Thomas’ Death Devastates NFL

Kansas City Chief Coach Gunther Cunningham, groping for meaning in the death of linebacker Derrick Thomas, picked through his emotions and said, “A light has gone out. I hope people do one thing as a result of this accident--buckle that seat belt.”

Sixteen days before, Thomas ignored the common admonition. The decision began the series of events that ended sadly Tuesday morning in a Miami hospital room.

Paralyzed from the chest down in an automobile accident, Thomas died after going into cardiac arrest doctors believe was caused by a massive blood clot. He was 33.

Thomas was with his mother, Edith Morgan, and on his way to physical therapy when stricken, according to doctors at Jackson Memorial Hospital. He was rehabilitating injuries that included broken vertebrae in his neck and back.

The nine-time Pro Bowl player and father of three could not be revived and was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m. Eastern time.

“This morning he was being transferred from his bed to a wheelchair to take him into rehab, when he uttered something to his mother, his eyes rolled back and he went into arrest,” Thomas’ neurosurgeon, Dr. Barth Green, said. “The arrest team was immediately mobilized, but Mr. Thomas could not be resuscitated.”

An autopsy probably will be performed, doctors said. Green said he assumed that a blood clot led to the arrest.

“He just had a cardiorespiratory arrest,” said Dr. Frank Eismont of Jackson Memorial, “which means that he just stopped breathing and his heart stopped functioning.

“We were hoping that Derrick’s story would have been a happier ending. This is very much unexpected.”

Thomas’ friends were devastated by the morning news of his death.

“I can’t talk about it right now,” said San Diego Charger linebacker Tracy Simien, a former teammate of Thomas in Kansas City. “I need time. It’s too depressing.”

On Jan. 23, Thomas lost control of his sports utility vehicle on an icy stretch of Interstate 435 in Kansas City. The car rolled three times. Passenger Michael Tellis, 49, was thrown from the vehicle and eventually pronounced dead at the scene. A third passenger, the only one in the car wearing a seat belt, had only minor injuries.

Also thrown from the car, Thomas suffered a bruised spine along with the broken vertebrae. He underwent surgery to stabilize his spine.

In the days since, doctors said, Thomas had shown physical improvement. They allowed for the possibility he might walk again. Thomas told friends he would, and few doubted it.

There was no indication his life remained in jeopardy.

“Intellectually I understand this has happened,” Thomas’ agent, Leigh Steinberg, said. “Emotionally, I’m not even close to being able to fathom it. Just yesterday, we talked and he was so into his rehab, he said he will walk again.

“I do expect him to call me later today, and we’ll talk about how rehab’s going.”

The news of Thomas’ death roared through the NFL, through the wide circle of players and officials who were his friends. By all accounts, Thomas had a charming and vibrant personality that drew people to him and his many social causes.

He was a Kansas City sports icon who had post-career political aspirations, an active foe of childhood illiteracy who happened to be one of the most ferocious pass rushers in NFL history. Thomas also symbolized the growth of a franchise whose record was 4-11-1 the year before he was selected fourth overall in the 1989 draft after an All-American career at Alabama. Since, the Chiefs were one of three organizations to win at least 100 games in the 1990s.

Chief President Carl Peterson was so fond of Thomas that he called him, “son.” Thomas’ father, Robert, an Air Force pilot, died in Vietnam.

“It’s a devastating tragedy to the Kansas City Chiefs family, the people of Kansas City, the fans of the National Football League and to me personally,” Peterson said. “Derrick Thomas has been such an important part of the Chiefs family for the past 11 years. He has done so much for this team and our city during his time with us. He had so much love for the game, for his teammates and for our town. . . . A light has gone out.”

Cunningham said, “Derrick will hang over this stadium forever.”

In 11 seasons Thomas had 126 1/2 sacks, including an NFL-record seven in a 1990 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

His impact perhaps was greater off the field, where he frequently read to elementary schoolchildren as part of his Third-and-Long Foundation. Raised near Miami’s projects, Thomas established the program in 1990 for low-income communities.

In 1993, Thomas arranged and attended a charity basketball game for a young Oklahoma boy who was HIV-positive. Because of Phillip Tepe’s condition, several opposing schools refused to field teams against his.

A year later, Thomas returned to Oklahoma to visit Tepe. Tepe died the next day.

“That’s who Derrick was,” Steinberg said. “He was very empathetic. The plight of someone would stir him. The difference, instead of clucking and saying, ‘That’s too bad,’ Derrick would creatively try to change the situation.”

As a youngster, Thomas spent time in a Miami juvenile facility for burglary. As an adult, he felt a responsibility to those similarly troubled.

He once told Congress, “I come to you today to say you can make a difference, and to tell you that there are any number of success stories in the juvenile justice system, just like mine.”

In part for those efforts, Thomas was the 1993 NFL man of the year, an award he delighted in.

Many considered it a running honor. Steinberg’s telephone rang endlessly Tuesday. It was Bruce Smith. Warrick Dunn. Cortez Kennedy. Neil Smith. All wanting to share their grief.

Thomas’ charm crossed the football barrier, as well. A reputed partyer, particularly early in his career, he was known to spend time with Michael Jordan, comedian Chris Rock and country and western singer Hank Williams Jr.

“He had a very, very special gift for making the people around him feel special,” Steinberg said. “I don’t think we’re going to see someone replace that soon.

“He was the NFL’s unofficial social director. He had an incredible knack for creating and maintaining friendships. He was inseparable from his cell phone, which would go off 24 hours a day.”

Thomas was the second professional athlete in less than a month to die as a result of an auto wreck. On Jan. 12, Charlotte Hornet guard Bobby Phills was killed, leaving a young family behind.

“Derrick’s immense talent on the football field was matched by his caring and generous spirit in the Kansas City community,” NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. “Derrick Thomas leaves a tremendously positive legacy that will enrich everyone whose life he touched.”

Bill Maas, a teammate of Thomas’ until 1993, said he intended to call Thomas on Tuesday morning. Instead, his phone rang.

“It’s one of the saddest stories I’ve ever heard,” he said.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Looking Back

Derrick Thomas set an NFL single-game record with seven sacks in 1990. His career regular-season statistics:

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Year Tackles Sacks FF FR 1989 75 10.0 3 1 1990 63 20.0 6 2 1991 79 13.5 4 4 1992 67 14.5 8 3 1993 43 8.0 4 1 1994 86 11.0 6 3 1995 71 8.0 2 1 1996 58 13.0 3 1 1997 55 9.5 3 0 1998 54 12.0 3 2 1999 60 7.0 2 1

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Key: FF-Forced fumbles; FR-Fumble recoveries