Robert Thompson (American football)
Encyclopedia
Robert Thompson is a retired American football
linebacker
. He played for the University of Michigan
from 1979 to 1982 and in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
and Detroit Lions
.
in Blue Island, Illinois
.
from 1979 to 1982. In the final game of the 1980 season, Thompson helped secure the Big Ten Conference
championship with a key fourth-down sack of Ohio State
quarterback Art Schlichter
, as the Buckeyes were driving in Michigan territory with less than a minute left in the game. The 1980 team
held opponents to an average of 1.8 points per game in the final five games of the season and defeated Washington
in the 1981 Rose Bowl
. In four years playing football for the Michigan Wolverines
, Thompson was credited with 214 tackles (including 39 tackles for loss), 188 yards on tackles for loss and 123 yards on quarterback sacks. Thompson was selected by his teammates as a co-captain for both the 1981
and 1982 football team
s. In November 1982, two Michigan linebackers (Thompson and Paul Girgash
) were all selected to the first team on the Associated Press
1982 All-Big Ten
football team. He was also selected as a 1982 first-team Academic All-America team player.
. He signed with the Oilers and participated in the pre-season games with the team, but he was released by Houston in the final roster cutdown to 49 players. In October 1983, he signed a contract as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Thompson appeared in 10 games for the Buccaneers in 1983. In 1984, Thompson sustained two broken toes in the pre-season and began the regular season on injured reserve. He returned to the Buccaneers roster in October 1984, and played in 9 games during the 1984 season. In 1985, Thompson was part of the Buccaneers roster during the pre-season, but he was released in late August 1985.
During the 1987 NFL season
, Thompson returned to the NFL as a replacement player for the Detroit Lions
during the players strike. He was one of only seven replacement players on the Lions who had prior NFL experience. He appeared in all 3 games for the Lions during the players' strike. In February 1988, Thompson signed as a free agent with the Lions, but he did not make the Lions regular season roster.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. He played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1979 to 1982 and in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
and Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
Early years
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Thompson attended Eisenhower High SchoolEisenhower High School (Blue Island, Illinois)
Dwight D. Eisenhower High School is a public four-year high school located in Blue Island, Illinois, a southern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Community High School District 218 along with sister schools Alan B. Shepard High School and Harold L...
in Blue Island, Illinois
Blue Island, Illinois
Blue Island is a city in Cook County, Illinois. The population was 22,556 at the 2010 census. Blue Island was established in the 1830s as a way station for settlers traveling on the Vincennes Trace, and the settlement prospered because it was conveniently situated a day's journey outside of Chicago...
.
University of Michigan
Thompson enrolled at the University of Michigan and played football under head coach Bo SchembechlerBo Schembechler
Glenn Edward "Bo" Schembechler, Jr. was an American football player, coach, and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Miami University from 1963 to 1968 and at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1989, compiling a career record of 234–65–8...
from 1979 to 1982. In the final game of the 1980 season, Thompson helped secure the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
championship with a key fourth-down sack of Ohio State
1980 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 1980 Ohio State Buckeyes football team represented the Ohio State University in the college football season of 1980-1981. The Buckeyes compiled a 9–3 record, including the 1980 Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona, where they lost 31–19 to the Penn State Nittany Lions.-Schedule:-Coaching...
quarterback Art Schlichter
Art Schlichter
Arthur Ernest Schlichter is a retired college and professional American football quarterback, sometimes known for his compulsive gambling and the legal problems especially gambling that arose from it...
, as the Buckeyes were driving in Michigan territory with less than a minute left in the game. The 1980 team
1980 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1980 Michigan Wolverines football team, coached by Bo Schembechler, won the Big Ten Conference championship with a record of 10–2 and defeated the Washington Huskies in the 1981 Rose Bowl game, 23–6...
held opponents to an average of 1.8 points per game in the final five games of the season and defeated Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
in the 1981 Rose Bowl
1981 Rose Bowl
The 1981 Rose Bowl was the 67th Rose Bowl game and was played on January 1, 1981 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. The game featured the Michigan Wolverines beating Washington Huskies by a score of 23–6...
. In four years playing football for the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines football
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. Michigan has the most all-time wins and the highest winning percentage in college football history...
, Thompson was credited with 214 tackles (including 39 tackles for loss), 188 yards on tackles for loss and 123 yards on quarterback sacks. Thompson was selected by his teammates as a co-captain for both the 1981
1981 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1981 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1981 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
and 1982 football team
1982 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1982 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1982 college football season. The team's head coach was Bo Schembechler...
s. In November 1982, two Michigan linebackers (Thompson and Paul Girgash
Paul Girgash
Paul Girgash is a retired American football linebacker. He played for the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1982. He started 36 consecutive games at inside linebacker for Michigan from 1980 to 1982, played in the 1981 and 1983 Rose Bowls, and was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten player by...
) were all selected to the first team on the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
1982 All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
football team. He was also selected as a 1982 first-team Academic All-America team player.
Professional football
Thompson was selected by the Houston Oilers in the 8th round of the 1983 NFL Draft1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983...
. He signed with the Oilers and participated in the pre-season games with the team, but he was released by Houston in the final roster cutdown to 49 players. In October 1983, he signed a contract as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. Thompson appeared in 10 games for the Buccaneers in 1983. In 1984, Thompson sustained two broken toes in the pre-season and began the regular season on injured reserve. He returned to the Buccaneers roster in October 1984, and played in 9 games during the 1984 season. In 1985, Thompson was part of the Buccaneers roster during the pre-season, but he was released in late August 1985.
During the 1987 NFL season
1987 NFL season
The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players...
, Thompson returned to the NFL as a replacement player for the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
during the players strike. He was one of only seven replacement players on the Lions who had prior NFL experience. He appeared in all 3 games for the Lions during the players' strike. In February 1988, Thompson signed as a free agent with the Lions, but he did not make the Lions regular season roster.