I told him, I dont think Im the right guy to try to make a point with. After a preseason game, Junior Seau says, You want to go out with me tonight? Thomas recalls. Because while Thomas reaped rewards and perhaps soon the biggest individual honor from the game, he poured heart and soul into the sport and made it more interesting and exciting for all of us. Because I am a Dolphin for life. Thomas had to prove himself every step of the way, even as a linebacker at White Deer High in Pampa, Texas. Now Taylor hopes that his former teammate, Zach Thomas, gets the same good news on Saturday, when the remainder of the 2020 Hall class is determined. If it wasnt for Zach Thomas, I wouldnt be in the Hall of Fame, Taylor told me Wednesday at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Your support means everything to me.. Jason Taylor is the Dolphins Hall of Fame defensive end and Zach Thomas is one of the 14 2020 As we can see they both forced a fairly even number of turnovers or turnover opportunities all told. He is adamant that Zach Thomas should be in the hall as well, as are most of Thomas former teammates. I understood the whole business part of it. I could never have accomplished this without your love and support. Those past teams came to their regular seasons with plans more than hope. But I definitely dont want to disrespect the game by thinking I deserve any of it. Those early mornings and late nights during the week were an investment so that the squatty guy who doesnt look like a football player could often perform better than anyone else on the field those three violent hours on game day. It was a great visit, Thomas says. Urlacher was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee in the class of 2018. Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas plays a pick-up game of soccer in Davie, Florida, Tuesday, January, 21, 2020. Zach being Zach, its not going to disappear until after Aug. 5, when he unveils a bust that may as well have a grin. "You cant take me out.". Jason Taylor deserved better. But the odds of being in the conversation of the all-time greats has got to be super high. He played against the New England Patriots on October 21, 2007, and, yes, the Dolphins lost. Thomas was inducted in 2012 into the Dolphin Honor Roll along with Jason Taylor, the other half of the Dolphins' Now hes a big Dolphins fan, Maritza says of her father. But the relationship didnt quite start out with such high appreciation. And Miamis Pro Bowl linebacker and defensive leader found out about it. "It was powerful. And I said, Oh, really? The symptom lasted nearly a year. The Dolphins that year were 9-7 and did not make the playoffs. She was there with friends because it was ladies night. And they decided it was time for Thomas and the Dolphins to go their separate ways. And soon, Saban came to love the player he initially wanted to trade so much so that the following offseason when the Dolphins were recruiting Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae as an unrestricted free agent, Saban asked Thomas to accompany him to dinner with Mawae to convince the player to sign with Miami. In December 2022, the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter named Liliana Marie. In 2005 Urlacher won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Zach Thomas & Jason Taylor have just been inducted into the Dolphins Honor Roll! Hence, it is unclear if the two are still Urlacher was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee in the class of 2018. Zach was there with offensive tackle Todd Wade. Maritza, of Colombian descent, went home to a family that was lukewarm on Thomas. And out of those games and the each players competitive spirit was forged a mutual respect so strong that when Mawae was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year, he used his acceptance speech to state Thomas also belonged in the Hall. I was dead tired after running so far, Taylor said. Together, they formed the heart and soul of the Dolphins defense from 1996-2007. Like it or not, those who make a fuss in an entertainment business (which sport essentially is) can often capture the attention. His development from a fifth-round draft choice to a perennial Pro Bowl selection to receiving the most prestigious honor this game has to offer is a testament to his ability as both a player and a student of the game. Thats his goal right now and any goal he has he goes all the way. And then the real pain began when he saw the people who hit him were wearing Patriots gear. That was tension. They're just delaying inevitable. NO. He pretty much told me, next time a coach is coaching you, you shut the [expletive] up. This is when Maritza and I were still dating and shes like, Were moving to Green Bay? And it didnt go through. Thomas playing from 1996-2008 & Urlacher from 2000-2012. There is only one thing left for the 7 time Pro Bowler, 5 time first team All-Pro, All Decade team member, 2 time NFL alumni linebacker of the year & Miami Dolphins All-Time leader in tackles