Thurman Thomas's Hall of Fame Career

by Behbigben15

     Yesterday I wrote an article on Michael Irvin's Hall of Fame career, and all people had to say is, I hate Michael Irvin, or Art Monk should have gone in way before him.  Then, "The Shark" said he would rather read about Thurman Thomas's Career, so I decided to write one.

College Career

     Thomas was teammates with future Lions running back Barry Sanders at Oklahoma State University, where Thomas rushed 897 times for 4,595 yards, and 43 TD's, and had twenty-one 100-yd rushing games.  Thomas was a Heisman Trophy candidate during his senior year there.  In 1985, and '87 he was a first team selection on the College Football All-America Team. 

     A knee injury damaged , what could have been a first round pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, instead he slipped to the second round (40th overall) by the Bills. 

NFL Career

     Thomas was an immediate impact, he may have only rushed for 881 yards during his rookie season in 1988, but the Bills jumped from 7-8 (4th place in division) in '87, to 12-4 (1st place) in Thurman's rookie season.  And Thomas averaged 4.3 yds per carry in '88.  Although, the Bills lost in the Conference Championship that year, they still had a great season.

     In his second year, Thomas really broke through.  He rushed for 1,244 yards on 298 carries, and 6 TD's, and averaged 4.2 Yds per carry.  The Bills won the Division with a 9-7 record, but lost in the Division game against the Browns 34-30.  The next year, in 1990, Thomas improved a little more rushing for 1,297 Yds and 11 TD's, and averaged 4.8 Yds per carry.  As the Bills won the division yet again, and went all the way to the super bowl only to lose 20-19 to the Giants, after Kicker Scott Norwood missed what would have been a GW 47-yd FG as time expired.

     The next three seasons would be great, and not so great at the same time.  In 1991, Thomas and the Bills won the division, and rode Thomas all the way to the SB, again.  Thomas rushed for 1,407 Yds on 288 carries for 7 TD, and an average of 4.9 Yds per carry.  In the DIvisional Playoff game, Thomas rushed for 100 Yds as the Bills cruised to a 37-14 victory.  The following week's Conference championship game against the Broncos was alot closer, but the Bills came out on top anyway, as Thurman rushed for 72 Yds, in a 10-7 victory.  In the Super Bowl the Bills were disappointed yet again, in a 37-24 loss to the Redskins.

     Despite being beaten twice in a row in the Super Bowl, Thomas, and his Bills continued to work hard, and Thomas still improved in the 1992 season, he rushed for a career high 1,487 Yds, and 9 TD's on 312 carries.  Thomas worked hard and helped QB Jim Kelly back to the Super Bowl.  Although they ended their winning streak of four straight Division titles (finished second with an 11-5 record), that didn't stop them from getting to their third straight super bowl.  The bills beat Houston in the Wild card game 41-38, after, probably the biggest comeback in NFL history, then they beat the steelers the following week 24-3, and finally Miami in the Conference Championship.  Thomas didn't have much rushing Yds, but that was because he didn't get the ball much, instead Bills coach Marv Levy put the ball in the hands of Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly.  In the super bowl the Bills lost their third straight Super Bowl after a blowout loss to the Cowboys 52-17.  In the 1993 sesaon Thomas continued to thrive, and lead the Bills, along with QB Jim kelly.  Thomas rushed for 1,315 Yds, and 6 TD's, Buffalo won their fifth Division title in six years.  In the playoffs, the Bills beat the raiders (29-23), and the Cheifs (30-13).  And headed to their fourth straight Super Bowl appearance with high hopes, only to be disappointed for the fourth straight season, after losing 30-13, to none other than the Dallas Cowboys, AGAIN.

     After that fourth SB lose in a row, the Bills just went downhill, bringing Thomas with them.  After going 10-6 in the playoffs and SB from '88-'93, and 70-26 in the regular season from '88-'93, the Bills went 54-42 during the regular season (and 1-4 in playoffs) from 1994-'99 (when Thomas left Buffalo).  In Thurman's first six years with the Bills he had 1,731 carries for 7,631 Yds, and 41 Rushing TD's, and in his last six seasons with the Bills he had 1,118 carries for 4,307 Yds, and 24 TD's.  His numbers (yards and carries) declined paBold textrtly because of injuries.  Thomas also played one season for the Dolphins in 2000, but he only had 28 carries for 136 Yds, and zero TD's.

Thomas's Regular Season Stats

1988- 207 ATT, 881 Yds, 2 TD 1989- 298 ATT, 1,244 Yds, 6 TD 1990- 271 ATT, 1,297 Yds, 11 TD 1991- 288 ATT, 1,407 Yds, 7 TD 1992- 312 ATT, 1,487 Yds, 9 TD 1993- 355 ATT, 1,315 Yds, 6 TD 1994- 287 ATT, 1,093 Yds, 7 TD 1995- 267 ATT, 1,005 Yds, 6 TD 1996- 281 ATT, 1,033 Yds, 8 TD 1997- 154 ATT, 643 Yds, 1 TD 1998- 93 ATT, 381 Yds, 2 TD 1999- 36 ATT, 152 Yds, 0 TD 2000- 28 ATT, 136 Yds, 0 TD Total- 2,877 ATT, 12,074 Yds, 65 TD

     Honors and Awards

 Thomas was the AFC Rushing leader in 1990, '91, and '93.  And he was voted to the All-Pro team in 1990, and '91, as well as five straight Pro Bowl selections (1989-'93).  In 1991, he won the NFL Most Valuable Player award.  In 21 playoff, and SB games Thomas had 339 attempts for 1,442 Yds, and 16 TD's, for an average of 16 carries for 67 Yds, and nearly one TD per game.