Education
DeCoud attended Glencove Elementary School and Hogan Senior High School in Vallejo, California, then attended Pinole Valley High School in Pinole, California and was a letterman in football and basketball. Thomas DeCoud graduated from Pinole High School in 2003.
Career
He played college football for the University of California, Berkeley. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. In football, as a senior, he was an All-ACCAL selection.
In basketball, he was an All-ACCAL selection.
Atlanta Falcons
DeCoud was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Playing primarily on special teams in 10 games as a rookie, DeCoud recorded 6 tackles (5 solo).
He had a breakout season the next year as he started all 16 games at free safety and compiled 68 tackles (57 solo), 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 7 pass deflections and 3 interceptions. After the season, DeCoud received recognition from United States of America Today, which listed him on its annual "All-Joe" team
In a SportsCenter interview on September 27, 2012, Decoud played the "Meow Game" from the movie Super Troopers.
He was released from the Falcons on March 11, 2014. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers signed DeCoud to a two-year deal on April 10, 2014. DeCoud made his first start for the Panthers in a 20-14 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in week 1.
During the Panthers week 5 victory over the Chicago Bears, DeCoud recorded his first interception for the Panthers against Jay Cutler to go along with 4 tackles and a pass deflection.
He was released on February 17, 2015.