Thomas's greenhorn month was super successful, earning him Defensive Rookie of the Month per Sporting News, and was a foremost Chiefs' linebacker to exist as elected to the Pro Bowl in his first year since hall of famer Bobby Bell. He would come out within nine.

Arguably one of a better defensive players inside NFL history, & one of a virtually all extremely seeable Chiefs players, Thomas was known better for his high sack numbers. His career number sacks amounted to 126.Quintet, of which Heptad occurred inside one game, against Seattle's Dave Krieg in 1990, which is an NFL record. He ranks fifth Hundred%-instance around Chiefs history by using 649 career tackles, & is one of single Xvi players to achieve other than 100 sacks.

In January 23, 2000, Thomas was severely injured within an car wreck, while camping in I-435 on his way to Kansas City International Airport, where he was attend fly to St. Louis to observe a NFC championship game. A accident, which occurred whilst Thomas misplaced control of the SUV he was camping due to the icy road, left him sustaining debilitating spinal cord injuries, that may own been prevented in case he was wearing the seat belt. He died in February 8, 2000, in Miami, due to the massive pulmonary embolism related to his injuries.

Fallowing his dying, Thomas was elected to the Kansas City Chiefs hall of fame within 2001. He was eligible for NFL Hall of Fame election in 2005, his foremost month of eligibilty. Still, he did non receive a involved total of votes & must hold off until 2006 for an additional shot at posthumous enshrinement.