Thomas Howard Sr. facts for kids
| No. 52, 59 | |||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | August 18, 1954 Lubbock, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 213 lb (97 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| College: | Texas Tech | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1977 / Round: 3 / Pick: 67 | ||||||
| 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 | |||||||
James Thomas Howard Sr. (born August 18, 1954) is a former American football player. He was a linebacker for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). A linebacker is a defensive player who lines up behind the defensive line. Their job is to stop the other team from running the ball and to rush the quarterback.
Thomas Howard played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. His son, Thomas Howard, also played as a linebacker in the NFL.
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Thomas Howard's Football Journey
Thomas Howard had an exciting career playing football at both the college and professional levels. He was known for his strong defensive skills.
College Days at Texas Tech
Thomas Howard played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. He was a standout player during his time there. In 1976, he was named a First-team All-American. This means he was considered one of the best college football players in the entire country! That same year, he was also a First-team All-SWC player.
Playing in the NFL
After college, Thomas Howard was drafted into the NFL in 1977. He played for two different teams during his nine seasons in the league.
Kansas City Chiefs
Howard started his professional career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He played for the Chiefs from 1977 to 1983. During his time there, he wore the jersey number #52. He was a key part of their defense.
St. Louis Cardinals
After playing for the Chiefs, Thomas Howard joined the St. Louis Cardinals. He played for them from 1984 to 1985. With the Cardinals, he wore the jersey number #59.
Memorable Plays
Thomas Howard was especially good at recovering fumbles. A fumble happens when a player drops the ball. If a defensive player picks up a fumbled ball and runs it into the end zone, it's called a "fumble recovery for a touchdown". Howard did this three times in his career:
- In 1980, he scored a touchdown against the Denver Broncos.
- In 1981, he scored another touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- In 1984, he scored his third touchdown against the New England Patriots.
These plays showed his skill and quick thinking on the field.
