Thomas Monroe (American football) facts for kids
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| Position: | Wide receiver / Defensive back | ||||||||||
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| Born: | April 23, 1966 | ||||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| College: | Prairie View A&M | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1989 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career Arena statistics | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at ArenaFan.com | |||||||||||
Thomas Monroe is a former American football player. He was born on April 23, 1966. Thomas played for four seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL). He was a player for teams like the Pittsburgh Gladiators/Tampa Bay Storm and the New Orleans Night.
Before playing professionally, he played college football at Prairie View A&M University. In 1990, Thomas Monroe was named the AFL Ironman of the Year. He also earned first-team All-Arena honors that same year.
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Early Life and College Football
Thomas Monroe was born in 1966. He grew up loving football. He played college football for the Prairie View A&M Panthers. This team is part of Prairie View A&M University.
During his senior year in 1988, Thomas was a standout player. He led the entire Southwestern Athletic Conference in receiving yards. This means he caught more passes for more yards than anyone else in his conference.
Professional Football Career
Thomas Monroe started his professional career in the Arena Football League (AFL). The AFL was a unique league. It played on a smaller field indoors. Players often played both offense and defense. This was known as "ironman rules."
Playing for the Pittsburgh Gladiators
In 1989, Monroe joined the Pittsburgh Gladiators. He played in all four games that season. He was a wide receiver and a defensive back. As a receiver, he caught 24 passes for 332 yards. He also scored five touchdowns. On defense, he made tackles and helped stop opponents.
The Gladiators had a good season in 1989. They finished with a 3–1 record. They even made it to ArenaBowl III. However, they lost to the Detroit Drive in the championship game.
Monroe continued with Pittsburgh in 1990. He played in all eight games. He had an amazing season. He caught 44 passes for 508 yards and seven touchdowns. He also made 20 solo tackles on defense. He even had an interception.
For his outstanding performance in 1990, Thomas Monroe received two big awards. He was named first-team All-Arena. This means he was one of the best players in the league. He also won the AFL Ironman of the Year Award. This award recognized him as the best two-way player in the AFL.
Moving to Tampa Bay and Winning a Championship
In 1991, the Pittsburgh Gladiators team moved. They became the Tampa Bay Storm. Thomas Monroe first signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played in two preseason games there.
However, he wanted to play more. So, he asked to be released from his contract. He then signed with the Tampa Bay Storm on July 10, 1991. He said he would rather be playing in Tampa Bay than sitting on the bench in Toronto.
Monroe played in four games for the Storm in 1991. He caught five passes for 54 yards and one touchdown. He also continued to play strong defense. On August 17, 1991, the Storm won ArenaBowl V. They defeated the Detroit Drive by a score of 48–42. This was a big championship win for Monroe and his team.
Later Career with New Orleans
After the 1991 season, Thomas Monroe was chosen by the Cincinnati Rockers in a special draft. But before the 1992 season started, he was traded. He went to the New Orleans Night in May 1992.
He played in seven games for the New Orleans Night in 1992. He caught nine passes for 84 yards. He also continued to contribute on defense. He made tackles and helped break up passes.