made get him in the damn Hal of Fame, where he belongs! Yes, Zach got on one knee. Now his former teammate Zach Thomas, who spent 11 seasons with the Dolphins And, oh yes, the stories he authored are fascinating. That was him during with the Dolphins and one season with the Dallas Cowboys, investing 14 hours every day during football season, studying tape coaches didnt dig up, honing his body in ways few players tried (like hyperbaric chamber sessions and Botox treatments for concussions). Then on the turnpike ride home, with Maritza driving, the couple was rear-ended. He wanted to rip into somebody. Zach Thomas has had no other relationships that we know of.. About. It certainly wasnt that way when Thomas and Saban were yelling at each other during a practice in the fall of 2005. The Chiefs cut him in training camp. I teach my kids to be grateful for everything they do and get. And whats crazy is after it died down, and Im not naming the coaches, but a couple of them came up together and said, Youre our hero, man. Because he treated them pretty badly, Thomas says. Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached athhabib@pbpost.com and followed on Twitter@gunnerhal. Im the leader of this defense, man., Im good with being called out, thats fine. But as the rest of the team was floundering, Thomas was flourishing, averaging more than 10 tackles per game and collecting tackles for loss, passes defensed, and quarterback hits. And it was something of a mistake because Wade Phillips was running a defense that was totally foreign to him. Thats humbling, Thomas said. Traffic came to a real fast stop, Thomas says. But on the first play of the second game, [Dallas] brought in a LB at fullback to take me on. Armando Salguero has covered the Miami Dolphins and the NFL since 1990, so longer than many players on the current roster have been alive and since many coaches on the team were in middle school. Former Jets center Kevin Mawae took time during his Hall acceptance speech to say the one opponent who isnt in the Hall but needed to be was Thomas. To where? And they told me it was to Green Bay. The somber thoughts often drifted into Jason Taylor's mind as he friend and brother-in-law Zach Thomas. Between 1996 & 2008 they won two division titles. The more I thought about it though the more ridiculous that seemed. The former NFL middle linebacker spent his career smack in the middle of chaos. So now Im in his head. And they just beat us at home, Thomas laments. Its all about perception play on a successful team (the Bears were 126-98 & went to a Superbowl during Urlachers career), and you get the recognition. It was definitely a chess match. This is Zach Thomas life now. WebDefensive End Jason Taylor was selected in the third round, 73rd player overall, in the 1997 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Thomas will be enshrined along with the other members of the Class of 2023: cornerback/safety Ronde Barber, coach Don Coryell, linebacker Chuck Howley, defensive end/defensive tackle/nose tackle Joe Klecko, cornerback Darrelle Revis, cornerback Ken Riley, offensive tackle Joe Thomas and linebacker/defensive end DeMarcus Ware. fl-miami-dolphins-1010B - Retired Miami Dolphins linebackers Jason Taylor, left, and Zach Thomas, right, entered the Dolphins Ring of Honor on Tuesday, October 9, 2012. I didnt know he was a starter. Zach has all the history with the guy going from a 5th* round pick by Jimmy to 2 time 1st team All-pro selection before Jimmy Retired beginning of 99 Thats a momentous departure from the time Thomas sometimes refers to as crazy or wild a span of 13 NFL seasons he spent as perhaps the most adored Miami Dolphins player of the day. He wasnt demonstrative, but Zach Thomas was top of the tree good a true great at his position. About Katina Thomas is an American TV News. That is the extent of the numbers the Dolphins have have taken out of use, officially. He pretty much said that any linebacker hed had, once they hit 35 it was downhill. Former Miami Dolphin, Zach Thomas introduced his teammate, Jason Taylor to his sister, Katina. She grew up in Texas with her brothers, Zach and Bart. Both Zach and Katina graduated from Texas Tech University, where she earned her degree in broadcast journalism. He is an Associated Press All-Pro and awards voter. Thats why hes a winner.. To go from being a fifth-round pick to football immortality? Thomas, you see, kept notes that eventually grew into entire notebooks on teams and offensive coordinators. Together, they formed the heart and soul of the Dolphins 53 instead, which in New England belonged to former teammate and roommate Larry Izzo. He was the archetypal character that NFL commentators love to label a Bring his own lunch-pail to work guy. And one said, Thats my favorite player. Born Zachary Michael With Thomas leading the way with major contributions from Taylor obviously the Dolphins defense finished in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed an And Im grateful to football. Ninety-Nine Yards launched