hall of fame

Biography

• Class of 2007
• Running Back >>> 5-10, 198 (Oklahoma State)
• 1988-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Miami Dolphins

Bills' second round pick in 1988 NFL Draft Led NFL in total yards from scrimmage a record four consecutive seasons. . .NFL's Most Valuable Player, 1991, Rushed for 1,000 yards in eight consecutive seasons, Career numbers include 12,074 yards rushing and 16,532 all-purpose yards, Selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls, First- or second-team All-Pro five straight years, All-AFC 1989-1993, All-AFC Second Team 1994, Born on May 16, 1966 in Houston, Texas.

Thurman Thomas slipped to the second round of the 1988 National Football League Draft due to concern about a knee injury he had suffered during his senior year at Oklahoma State. The Buffalo Bills, who had no first round pick that year, selected Thomas, an All-America running back, in the second round with the 40th overall pick.

In 1989, after an impressive rookie season that included a division title for the Bills, the multi-dimensional Thomas rushed for 1,000 yards, caught 60 passes, and scored 12 touchdowns in his second season.

His ability to catch the ball as well as run with it was a key ingredient to the Bills' "No Huddle" offensive attack. The team improved to 13-3 in 1990 as Thomas led the NFL in all-purpose yards. He rushed for 1,297 yards and scored 11 touchdowns while catching 49 passes for 532 yards and two touchdowns. With the versatile back leading the way, the Bills marched through the playoffs to the first of their unprecedented four straight Super Bowl berths.

Thomas rushed for 100 yards in each of the playoff games that post-season including Super Bowl XXV when he gained 135 yards on just 15 carries and scored on a 31-yard run early in the fourth quarter. He also had 5 receptions for 55 yards.

In 1991, Thomas amassed more than 2,000 all-purpose yards, just the 11th player ever to do so. His league-leading yardage output included 1,407 yards on the ground and an additional 631 yards on a career-high 62 receptions. He scored 12 touchdowns. He reached the 2,000-yard total again the following season which marked a record fourth straight season of leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage.

Named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s, Thomas was selected first- or second-team All-Pro and All-AFC five times, and was voted to the Pro Bowl five straight years. Thomas retired as the NFL's ninth ranked rusher with 12,074 yards and added another 4,458 yards on 472 catches. He scored 65 rushing and 23 receiving touchdowns in his 13-season career.

Statistics

RushingReceivingYearTeamGNo.YdsAvgTDNo.YdsAvgTDFCareer Total

1988	Buffalo	15	207	881	4.3	2	18	208	11.6	0	9
1989	Buffalo	16	298	1244	4.2	6	60	669	11.2	6	7
1990	Buffalo	16	271	1297	4.8	11	49	532	10.9	2	6
1991	Buffalo	15	288	1407	4.9	7	62	631	10.2	5	5
1992	Buffalo	16	312	1487	4.8	9	58	626	10.8	3	6
1993	Buffalo	16	355	1315	3.7	6	48	387	8.1	0	6
1994	Buffalo	15	287	1093	3.8	7	50	349	7	2	1
1995	Buffalo	14	267	1005	3.8	6	26	220	8.5	2	6
1996	Buffalo	15	281	1033	3.7	8	26	254	9.8	0	1
1997	Buffalo	16	154	643	4.2	1	30	208	6.9	0	2
1998	Buffalo	14	93	381	4.1	2	26	220	8.5	1	0
1999	Buffalo	5	36	152	4.2	0	3	37	12.3	1	0
2000	Miami	9	28	136	4.9	0	16	117	7.3	1	1
182	2877	12,074	4.2	65	472	4458	9.4	23	50
Additional Career Statistics: Passing: 1-0-0

Championship Games

1988 AFC - Cincinnati Bengals 21, Buffalo Bills 10Thomas started the game at running back. He had four rushes for six yards in the game.1990 AFC - Buffalo Bills 51, Los Angeles Raiders 3Thomas started the game at running back. He had 25 rushes for 138 yards and one touchdown. He also had five receptions for 61 yards, recovered one of his two fumbles and had one tackle.1991 AFC - Buffalo Bills 10, Denver Broncos 7Thomas started the game at running back. He had 26 rushes for 72 yards. He also had three receptions for 15 yards.1992 AFC - Buffalo Bills 29, Miami Dolphins 10Thomas started the game at running back. He had 20 rushes for 96 yards. He also had five receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown and one fumble.1993 AFC - Buffalo Bills 30, Kansas City 13Thomas started the game at running back. He had 33 rushes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 22 yards.

Super Bowls

Super Bowl XXV - New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19Thomas started the game at running back. He had 15 rushes for 135 yards and one touchdown. He also had five receptions for 55 yards.Super Bowl XXVI - Washington Redskins 37, Buffalo Bills 24Thomas did not start but played. He had 10 rushes for 13 yards and one touchdown. He also had four receptions for 27 yards.Super Bowl XXVII - Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17Thomas started the game at running back. He had 11 rushes for 19 yards and one touchdown. He also had four receptions for 10 yards and fumbled the ball once.Super Bowl XXVIII - Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13Thomas started the game at running back. He had 16 rushes for 37 yards and one touchdown. He also had seven receptions for 52 yards and fumbled the ball twice.

