West Texas Through and Through: Zach Thomas is a Hall of Famer

Last night, the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its’ entrants to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Red Raider Zach Thomas was among them! He is the first Red Raider to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame!

Out of Pampa, Texas, Thomas’ career included stops in Lubbock, Miami, Dallas, and Kansas City. He was an undersized linebacker that had a nose for the football and became one of the best linebackers in NFL History despite being described as “slow and unathletic” by many NFL scouts leading up to the 1995 NFL Draft.

During his 13-year NFL career, Thomas accumulated some of the best stats of all time. As a fifth-round pick, there was not too much expected of Thomas coming out of Texas Tech, despite his notable career that included a Second-Team All-American nod in 1994, and a Unanimous All-American nod in 1995.

In Thomas’ rookie season, he won AFC Defense Rookie of the Year, recorded 153 combined tackles, and started in all 16Miami Dolphins’ games. He would go on to be a five-time First-Team All-Pro, a two-time Second-Team All-Pro, and a seven-time Pro Bowler. In addition, he led the NFL in tackles twice (in 2002, 2006).

Below is a list of Thomas’ career achievements:

Texas Tech:

390 Career Tackles

Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year (1994, 1995)

All-American (1994,1995)

5th Round NFL Draft Pick

College Football Hall of Famer

NFL:

1,720 Career Tackles

20.5 sacks

17 interceptions

17 forced fumbles

4 touchdowns

AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year

First Team All-Pro (1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006)

Second Team All-Pro (2001, 2005)

Pro Football Hall of Fame