Mike Thomas (running back)

Malcolm "Mike" Thomas (July 17, 1953 – August 23, 2019) was an American professional football player who was a running back for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers. He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1975.

Mike Thomas

No. 22
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1953-07-17)July 17, 1953 Greenville, Texas, U.S.
Died:	August 23, 2019(2019-08-23) (aged 66) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:	Greenville
College:	Oklahoma, UNLV
NFL draft:	1975: 5th round, 108th overall
Career history
Washington Redskins (1975–1978) San Diego Chargers (1979–1980)
Career highlights and awards
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1975) Pro Bowl (1976) PFWA All-Rookie Team (1975) 2× First-team Little All-American (1973, 1974)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts: 1,087 Rushing yards: 4,196 Rushing TDs: 19 Receptions: 192 Receiving yards: 2,011 Receiving TDs: 11 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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.^[1] At the time, UNLV was a Division II program; it moved up to Division I-A in 1978. In his senior season in 1974, the Rebels were undefeated in the regular season and advanced to the Division II semifinal (Grantland Rice Bowl).

Professional career

Thomas was selected in the fifth round of the 1975 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. In his rookie season, he rushed for 919 yards and was named the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. The following season in 1976, Washington returned to the playoffs as the wild card team; Thomas ran for over 1,100 yards and went to the Pro Bowl.

In his fourth season in 1978 under first-year head coach Jack Pardee, the Redskins won their first six games. Thomas injured his ankle in that sixth game and sat out the next three games. Washington lost eight of the last ten games to finish at 8–8 (.500) and missed the playoffs.

Thomas was traded to the San Diego Chargers in May 1979.^[1][2] After playing two seasons, he was waived by the Chargers in September 1981.^[3]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1975	WAS	14	10	235	919	3.9	34	4	40	483	12.1	33	3
1976	WAS	13	12	254	1,101	4.3	28	5	28	290	10.4	34	4
1977	WAS	13	13	228	806	3.5	31	3	28	245	8.8	25	2
1978	WAS	13	13	161	533	3.3	26	3	35	387	11.1	35	2
1979	SDG	14	9	91	353	3.9	21	1	32	388	12.1	32	0
1980	SDG	10	5	118	484	4.1	18	3	29	218	7.5	27	0
		77	62	1,087	4,196	3.9	34	19	192	2,011	10.5	35	11

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Rushing					Receiving
		GP	GS	Att	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
1976	WAS	1	1	11	45	4.1	20	0	2	18	9.0	11	0
1979	SDG	1	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0
1980	SDG	2	0	17	70	4.1	9	0	6	42	7.0	24	0
		4	1	28	115	4.1	20	0	8	60	7.5	24	0

Personal life

His older brothers Jimmy and Earl Thomas also played in the NFL.

Thomas died at age 66 on August 23, 2019, at a hospital in Houston after a lengthy illness.^[4][5]