Career Highlights

All-League Teams

• All-Pro: 1989 (NEA), 1990 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW), 1991 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW)
• All-Pro Second Team: 1989 (AP), 1992 (AP, NEA), 1993 (AP)
• All-AFC: 1989 (UPI, PW), 1990 (UPI, PW), 1991 (UPI, PW), 1992 (UPI, PW), 1993 (UPI, PW)
• All-AFC Second Team: 1994 (UPI)

Pro Bowls

• (5) - 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

In the NFL Record Book

At time of his retirement following 2000 season

• [2nd] Most Consecutive Seasons 1,000 or More Yards Rushing - 8 (1989-1996)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons 1,000 or More Yards Rushing - 8 (1989-1996)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons Leading League in Combined Net Yards - 3 (1989, 1991-1992)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League in Combined Net Yards - 2 (1991-1992)

Super Bowl Records

• [Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career - 4
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Fumbles, Game - 2 (SB XXVIII, vs. Dallas)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Points Scored, Career - 24
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdowns, Career - 4
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Pass Receptions, Career - 20
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Combined Net Yards Attempts, Career - 72
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Fumbles, Career - 3

Post-Season Records

• [1st] Most Consecutive Games Scoring Touchdown - 9 (1992-1998)
• [1st] Most Combined Net Yards Gained, Career - 2,124
• [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns Scored, Career - 21
• [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games Rushing for Touchdowns - 8 (1992-1998)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Pass Receptions, Game - 13 (at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
• [2nd] Most Combined Net Yards Attempts, Career - 417
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Points Scored, Career - 126
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns Scored, Game - 3 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Games 100 or More Yards Rushing, Career - 6
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Career - 16
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Game - 3 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
• [3rd] Most Yards Rushing, Career - 1,442
• [3rd] Most Consecutive Games 100 or More Yards Rushing - 4 (1990-1991)
• [3rd] Most Rushing Attempts, Career - 339
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games with Pass Reception - 18 (1989-1998)

Team Records

Bills' records held by Thomas

• Records through the 1999 season, Thomas' final season with Buffalo
• [1st] Most Yards Rushing, Career - 11,938
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career - 2,849
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Season - 355 (1993)
• [1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career - 65
• [1st] Most 100-Yard Rushing Games, Career - 46
• [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns, Career - 87
• [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games with Pass Reception - 43 (1992-1995)
• [2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Career - 456
• [2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 37 (vs. Pittsburgh, Nov. 8, 1992)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Points, Game - 24 (vs. L.A. Rams, Sept. 6, 1992)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Game - 4 (vs. L.A. Rams, Sept. 6, 1992)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Game - 13 (at N.Y. Jets, Sept. 15, 1991)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Points Scored, Career - 522
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game - 3 (vs. L.A. Rams, Sept. 6, 1992)

Post-Season Records

• [1st] Most Rushing Yards, Career - 1,442
• [1st] Most Rushing Yards, Game - 186 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23. 1994)
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career - 339
• [1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 33 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
• [1st] Most Pass Receptions, Game - 13 (at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Points Scored, Game - 18 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game - 3 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
• [2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Career - 76
• [2nd] Most Receiving Yards, Career - 672
• [2nd] Most Rushing Yards, Game - 158 (vs. Miami, Dec. 30, 1995)
• [2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 32 (vs. Miami, Jan. 12, 1991)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game - 2 (vs. Miami, Jan. 12, 1991)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Game - 2 (at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
• [3rd] Most Rushing Yards, Game - 138 (vs. L.A. Raiders, Jan. 20, 1991)
• [3rd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 26 (vs. Denver, Jan. 12, 1992)

League/Team Statistical Titles

AFC Statistical Championships

• Rushing Leader: 1990, 1991, 1993
• Touchdown Leader: 1989, 1991, 1992

Team Statistical Championships

• Rushing Leader: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
• Touchdown Leader: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996

Awards and Honors

• 1991 MVP/Player of the Year (PFWA, AP, SN)
• 1991 Offensive MVP/Player of the Year (AP, PW, UPI-AFC)
• 1990s All-Decade Team

Year-by-Year Team Records

YearTeamWLTDivision Finish

1988	Buffalo Bills	12	4	0	(1st)
1989	Buffalo Bills	9	7	0	(1st)
1990	Buffalo Bills	13	3	0	(1st)
1991	Buffalo Bills	13	3	0	(1st)
1992	Buffalo Bills	11	5	0	(2nd)
1993	Buffalo Bills	12	4	0	(1st)
1994	Buffalo Bills	7	9	0	(4th)
1995	Buffalo Bills	10	6	0	(1st)
1996	Buffalo Bills	10	6	0	(2nd)
1997	Buffalo Bills	6	10	0	(4th)
1998	Buffalo Bills	10	6	0	(3rd)
1999	Buffalo Bills	11	5	0	(2nd)
2000	Miami Dolphins	11	5	0	(1st)

Career Capsule

• Full Name: Thurman Lee Thomas
• Birthdate: May 16, 1966
• Birthplace: Houston, Texas
• High School: Willowridge (Sugar Land, TX)
• Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: February 3, 2007
• Presenter: Marv Levy, Former Coach, Hall of Fame Class of 2001
• Other Members of the Class of 2007: Gene Hickerson,Michael Irvin, Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Roger Wehrli
• Pro Career: 13 seasons, 182 games
• Drafted: 2nd round (40th overall) in 1988 by Buffalo Bills
• Uniform Number: #34