[Kansas City.com] Linebacker Derrick Thomas, the ferocious pass rusher and cornerstone of the Chiefs’ teams of the 1990s, was elected today to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Thomas, who played during 1989-99 and died from injuries sustained in a January 2000 auto accident, was elected in his fifth year of eligibility.
In addition to Thomas, the Class of 2009 will include former Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith; Bills owner Ralph Wilson; Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Oakland defensive back Rod Woodson; Vikings guard Randall McDaniel and Dallas wide receiver Bob Hayes.
Induction will be on Aug. 8. Thomas will join eight others enshrined in Canton, Ohio, as members of the Chiefs – quarterback Len Dawson, defensive tackle Buck Buchanan, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, cornerback Emmitt Thomas, kicker Jan Stenerud as well as owner Lamar Hunt and coach Hank Stram.
Thomas had 126 1/2 sacks, which ranked ninth in NFL history at the time of his death. He set the NFL single-game record with seven sacks against Seattle in 1990; and he nearly matched it, recording six sacks against Oakland in 1998, giving him two of the top three sack days in league history.
Thomas, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s NFL All-Decade Team of the 1990s, led the NFL with 20 sacks in 1990. No NFL player registered more sacks during the decade of the 1990s than Thomas’ 116 1/2 .
But Thomas was not merely satisfied with sacking the quarterback. He didn’t consider the job compete without stripping the ball from him and causing a fumble. During his career, Thomas forced 45 fumbles, recorded 19 fumbles, and returned four fumbles for touchdowns. Only two NFL players have returned more fumbles for touchdowns, and only two players were credited with more safeties than Thomas’ three.
Well deserved.
Comment by JRock in Texas — January 31, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Its been a few years of waiting, but Im very excited to finally see him get into the Hall.
Every year I hope that we are able to draft somebody who can bring anywhere near the kind of tenacity that DT brought to the table.
Comment by pentekno2 — January 31, 2009 @ 4:25 pm
SWEET JUSTICE!!! LOVE YOU DT!! My favorite Chief of all times!
Comment by Chief Tom — January 31, 2009 @ 4:50 pm
YES WELL DESERVED INDEED, ALL HAIL THE “GREAT 58″ GO CHIEFS
Comment by calichiefsfan74 — January 31, 2009 @ 5:05 pm
#58, GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT, WELL IT FINALLY HAPPENED ! THE BEST IN HIS CLASS, DERRICK THOMAS
WE LOVE YA MAN !!!
Comment by bigbill — January 31, 2009 @ 6:04 pm
Its about frickin time
Comment by kcchiefs19692003 — January 31, 2009 @ 6:05 pm
I cried the day he died and yelled for joy when they called his name today and cried again. What a wonderful day.
Comment by Habanero — January 31, 2009 @ 6:20 pm
Woot woot! Justice be done! Grays to DT and his family. God bless DT thank you for the years you gave us.
Comment by Gonzo is my daddy! — January 31, 2009 @ 7:03 pm
Grays not grays stupid ipod
Comment by Gonzo is my daddy! — January 31, 2009 @ 7:04 pm
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr G R A T Z!
Comment by Gonzo is my daddy! — January 31, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
Brought a tear to my eye. Congrats to his family. He was the Greatest Chief ever!
Comment by Jeff in VA — January 31, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
#58, GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT, WELL IT FINALLY HAPPENED ! THE BEST IN HIS CLASS, DERRICK THOMAS
WE LOVE YA MAN !!!
SWEET JUSTICE!!! LOVE YOU DT!! My favorite Chief of all times!YES WELL DESERVED INDEED, ALL HAIL THE “GREAT 58″ GO CHIEFS ya and it is about time thank you DT FOR ALL THAT YOU DID 58 THE BEST CHIEF EVER TO STEP ON OR OFF OF ARROWHEAD EVER
Comment by michael diedrich — January 31, 2009 @ 9:15 pm
FINALLY!!!!
Comment by Stich — January 31, 2009 @ 10:50 pm
Thank god! Been waiting for this a long time!
Comment by Embis — January 31, 2009 @ 10:51 pm
congratulations to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, you guys just got yourself one helluva player!
Comment by Chief D — January 31, 2009 @ 11:51 pm
congrats, DT. RIP
Comment by Dennis — February 1, 2009 @ 1:06 am
Congrats to DT family Its about time Best Chief In History
Comment by jason — February 1, 2009 @ 8:22 am
SARGEANT D congratulations now you will live forever, not just in our hearts but in the halls of canton. I cannot imagine someone more deserving of this honor. You are and always will be the the best linebacker that ever hit the field. BRING UP FOURTH AND LONG!!!!!!!!!
Comment by NCCHIEFSFAN — February 1, 2009 @ 11:43 am
DT IS THE GREATEST!!!!!! He was the high point of the decade when he was playing. This is well deserved and a long time coming. Long live the memory of DT.
Comment by Dave S — February 1, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
F**k Yes
Comment by TJ — February 1, 2009 @ 1:43 pm
Its about time..the best player EVER, period. He gave 1000% in everything he did on and off the field, I just wish he could have gotten a ring.
Comment by The other Travis S. — February 1, 2009 @ 2:39 pm
RIP DT, we miss you!
Comment by Travis — February 1, 2009 @ 3:45 pm
This is a great day. I think I speak for all of us when I say that he should have been a first ballet HOF. As a young boy DT was my hero. He is the reason I bleed red and gold.
Comment by David in VA — February 1, 2009 @ 4:44 pm
Cassel to the chiefs in 09 ! ! ! !
Comment by KC111110 — February 2, 2009 @ 12:28 pm
same here DT is the resean i bleed red and gold as well
Comment by michael diedrich — February 2, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
yes, the master of the KC strip finally takes his rightful place in Canton. Carl is out, and a new era begins. Let’s go win some playoff games!!!!!
Comment by reedeasy77 — February 2, 2009 @ 9:20 pm
pioli has never contacted todd haley, and he will most likely not be named the chiefs next head coach
Comment by KC111110 — February 2, 2009 @ 11:49 pm
I’m very happy to see derrick get in the HOF, besides that he was a leader the chiefs have yet to replace on that team. That fact alone makes his time with the Chiefs very special. I started watching derrick in 93 when i was just ten years old. Those days really spoiled me.
Comment by Kirk — February 3, 2009 @ 12:55 am
Dude, it has to be Todd Haley, who else would they be waiting for? They have had more than enough time to hire a HC. They had to wait for the Super Bowl to be over before they could talk to Todd Haley
Comment by Chief Tom — February 3, 2009 @ 1:33 pm
Congrats DT… we love ya… Thank you for the exciting years!
Comment by Big Shinn — February 3, 2009 @ 6:32 pm
DT, one of the greatest at his position all-time. Most likely could have been the greatest if time would have allowed it.
Comment by Big Shinn — February 3, 2009 @ 6:35 pm