuries, including a forearm injury, a concussion, and an ankle injury, limited his playing time. He finished his rookie year with 22 catches for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
Overcoming Injuries (2011)
In 2011, Thomas faced a serious achilles tendon injury during workouts. Many thought he would miss the whole season. Surprisingly, he recovered quickly. He later broke his left pinkie finger, missing the first five games.
He returned in Week 7 and scored a touchdown with quarterback Tim Tebow. Thomas became Tebow's favorite receiver by the end of the season. In the playoffs, he made history in the "3:16 game." He caught an 80-yard game-winning touchdown pass from Tebow in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was the fastest ending to an overtime game in NFL history. He had an amazing 204 receiving yards in that playoff game.
Connecting with Peyton Manning (2012)
In 2012, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning joined the Broncos. Thomas worked hard to improve his skills. In the first game, he caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from Manning. This was Manning's 400th career touchdown.
Thomas had a breakout year, setting career highs with 94 catches for 1,434 yards and 10 touchdowns. He led the team in receiving. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl that season.
Record-Breaking Seasons (2013–2014)
Thomas continued to shine in 2013. He had five catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for a three-touchdown game against the San Diego Chargers. He caught Peyton Manning's 55th touchdown pass, which set an NFL record for most touchdowns in a single season.
He finished 2013 with 92 catches for 1,430 yards and 14 touchdowns, leading all wide receivers in touchdowns. He was selected for his second Pro Bowl and named to the All-Pro team. In Super Bowl XLVIII, he set a Super Bowl record with 13 catches, but the Broncos lost.
In 2014, Thomas broke the Broncos' franchise record for receiving yards in a single game with 226 yards and two touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals. He also caught Manning's record-breaking 509th career touchdown pass. He had a career-high 1,619 receiving yards and 111 catches. He was named to his third Pro Bowl.
Super Bowl Champion (2015)
In 2015, Thomas signed a five-year contract extension with the Broncos. Despite changes at quarterback, he still had 105 catches for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns. The Broncos finished as the top team in the AFC. They won Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers, giving Thomas his first Super Bowl title.
Final Seasons with Broncos (2016–2018)
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Thomas continued his strong performance in 2016, achieving his fifth consecutive season with over 1,000 receiving yards. He was selected for his fifth Pro Bowl. In 2017, he remained a key player despite changes in quarterbacks. He led the team with 83 catches for 949 yards and five touchdowns.
In the first four games of 2018, Thomas had 20 catches for 168 yards and a touchdown.
Moving to the Houston Texans
On October 30, 2018, the Broncos traded Thomas to the Houston Texans. In his first game with the Texans, he played against his former team, the Broncos. He had three catches for 61 yards in a close victory. Later that season, he suffered a torn Achilles injury and was placed on injured reserve. He finished the 2018 season with 59 catches for 677 yards and five touchdowns across both teams. The Texans released him in February 2019.
Short Stays with Other Teams
Thomas signed with the New England Patriots in April 2019. However, he was released before playing any regular-season games for them.
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In September 2019, Thomas was traded to the New York Jets. He played in 11 games for the Jets, catching 36 passes for 433 yards and one touchdown. He announced his retirement from football on June 28, 2021.
Career Statistics
NFL Regular Season Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2010 | DEN | 10 | 2 | 22 | 283 | 12.9 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 2011 | DEN | 11 | 5 | 32 | 551 | 17.2 | 47 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 94 | 1,434 | 15.3 | 71T | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 2013 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 92 | 1,430 | 15.5 | 78T | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 111 | 1,619 | 14.9 | 86T | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 105 | 1,304 | 12.4 | 72T | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2016 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 90 | 1,083 | 12.0 | 55T | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2017 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 83 | 949 | 11.4 | 40 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | DEN | 8 | 8 | 36 | 402 | 11.2 | 45 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| HOU | 7 | 7 | 23 | 275 | 12.0 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 | NYJ | 11 | 10 | 36 | 433 | 12.0 | 47 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 143 | 128 | 724 | 9,763 | 13.5 | 86T | 63 | 3 | 6 | 2.0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 10 | |
NFL Postseason Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||||
| 2011 | DEN | 2 | 2 | 10 | 297 | 29.7 | 80T | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2012 | DEN | 1 | 1 | 3 | 37 | 12.3 | 17T | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2013 | DEN | 3 | 3 | 28 | 306 | 10.9 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 2014 | DEN | 1 | 1 | 5 | 59 | 11.8 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | DEN | 3 | 3 | 7 | 60 | 8.6 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | HOU | 0 | 0 | Did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||
| Career | 10 | 10 | 53 | 759 | 14.3 | 80T | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |||
College Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Georgia Tech | 13 | 35 | 558 | 15.9 | 4 |
| 2008 | Georgia Tech | 12 | 39 | 627 | 16.1 | 3 |
| 2009 | Georgia Tech | 14 | 46 | 1,154 | 25.1 | 8 |
| Career | 39 | 120 | 2,339 | 19.5 | 15 | |
Career Highlights and Awards
NFL Honors
- Super Bowl champion (50)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (2013, 2014)
- 5× Pro Bowl (2012–2016)
- Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
College Honors
- Third-team All-American (2009)
- First-team All-ACC (2009)
Broncos Franchise Records
- Most receptions in playoff career: 54
- Most receptions in a playoff season: 28 (2013)
- Most receptions in a playoff game: 13 (Super Bowl XLVIII; tied)
- Most receiving yards in a regular season: 1,619 (2014)
- Most receiving yards in a single regular season game: 226 (October 5, 2014)
- Most receiving yards in a single playoff game: 204 (January 8, 2012)
- Most receiving yards in a playoff season: 306 (2013)
- Most receiving touchdowns in a regular season: 14 (2013; tied)
- Most receiving touchdowns in a playoff season: 3 (2013)
- Most receiving touchdowns in a playoff career: 6 (tied)
- Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, career: 33
- Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, single season: 10 (2014)
- Most games with at least two receiving touchdowns: 10 (tied)
- Most consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards, season: 7 (2014)
- Most consecutive games with at least 100 receiving yards, playoffs: 2 (tied)
- Most consecutive games with at least five receptions: 16 (2016)
Personal Life and Faith
Demaryius Thomas was an evangelical Christian. He often shared about his faith on social media. He had a tattoo of Jesus on his left arm with the words "Jesus Saves." In July 2016, the city of Dublin, Georgia, honored him by naming a day "Demaryius Thomas Day."
Remembering Demaryius Thomas
On December 9, 2021, Demaryius Thomas passed away at his home in Roswell, Georgia, at age 33. His passing was attributed to a medical issue. After his passing, his brain was studied by doctors. They found signs of a condition sometimes seen in athletes who experience many head impacts over time.
Legacy in Football
Demaryius Thomas is remembered as one of the greatest wide receivers in Denver Broncos history. He holds the second-most career receiving yards for the team.
Three days after his death, on December 12, 2021, the Broncos honored him. They lined up with only ten players at the start of a game against the Detroit Lions. This gesture showed respect for Thomas. The Lions' coach, Dan Campbell, declined the penalty for this action.
On May 27, 2025, the Broncos announced that Thomas would be inducted into their Ring of Fame. This honor was officially given on October 19, 2025. It happened during halftime of a home game against the New York Giants.
See also
In Spanish: Demaryius Thomas para niños
