Earl Thomas Facts for Kids

This page is about the American football player. For other uses, see Earl Thomas (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
Earl Thomas

Thomas with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014

No. 29

Position:

Safety

Personal information

Born:

May 7, 1989 (age 36)
Orange, Texas, U.S.

Height:

5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)

Weight:

202 lb (92 kg)

Career information

High school:

West Orange-Stark (Orange)

College:

Texas (2007–2009)

NFL Draft:

2010 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14

Career history

Seattle Seahawks (2010)
Baltimore Ravens (2019)

Career highlights and awards

Super Bowl champion (XLVIII)
3× First-team All-Pro (2012–2014)
2× Second-team All-Pro (2011, 2017)
7× Pro Bowl (2011–2015, 2017, 2019)
NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
Consensus All-American (2009)
First-team All-Big 12 (2009)

Career NFL statistics

Total tackles:	713
Sacks:	2
Forced fumbles:	12
Fumble recoveries:	6
Interceptions:	30
Defensive touchdowns:	4

Player stats at PFR

Earl Winty Thomas III (born May 7, 1989) is a former American football player. He played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He was known for his speed and ability to make big plays.

Earl Thomas played college football for the Texas Longhorns. He was recognized as one of the best college players. In 2010, he was picked by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the NFL draft. With the Seahawks, he became a key part of their strong defense, known as the "Legion of Boom". He helped them win Super Bowl XLVIII. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens.

Early Life and High School Sports
College Football Career
Becoming a Professional Player
NFL Career Statistics
- Regular season
- Postseason
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and High School Sports

Earl Thomas grew up in Orange, Texas. He went to West Orange-Stark High School. There, he was a star athlete in many sports. He played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track.

In football, he played defensive back, running back, and wide receiver. He was a starter for three years. He made many tackles and interceptions. He also scored touchdowns from kickoff and punt returns. In track, he was a fast sprinter and a good jumper. He even reached the state finals in a relay race.

College Football Career

After high school, Thomas went to the University of Texas at Austin. He played for the Texas Longhorns football team. In his first year, he "redshirted," meaning he practiced but didn't play in games. This allowed him to train and get stronger.

In 2008, he became a starting safety. He was great at breaking up passes and forcing fumbles. He was named one of the best freshmen players in the country. In 2009, as a sophomore, he caught eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. He was recognized as an All-American. His team played in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. After this season, he decided to enter the NFL draft early.

Becoming a Professional Player

Getting Ready for the NFL Draft

Before the NFL draft, players go through tests and workouts. This helps teams decide who to pick. Earl Thomas showed off his speed and strength. Experts believed he would be a top pick. He was seen as one of the best safeties available.

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand size	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
5 ft 10+1⁄4 in (1.78 m)	208 lb (94 kg)	31+1⁄4 in (0.79 m)	9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m)	4.49 s	1.62 s	2.65 s	32 in (0.81 m)	9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)	21 reps
All values from NFL Combine

Time with the Seattle Seahawks

Starting Strong (2010-2012)

The Seattle Seahawks chose Earl Thomas as the 14th pick in the 2010 NFL draft. He was one of the youngest players drafted that year. He quickly became the starting free safety for the team. In his first season, he made many tackles and interceptions. He even scored a touchdown by returning a blocked punt. The Seahawks made the playoffs that year.

Thomas in the 2011 preseason

In 2011, Thomas continued to play well. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl, which is an honor for top players. He was also named second-team All-Pro, meaning he was one of the best at his position in the league. In 2012, he scored his first "pick-six" touchdown, returning an interception all the way to the end zone. He was again selected for the Pro Bowl and earned first-team All-Pro honors.

Super Bowl Champion (2013-2014)

In 2013, Earl Thomas was a key player on the Seahawks' defense. This defense was known as the "Legion of Boom" because of how tough and effective they were. He had a career-high in tackles and interceptions. The Seahawks had an amazing season, winning 13 games. They went on to win Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos, with Thomas making important plays.

Thomas in 2014

In 2014, the Seahawks gave Thomas a new contract because of his great performance. He continued to be a top safety, making many tackles and an interception. The Seahawks' defense was the best in the NFL for the third year in a row. They reached Super Bowl XLIX but lost a close game to the New England Patriots.

Later Seahawks Years (2015-2018)

Thomas had shoulder surgery in 2015 but still played in every game. He continued to make interceptions and was selected for his fifth Pro Bowl. In 2016, he suffered a broken bone in his leg. This was the first time he missed a game in his career. Despite the injury, he was still recognized as one of the NFL's top players.

In 2017, Thomas returned strong. He made big plays, including an interception return for a touchdown. He earned his sixth Pro Bowl selection. In 2018, he did not join training camp right away because he wanted a new contract or to be traded. He returned for the season but suffered another leg injury in Week 4. This injury ended his season and was his last game with the Seahawks.

Time with the Baltimore Ravens (2019)

In 2019, Earl Thomas signed with the Baltimore Ravens. He quickly made an impact, getting an interception in his first game with the team. This marked his tenth straight season with at least one interception.

During the season, he sometimes made decisions on the field that were questioned. He was also involved in a play where another player was injured and he was penalized. Despite some challenges, he continued to play well and earned his seventh Pro Bowl nomination. He was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, recognizing him as one of the best players of the decade.

In August 2020, Earl Thomas had disagreements with teammates and coaches. This led to the Ravens releasing him from the team. After this, no other team signed him.

NFL Career Statistics

Legend
	Won the Super Bowl
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	GP	Tackles				Fumbles			Interceptions
Year	Team	GP	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	FF	FR	Yds	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD
2010	SEA	16	76	64	12	0.0	1	0	0	5	68	13.6	34	0	7
2011	SEA	16	98	69	29	0.0	1	2	0	2	19	9.5	11	0	7
2012	SEA	16	66	42	24	0.0	1	1	0	3	80	26.7	57	1	9
2013	SEA	16	105	78	27	0.0	2	0	0	5	9	1.8	11	0	9
2014	SEA	16	97	71	26	0.0	4	1	0	1	47	47.0	47	0	5
2015	SEA	16	64	45	19	0.0	1	0	0	5	67	13.4	32	0	9
2016	SEA	11	48	24	24	0.0	0	1	34	2	5	2.5	5	1	10
2017	SEA	14	88	56	32	0.0	1	0	0	2	97	48.5	78	1	7
2018	SEA	4	22	16	6	0.0	0	0	0	3	25	8.3	25	0	5
2019	BAL	15	49	32	17	2.0	1	1	6	2	38	19.0	25	0	4
Total		140	713	497	216	2.0	11	6	40	30	455	15.2	78	3	72

Postseason

Year	Team	GP	Tackles				Fumbles			Interceptions
Year	Team	GP	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	FF	FR	Yds	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD
2010	SEA	2	12	12	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
2012	SEA	2	8	3	5	0.0	0	0	0	2	1	0.5	2	0	2
2013	SEA	3	24	17	7	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	3
2014	SEA	3	25	17	8	0.0	1	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	2
2015	SEA	2	13	5	8	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	1
2019	BAL	1	7	6	1	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0
Total		13	89	60	29	1.0	1	0	0	2	1	0.5	2	0	9

Images for kids

Thomas with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014
Thomas in the 2011 preseason
Thomas in 2014

Earl Thomas facts for kids

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