in 2018 and covers all aspects of the American football. Tori Deal & Jordan Wiseley (Off) Tori Deal and Jordan Wiseley were considered one of the ultimate power couples. That was going to be my title for this piece. Yet Zach Thomas had a much more productive career in terms of tackles per game. I kind of wanted to be part of that, but when I thought about it, I knew that would let all my fans down. As I noted above this is about individual recognition and Zach Thomas deserves to be recongised as equal to his peers the ones regarded as Hall of Fame worthy from his era. That first meeting happened at the Roundup Country Western nightclub in Davie. Im making my own hours. Two other numbers have been shadow retired, with Zach Thomas number 54 and Jason Taylors 99 no longer used by the franchise. The 2023 season is the time to finally honor those two players and put their numbers in the same standing as the other legendary numbers. In 168 games for the Dolphins all starts he had 1,640 tackles and 19.5 sacks. The battles were epic. View in 2021:Habib: Hall voters didn't 'rob' Dolphins' Zach Thomas. That was him diagnosing plays before opponents ran them, fending off 300-pound centers before they slammed him, figuring the correct angles to ball carriers before they ran by him. Katina Thomas boyfriend, Mawae laughed and still laughs at the story to this day. The somber thoughts often drifted into Jason Taylor's mind as he friend and brother-in-law Zach Thomas. The pressure now is getting Christian to his soccer practice and games on time. That year he had 122 tackles, (17 for loss), 5 passes defended 1 forced fumble, no interceptions and 6 sacks. An award Zach never received. ZACH THOMAS' HALL OF FAME CREDENTIALS. Thomas talks about how much he loves Saban as a coach and greatly enjoyed playing in his defense. Dolphins enter 2021 season with hope in a lot of areas. 2000s All-decade team member and Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Mawae thinks it too. I guess when I came home and told my brothers, I said, This football player was asking for my number. And they asked, who and I told them Zach Thomas. So for me, even in my early years, I knew every one of the 17 linebackers that went ahead of me. The Dolphins already had veteran Jack Del Rio. It would mean a lot because Im still that small-talent kid with big dreams that never could imagine it, Thomas said when he was a first-time finalist in 2020. He was one of the most reliable and consistent facets of the team during that whole period. 54 in Miami. I am not alone in that thinking. Yes, life has changed for Thomas since he stopped playing in 2009. The endless waves rolling in behind their beachfront home are a hypnotizing sound track in the background. Anyway, I blitzed myself. He hadnt even earned my respect at that point. Should that reflect on Thomas? They would go on to have quite similar career numbers (more below) but one was feted much more than the other. Thomas had not received much attention as a free agent before that visit. But I understood. Back then they were miking the refs and I didnt know about it, Thomas says. But that motivated me even more than usual, the Dolphins trying to get rid of me, thinking I couldnt play in that defense. I feel like Zachs focus now is being a great father and husband. Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis, Dolphins legend Zach Thomas says handicap as preschooler instilled work ethic, Oops! The 2021 Miami Dolphins? I was trying to get the call, Thomas says. You know, I was two-time all-state, but I dont get offered, he said. I love my Dolphins and you cant control what coaches want to do to turn a team around, but I thought it was mishandled.. So he told me he was going to bench me, or whatever. Wed go play other schools and our best dude (Zach) was better than their best dude by a lot and thats when we started to realize there was just something different about him, said Koby Abney, Thomas He also becomes the second linebacker chosen, joining the late Nick Buoniconti. And I felt like they mishandled that part. Thomas, 49, will be inducted into the Hall in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 5. During his career he was often compared to Brian Urlacher as their time in the NFL overlapped. But somehow Urlacher was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee and Thomas who retired earlier is still waiting to get into Canton. The tough decisions are picking which real estate investment to try and what workout to do to keep trim. On behalf of the entire Dolphins organization and our fans around the world, I want to congratulate Zach on his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said. Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas has been on the doorstep of the Pro Football Hall of Fame a couple of times but still hasnt gotten in. Taylor was enshrined in 2017. Im getting paid a lot. But Im not knocking Saban. And I knew they had all those great leaders on defense. Thank you to all of my teammates. Thomas sat out three weeks. The work is dropping off and picking up the kids from school and deciding which life lesson to deliver on the drives back and forth. But all that enjoyment didnt exactly bloom early in their relationship. Here are the 17 linebackers drafted ahead of Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 1996, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. So much that Thomas says, I made pressure my friend.. Lets just agree that it was a mutually beneficial arrangement for both parties. He was a 2016 APSE Top 3 columnist nationwide. I would always say no, but I said, Im coming with you. So we would have never met if Junior hadnt brought me out. That was stress so much of it that Thomas would get blisters on his lip from the pressure. They say its 1/10th of 1 percent just to make it to the NFL. Zach made 182 starts over his 13 season career whilst Urlacher made 180 over his 13 year career. Former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas, who made a career out of stonewalling running backs with thunderous hits, made the loudest noise of all Thursday night by being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Dont let me down, Thomas said. Saban eventually brought Thomas into his office and the two made peace. | NFL Draft 2023, Top 5 Quarterback Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 Tight Ends Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 Safety Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 Cornerback Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 Linebacker Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 OT Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Top 5 IOL Preview - 2023 NFL Draft | Draft Talk, Free Agency Highlights & Your Draft Questions Answered. When he arrived in Davie, Thomas goal was to make the roster through special teams. Jimmy Johnson came to me and was like, Zach, were starting you. And I said, No disrespect, but there are so many other guys who have already gone home. Learn how your comment data is processed. 2021 Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Why Zach Thomas belongs in the Hall of Fame. God bless, Tua Tagovailoa throws interception. And the truck behind us didnt even hit their brakes before they hit us. I felt bad for a while because I thought that was a reason he didnt sign with us at the time, Thomas says, But Kevin told me the Dolphins didnt offer him a contract, and thats the reason he didnt sign.. He was a sports enthusiast as a kid and Thomas friends noticed early on that he was a bit different than the other local youth. Just couldnt do it. I hear Bill Belichick does it to Tom Brady. Anything Zach does, hes going all the way, Maritza says. Katina Thomas-Taylor sued him in 2017 because she claimed he fell short on his promise by $3.4 million. WebThere are a number of guys waiting to get in, so, he may not be a first ballot in 2017 due to the HoF back log of competition, but he will surely make it within the following year or And Nick asks, Whats that? And I said, Hes a cheap-shot Christian., And I explained with Kevin sitting there. But the Hall of Famer whom Thomas will forever be most associated with is defensive end Jason Taylor. The honor comes in Thomas' fourth year as a Hall finalist. Does Zach Thomas belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Thomas jokingly countered hed wear No. And that was him exploding into tackles a whopping 1,734 of them before anyone got the better of him. But it was all love.. Youre rebuilding. She is famous for sister of NFL player Zach Thomas. Start with the time Nick Saban wanted to trade Zach Thomas. They would go on to have quite similar career numbers (more below) but one was feted much more than the other. This is about individual recognition. Thomas played only five games in that wasteland of a season. Hes the man. Does he belong? shouldnt even be a question, the Miami Dolphins great deserves to be in, of that I am in no doubt. I believe in that stuff. Ive been doubted my whole life and Ive used that. So he must have been much better than Thomas who has waited until 2020 to be a finalist right? I didnt know anything about football, Maritza says. Thomas holds up his hand as if stopping someone from talking. My first year with the Jets before my first game we played against each other, (Coach) Bill Parcells told me in front of my entire team, If you dont block Thomas, we wont win the game, and for the next 16 matchups I never forgot that. Thomas was inducted in 2012 into the Dolphin Honor Roll along with Jason Taylor, the other half of the Dolphins' dynamic defensive duo of the 2000s. In 184 games Thomas had 1107 solo tackles (6.01 per game). The same year Thomas had 162 tackles (13 for a loss), 3 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 2 sacks. And for me, I pretty much used that as, well, Im different. Taylor was no stranger to sacking the quarterback as To me, is he a Hall of Famer? Masons uncle, Zach Thomas, was a standout linebacker for 13 seasons with 3 teams, being named to 7 Pro