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 played as a linebacker for nine seasons. A linebacker is a defensive player in football. Their job is to stop the other team from gaining yards. Thomas Howard Sr. played in the National Football League (NFL). The NFL is the biggest professional football league in the United States.
He started his football journey playing for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in college. His son, Thomas Howard, also became an NFL linebacker. He played for teams like the Oakland Raiders.
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Thomas Howard Sr.'s Football Journey
Thomas Howard Sr. was born on August 18, 1954. He grew up to be 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 213 pounds. These measurements were important for his role as a linebacker.
College Football Star
Before joining the NFL, Thomas Howard Sr. was a standout player in college. He played for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. 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. He was also a First-team All-SWC player in 1976. The Southwest Conference was a group of college teams he played against.
Playing in the NFL
Thomas Howard Sr. was drafted into the NFL in 1977. He was picked in the third round by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played for the Chiefs from 1977 to 1983. During his time with the Chiefs, he wore jersey number 52.
After playing for the Chiefs, he moved to the St. Louis Cardinals. He played for the Cardinals in 1984 and 1985. With the Cardinals, he wore jersey number 59.
Big Plays: Fumble Recoveries
Thomas Howard Sr. was known for making exciting plays. He recovered three fumbles and ran them back for touchdowns. A fumble happens when a player drops the ball. If a defensive player picks it up and runs to the end zone, it's a touchdown!
- In 1980, he scored a touchdown against the Denver Broncos.
- In 1981, he scored another against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- In 1984, he scored one more against the New England Patriots.
He had a total of 7 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries in his career. He also recorded 4 sacks, which means he tackled the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
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