Duane Thomas facts for kids
Duane Julius Thomas (born June 21, 1947 – died August 4, 2024) was an American professional football player. He was a talented running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for teams like the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins. He also played college football for the West Texas State Buffaloes. Thomas was known for his speed and skill on the field, helping his teams achieve important victories.
Thomas in 1972
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | June 21, 1947 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
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| Died: | August 4, 2024 (aged 77) | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Lincoln (Dallas) | ||||||||||||
| College: | West Texas State | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1970 / Round: 1 / Pick: 23 | ||||||||||||
| 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 | |||||||||||||
Contents
Early Life and College Football
Duane Thomas was born and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He was a fantastic running back at Lincoln High School in the mid-1960s. After high school, he continued his football journey at West Texas State University.
College Achievements
At West Texas State, Thomas played as a fullback. He showed great talent, leading the country in yards per carry during his sophomore year. By his senior year, he had an amazing 1,072 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. He finished his college career with 2,376 rushing yards, which was the second-highest in school history at the time. In 1970, he was chosen to play in the Coaches All-America Game, a special game for top college players.
Professional Football Career
Duane Thomas was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft. This was a big achievement, showing how much potential he had.
Dallas Cowboys: First Time Around
As a rookie in 1970, Duane Thomas quickly became a star. Even though he didn't start every game, he led the Cowboys in rushing yards. He finished eighth in the entire NFL with 803 rushing yards. He also had a league-leading 5.3 yards per carry and 5 touchdowns. Because of his amazing performance, he was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. In the playoffs, he continued to shine, becoming the first rookie to have two games with over 100 rushing yards.
During the 1971 season, Thomas had some disagreements with the Cowboys' management about his contract. He was briefly traded to the New England Patriots, but the trade was quickly reversed by the NFL commissioner. Thomas returned to the Cowboys and decided not to speak to the media or team management for the entire season.
Despite the off-field issues, Thomas had an incredible 1971 season. He scored the first touchdown in the new Texas Stadium. He led the entire league in rushing touchdowns with 11. He also helped the Cowboys win their first-ever championship, Super Bowl VI, against the Miami Dolphins. In that game, he led the Cowboys with 95 rushing yards and a touchdown. After the Super Bowl, when asked about the "ultimate game," he famously replied, "If it's the ultimate, how come they're playing it again next year?"
Thomas was reportedly voted as the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. However, because he had not spoken to the media all season, the award was given to quarterback Roger Staubach instead. After the 1972 season, Thomas was traded to the San Diego Chargers.
Moving to Other Teams
Thomas faced challenges with the San Diego Chargers and never played a game for them. In 1973, he was traded to the Washington Redskins. He played for the Redskins in 1973 and 1974, rushing for a total of 442 yards. After his time with the Redskins, he played briefly for a team called The Hawaiians in the World Football League in 1975. He also had short stints with the Dallas Cowboys again in 1976, the British Columbia Lions in 1977, and the Green Bay Packers in 1979, but he did not play in regular season games for these teams.
Duane Thomas finished his NFL career with 2,038 rushing yards, 453 carries, and 21 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 38 passes for 297 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular Season Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1970 | DAL | 14 | 8 | 151 | 803 | 5.3 | 47 | 5 | 10 | 73 | 7.3 | 17 | 0 |
| 1971 | DAL | 11 | 10 | 175 | 793 | 4.5 | 56 | 11 | 13 | 153 | 11.8 | 34 | 2 |
| 1973 | WAS | 13 | 0 | 32 | 95 | 3.0 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 40 | 8.0 | 13 | 0 |
| 1974 | WAS | 11 | 3 | 95 | 347 | 3.7 | 66 | 5 | 10 | 31 | 3.1 | 9 | 1 |
| Career Totals | 49 | 21 | 453 | 2,038 | 4.5 | 66 | 21 | 38 | 297 | 7.8 | 34 | 3 | |
Playoff Stats
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1970 | DAL | 3 | 3 | 75 | 313 | 4.2 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 45 | 7.5 | 14 | 1 |
| 1971 | DAL | 3 | 3 | 55 | 205 | 3.7 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 27 | 5.4 | 11 | 0 |
| Career Totals | 6 | 6 | 130 | 518 | 4.0 | 23 | 4 | 11 | 72 | 6.5 | 14 | 1 | |
Legacy and Recognition
In 1989, Duane Thomas wrote a book called Duane Thomas and the Fall of America's Team. This book shared his experiences playing for the Dallas Cowboys. He was recognized for his contributions to football. In 2004, he was inducted into the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame, a great honor for his career. In 2006, he was featured in an episode of America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions, a TV series about Super Bowl-winning teams.
Death
Duane Thomas passed away on August 4, 2024, at the age of 77.
See also
In Spanish: Duane Thomas para niños
