Jack Byron Thompson is a former American football quarterback who starred at Washington State University, finished ninth in the 1978 Heisman Trophy voting, and played six NFL seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Later based in the Seattle area, he worked in mortgage banking and coached young quarterbacks.
Background
Thompson was born on May 18, 1956, in Tutuila, American Samoa. His family moved to the Seattle area when he was five, linking his Samoan birthplace with the Washington community where he developed as an athlete. He attended Evergreen High School in White Center, graduating in 1974.
At Evergreen, Thompson became a record-setting quarterback. Between 1971 and 1973 he passed for 2,905 yards, including 1,378 yards as a senior, led the school to a North Puget Sound League championship, and helped it reach the state semifinals during the first year of Washington's high-school football championships.
Education
Thompson attended Evergreen High School in White Center, Washington, from 1971 to 1974. The school served the communities south of Seattle, and its football program became the setting for his early passing records and statewide recognition.
He continued at Washington State University in Pullman, where he studied business administration and played quarterback from 1975 through 1978. Washington State, a public land-grant university founded in 1890, combined academic instruction with a major intercollegiate athletics program. Thompson completed 601 of 1,086 collegiate passes for 7,818 yards and 53 touchdowns, and was associated with the university's business program as a graduate.
Thompson became Washington State's starting quarterback during the 1976 season after an injury to the incumbent starter. His breakout sophomore campaign produced 2,762 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, and Spokesman-Review columnist Harry Missildine gave him the nickname “The Throwin' Samoan.” Thompson continued to set Washington State, Pac-8 or Pac-10, and NCAA passing records through the 1978 season.
He completed his college career with 7,818 passing yards, then finished ninth in the 1978 Heisman Trophy voting. He was recognized as an All-American and earned all-conference honors three times. Washington State retired his No. 14 jersey; he became one of only two players in school history to receive that honor, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Hein.
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Thompson third overall in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He played for Cincinnati from 1979 through 1982, was part of the Bengals team that reached Super Bowl XVI, and then played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1983 through 1984. In six NFL seasons he appeared in 51 games, made 21 starts, completed 449 of 845 passes for 5,315 yards and 33 touchdowns, and also rushed for 262 yards and six touchdowns.
After football, Thompson established a career in mortgage banking. He worked in leadership and business-development roles at Chase Mortgage and Umpqua Bank before joining CrossCountry Mortgage in 2018 as a regional manager and team partner. He has also coached quarterbacks at Ballard High School in Seattle and has remained involved with Washington State through alumni and philanthropic initiatives.
Thompson set Washington State University career passing records with 7,818 yards and 53 touchdowns on 601 completions, while also establishing major Pac-8 or Pac-10 and NCAA passing marks during the 1970s.
He became the first junior in NCAA history to surpass 5,000 passing yards and finished his senior season ninth in the 1978 Heisman Trophy voting.
Washington State retired Thompson's No. 14 jersey, making him one of only two players in school football history to receive that distinction.
After his playing career, Thompson co-founded CougsFirst!, a network connecting Washington State alumni and businesses.
Religion
Thompson has described relying on the Lord during his early rise as a Washington State quarterback, indicating a Christian religious outlook. His public life has otherwise been defined primarily through football, business, youth coaching, and community service rather than formal religious leadership.
Views
Thompson has emphasized humility, personal faith, and the importance of remaining grounded while public attention increases. His later involvement in youth coaching, alumni networks, and community organizations reflects an emphasis on mentorship, teamwork, and continuing connections with educational and athletic communities.
Membership
Thompson has participated in organizations connected with Washington State University, youth athletics, and Polynesian football. He co-founded CougsFirst!, a business network designed to connect Washington State alumni and businesses, and has served as a director of the WSU Foundation and on the board of advisors for the university's School of Hospitality Business Management. His later role as chairman of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame connected his playing legacy with an organization established to preserve Polynesian football history and support educational programs.
Inaugural inductee and later chairman.
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame
,
United States
2013 - present
Director.
Washington State University Foundation
,
United States
Board member.
Washington State University School of Hospitality Business Management Board of Advisors
,
United States
Co-founder.
CougsFirst!
,
United States
2011 - present
Personality
Thompson expressed a preference for being regarded as a person rather than only as a quarterback during his early college fame. He also described relying on his faith and maintaining relationships with friends from before his athletic success.
Physical Characteristics:
Thompson was listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 217 pounds during his professional football career.
Interests
Mortgage banking, youth football coaching, Washington State University alumni activities, and community service
Sport & Clubs
American football
Connections
Thompson is married to Molly Katica Thompson, whom he met in a Washington State University statistics class. Their son Tony Thompson played football at Washington State, where he wore his father's No. 14 jersey during a period when the number was temporarily brought out of retirement. Thompson is also related to former Stanford quarterback and coach Tavita Pritchard through his extended family.
Wife:
Molly Katica Thompson
Met Thompson in a Washington State University statistics class and later became his wife.
Son:
Tony Thompson
Played football at Washington State University and temporarily wore his father's retired No. 14 jersey.
Pro-Football-Reference, Jack Thompson
Documents Thompson's birth information, high school, college, NFL draft selection, playing career, and professional statistics.
Thompson finished ninth in the 1978 Heisman Trophy voting with 72 points, receiving 13 first-place, 11 second-place, and 11 third-place votes.
Thompson finished ninth in the 1978 Heisman Trophy voting with 72 points, receiving 13 first-place, 11 second-place, and 11 third-place votes.
Polynesian Football Hall of Fame,
United States
Thompson was an inaugural inductee of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, which recognizes major Polynesian contributors to American football and supports educational initiatives.
Thompson was an inaugural inductee of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, which recognizes major Polynesian contributors to American football and supports educational initiatives.
Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame,
United States
He was inducted in 2004 in recognition of his record-setting career at Evergreen High School and his later accomplishments at Washington State and in the NFL.
He was inducted in 2004 in recognition of his record-setting career at Evergreen High School and his later accomplishments at Washington State and in the NFL.
