Orlando Thomas
No. 42, 43
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born:(1972-10-21)October 21, 1972
Crowley, Louisiana, U.S.
Died:November 9, 2014(2014-11-09) (aged 42)
Crowley, Louisiana, U.S.
Career information
College:Louisiana
NFL Draft:1995 / Round: 2 / Pick: 42
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:457
Interceptions:22
Touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Orlando Thomas (October 21, 1972 – November 9, 2014) was an American football defensive back who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1995 until 2001. He played his entire career with the Minnesota Vikings.

Biography

Thomas stood 6-1 and weighed 225 pounds during his playing career. He was a second-round draft pick out of the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1995.[1] In a wild-card game of the 1996 NFL playoffs, Thomas was injured against the Dallas Cowboys. He intercepted a deflected pass, but his knee stuck to the turf at Texas Stadium and he was carted off. He started 87 of 98 games for the Vikings, intercepting 22 passes, including 9 during his rookie season. He retired following the 2001 season.

On June 29, 1997, he was arrested in his hometown of Crowley, Louisiana and charged with inciting a riot and two counts of disturbing the peace. The charges were reduced to one count of disturbing the peace, and Thomas pleaded no contest. He was ordered to pay a $100 fine, pay court costs, and perform 50 hours of community service.

Thomas married his wife Demetra on February 27, 1998, only two months after their first date and five months after first meeting at Cheese Car Wash in north Minneapolis. He has four children, Alexis, Angelle, Orlando Jr., and Alana, Demetra has a child from a previous relationship.

In 1999, Thomas was charged after allegedly assaulting his wife Demetra. He later pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of simple battery.[2]

Thomas revealed in June 2007 that he was suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).[3] On October 28, 2009, it was reported on the Minnesota Vikings' website that Thomas had died,[4] but the organization withdrew the report and apologized to Thomas and his family after it proved to be false.[5] Thomas died of complications from ALS on November 9, 2014.[6]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
1995MIN 16115141100.0-9108145-14191
1996MIN 16168365180.0-557034-2100
1997MIN 15137057130.0-2101-12261
1998MIN 1616696090.5-227027-0000
1999MIN 13127253190.0023212742100
2000MIN 99373071.01100050200
2001MIN 13106145160.00100070000
9887443351921.512222524516610452

Playoffs

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
1996MIN 112200.0-140400000
1997MIN 203300.0-000000000
1998MIN 224400.0-000000000
2000MIN 111100.00000000000
64101000.00140400000

References

  1. "1995 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  2. "CBS News". April 18, 1999.
  3. "Star Tribune". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
  4. "NBC Sports". 28 October 2009.
  5. "Star Tribune". Star Tribune.
  6. Schefter, Adam (10 November 2014). "Former Viking Orlando Thomas dies". ESPN.
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