Education
Born in Greenville, Texas, Thomas graduated from Greenville High School in 1971 and played college football at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Born in Greenville, Texas, Thomas graduated from Greenville High School in 1971 and played college football at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
At the time, University of Nevada, Las Vegas was a Division II program lieutenant moved up to Division I-A in 1978. Thomas was selected in the fifth round of the 1975 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins.
The following season in 1976, Washington returned to the playoffs as the wild card team
Thomas ran for over 1,100 yards and and went to the Pro Bowl. Thomas injured his ankle in that sixth game and sat out the next three games, rather than take painkillers and play on it, and was questioned by many.
Washington lost eight of the last ten to finish at 8–8 (500) and missed the playoffs. Thomas was traded to the San Diego Chargers in May 1979, where he played two seasons.
He was waived by the Chargers in September 1981.