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The Denver Broncos will honor one of the franchise's best receivers, Demaryius Thomas, this year.
The team announced Tuesday that the late "DT" has been elected to the team's Ring of Fame.
Thomas was a hallmark of the Broncos during his career. Selected 22nd overall in the 2010 NFL draft out of Georgia Tech, Thomas began his career quietly in Denver. In 2010, Thomas only had 22 receptions for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2011, Thomas started to make a bigger impact as the Broncos mired through quarterback controversy early in the season between then-starter Kyle Orton and fan favorite Tim Tebow. As Denver marched towards a playoff berth in 2011, Thomas made one of the most memorable plays in franchise, and arguably, NFL history. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, Thomas caught a pass from Tebow that went 80 yards for a touchdown, ending the first overtime playoff game under the new format.
Thomas's next four years would mark the best years of his career, as he caught passes from Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Thomas became the bona fide No. 1 receiver for Manning, leading the team in receptions from 2012-2017. Thomas led the Broncos in touchdowns in the 2013 season (14) when Denver had the most prolific offensive season in NFL history. Thomas set a Super Bowl record for most targets (19) in Super Bowl XLVIII's blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He caught 13 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Thomas finally earned a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos in Super Bowl 50, catching only one pass for eight yards in the win over the Carolina Panthers.
Thomas helped fill the void at receiver after Manning's retirement prior to the 2016 season. In 2018, Thomas was traded mid-season to the Houston Texans, as rookie Courtland Sutton began to emerge as another top target in the Broncos offense. Thomas, ironically, helped Houston beat Denver in Week 9 of the 2018 season after the trade.
Thomas only played one more year in the NFL after the trade, this time with the New York Jets, where he only caught 36 passes for 433 yards and one touchdown. Thomas finally hung up his cleats in June 2019, as a Bronco.
After his retirement, it seemed like life would go on quietly for Thomas, until tragedy struck in 2021. Thomas was found dead at age 33 in his Atlanta, Georgia home on December 9, 2021 of an apparent seizure. Thomas's death stunned all, and the Broncos gave touching tributes in his honor the rest of that season.
Thomas has a place in nearly every Broncos' fan's mind and heart. His place in team history is also on display yearly as his name is on the team's MVP award.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos news: Demaryius Thomas elected to Ring of Fame
Continue reading...
The team announced Tuesday that the late "DT" has been elected to the team's Ring of Fame.
Thomas was a hallmark of the Broncos during his career. Selected 22nd overall in the 2010 NFL draft out of Georgia Tech, Thomas began his career quietly in Denver. In 2010, Thomas only had 22 receptions for 283 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2011, Thomas started to make a bigger impact as the Broncos mired through quarterback controversy early in the season between then-starter Kyle Orton and fan favorite Tim Tebow. As Denver marched towards a playoff berth in 2011, Thomas made one of the most memorable plays in franchise, and arguably, NFL history. Against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, Thomas caught a pass from Tebow that went 80 yards for a touchdown, ending the first overtime playoff game under the new format.
Thomas's next four years would mark the best years of his career, as he caught passes from Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. Thomas became the bona fide No. 1 receiver for Manning, leading the team in receptions from 2012-2017. Thomas led the Broncos in touchdowns in the 2013 season (14) when Denver had the most prolific offensive season in NFL history. Thomas set a Super Bowl record for most targets (19) in Super Bowl XLVIII's blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He caught 13 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.
Thomas finally earned a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos in Super Bowl 50, catching only one pass for eight yards in the win over the Carolina Panthers.
Thomas helped fill the void at receiver after Manning's retirement prior to the 2016 season. In 2018, Thomas was traded mid-season to the Houston Texans, as rookie Courtland Sutton began to emerge as another top target in the Broncos offense. Thomas, ironically, helped Houston beat Denver in Week 9 of the 2018 season after the trade.
Thomas only played one more year in the NFL after the trade, this time with the New York Jets, where he only caught 36 passes for 433 yards and one touchdown. Thomas finally hung up his cleats in June 2019, as a Bronco.
After his retirement, it seemed like life would go on quietly for Thomas, until tragedy struck in 2021. Thomas was found dead at age 33 in his Atlanta, Georgia home on December 9, 2021 of an apparent seizure. Thomas's death stunned all, and the Broncos gave touching tributes in his honor the rest of that season.
Thomas has a place in nearly every Broncos' fan's mind and heart. His place in team history is also on display yearly as his name is on the team's MVP award.
This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos news: Demaryius Thomas elected to Ring of Fame
Continue reading...
