Pat Thomas
Encyclopedia
Pat Thomas is an American
football
player. Thomas primarily played cornerback
but also played at running back
and placekicker
. He attended Plano High School
where he played on the 1971 state championship team. Thomas was an All-American
player at Texas A&M University
. He played in the NFL
for the Los Angeles Rams from 1976-1982. He was twice named an All-Pro
selection, in 1978 and 1980.
Thomas began his coaching career with the Houston Gamblers
of the United States Football League
in 1983. In 1985, Thomas became a coach for the University of Houston
. He served in this position until 1989. He then moved to the National Football League
to be a coach of the Houston Oilers until 1992. From 1993-2000, Thomas was the defensive backs coach of the Indianapolis Colts
. In 2001, Thomas was named as the defensive backs/conerbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills
. As of 2006, he is no longer in that position. He coached at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Buffalo NY at this time. One student of specific note to Thomas was Naaman Roosevelt
, who went on to break the record for most touchdown passes in a single season in western New York, and to play receiver at the University of Buffalo. Father of Patrick Thomas,Jr.,MDPhd,Tamara Thomas and Joshua Thomas.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player. Thomas primarily played cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
but also played at running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
. He attended Plano High School
Plano Senior High School
Plano Senior High School is a public secondary school in Plano, Texas, USA, serving students in grades 11–12. The school is part of the Plano Independent School District, with admission based primarily on the locations of students' homes...
where he played on the 1971 state championship team. Thomas was an All-American
College Football All-America Team
The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions. The original usage of the term All-America seems to have been to the 1889 College Football All-America Team selected by Casper Whitney and published in This...
player at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. He played in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Los Angeles Rams from 1976-1982. He was twice named an All-Pro
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection, in 1978 and 1980.
Thomas began his coaching career with the Houston Gamblers
Houston Gamblers
The Houston Gamblers were an American football team that competed in the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985. The Gamblers were coached by veteran NFL head coach Jack Pardee in both their seasons...
of the United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
in 1983. In 1985, Thomas became a coach for the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
. He served in this position until 1989. He then moved to the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
to be a coach of the Houston Oilers until 1992. From 1993-2000, Thomas was the defensive backs coach of the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. In 2001, Thomas was named as the defensive backs/conerbacks coach for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. As of 2006, he is no longer in that position. He coached at St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute in Buffalo NY at this time. One student of specific note to Thomas was Naaman Roosevelt
Naaman Roosevelt
Naaman Roosevelt is an American football wide receiver with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League...
, who went on to break the record for most touchdown passes in a single season in western New York, and to play receiver at the University of Buffalo. Father of Patrick Thomas,Jr.,MDPhd,Tamara Thomas and Joshua Thomas.