Bowls of his own. And after retiring from football, we had Christian, we built this house. Thomas says he came to love Sabans ability to prepare the Dolphins. While Thomas said he would remain patient through the process, insisting the game didn't owe him anything, his fans voiced louder objections with each passing year, pointing out that many of his statistics surpassed those of linebackers already enshrined. Then theres the issue of the Dolphins during Thomas time there. You might say theyre a team of hope. And I just gave him one of these . So before the play, I see this and Peyton is calling signals, and I yell, Lead draw! Thomas says. These were guys that did a lot of the dirty work and I would go and clean up and Id get all the credit. He starts, Zach, Im trying to make a point to get it to the team, Thomas recalls. A lot of Hall of Fame voting can come down to statistics. Your email address will not be published. And Im right in front of my defense. As great as he was on the field, he is even better as a family man and a role model. Growing up in Texas, I dreamed of playing football at any level. The other Dolphins in the Hall are coach Don Shula; quarterbacks Bob Griese and Dan Marino; centers Jim Langer and Dwight Stephenson; fullback Larry Csonka; guard Larry Little; and receiver Paul Warfield. This time as one of the games all-time greats. I broke down.". So [Saban] stopped practice and made a scene. But as agent Drew Rosenhaus predicted to Thomas, if Belichick made him an offer, others would follow suit. Columnist. It was indeed a dream come true. He has covered 25 Super Bowls, the NBA Finals, and the Olympics. Two other numbers have been shadow retired, with Zach Thomas number 54 So I just told him Im a grown-[expletive] man and told him to shut the [expletive] up. Dolphins have a problem but not what you think, Dolphins at Bears quickie reaction: Defense outstanding, Tagovailoa a work in progress, Dolphins live practice blog: One key player dressed, others not. Taylor & Thomas. Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor will be there for you to meet. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. I want to stay. I was so fired up and I took him on.. Im looking forward to celebrating this with all of you. Its a blessing that he can do that.. For me, man, its always about respect. Thomas knew he had another concussion. Obviously I think (know) that Zach Thomas should be in the Hall of Fame. It was all just for motivation.. Zach Thomas was my nemesis, Mawae said 22:16 into his 27-minute Hall of Fame speech. And while coaches prepared their defense by showing players clips of the opponents previous three games, Thomas would spend time alone going back years. Thats humbling. Or he was my favorite player. . Jenna and Zach married in 2021 and welcomed a baby boy together. Mawae and Thomas, the great center and great linebacker, were rivals. The games been too good to me.. Thomas dated Maritza for two years and then proposed, but not before asking Guillermo for Maritzas hand in marriage. Perhaps Urlacher was better at forcing turnovers? We look forward to celebrating with him in Canton.. They played 18 games against one another when the Jets and Dolphins played. But Johnson immediately knew he had something special in the new kid. 1 on that list., He made everybody that played with him better. For me to sit here and say I deserve being in the Hall of Fame, thats just not me. Urlacher put in 315 assists on tackles (1.73 per game), Thomas had 627 career assists (3.4 per game). If youre grading my play, I was figuring it out so it was hard to sit out. I met her there and got her number this time. Why Steve Hutchinson belongs in the Hall of Fame - Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football, Why Tony Boselli belongs in the Hall of Fame - Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football, 2023 Final NFL Mock Draft Live - Texans Pass On QB! They went 108-100 and went 3-6 in the playoffs. But if I called out that one play in a game, hed be thinking I know whats coming the whole game. But for short yardage in previous years, Thomas noticed when Indy had two backs in, and the Y receiver flexed, the play was always a lead draw. Ill be the first to admit that Urlacher outstrips Thomas in sacks by a factor of two to one but then Thomas was making far more tackles per game. Katina, 42, who happens to be the sister of former Taylor teammate Zach I knew right then I was going to have issues when the symptoms kicked in.. Not even Johnson could have predicted the results. WebRelationships. But when Taylors choice was announced a few months back, it left more than a few wondering why he didnt pick Zach Thomas his former brother-in-law, close Thats because while the rest of the country (and parts of the world) will be captivated by Super Bowl 54 on Feb. 2, Thomas will be more focused on Feb. 1, when he and 14 other finalists are considered for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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