Derrick Thomas: Forever a Chiefs Legend

Derrick Thomas could do it all on defense. He sacked many quarterbacks with ease, he stripped balls out of opposing running backs hands, he had multiple safeties, lifted up the other Chiefs defensive players around him, and helped bring respectability back to the Kansas City Chiefs franchise during the 1990's.

Thomas was finally awarded for his efforts on the field tonight, as he was officially inducted in the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. However, there was something different about this night. It wasn't like when past NFL greats had been inducted into the Hall, at least not on this night.

It was much different because there was one person missing from Derrick Thomas's ceremony, that was noticeably not in attendance. It was Derrick Thomas.

Thomas was drafted by the Chiefs with the 4th overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft. Carl Peterson, Chiefs GM at the time, saw a lot of potential in the former Alabama star who had just completed a senior season that saw him collect an amazing 27 sacks.

Peterson couldn't have been more right about this pick. Not only did he hit this pick out of the park, but he cleared the entire stadium with it.

Thomas was a star from the start, and during his rookie campaign in 1989, he terrorized opposing NFL Quarterbacks by racking up 10 sacks. He went on to become a  Pro-Bowler and also won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for his strong first season.

Thomas continued to dominate opposing offenses for the next 10 seasons, 8 of which he was a Pro-Bowler. He flourished with a Kansas City defense that included sack-master Neil Smith at defensive end, and a very fast, athletic secondary that included the likes of Dale Carter and James Hasty over the years.

However, it was Neil Smith that always brought out the best in Derrick Thomas. They were good friends. They played off of each other. They fed off of each other's talents. DT's ability to do this to his teammates on defense was insurmountable. His impact was felt everywhere, in the locker room, in the stands, on the field, everywhere.

DT was feared by many QBs in the league while playing for the Chiefs. Just ask John Elway, who Thomas sacked 17 times during his career. Then there's also Dave Krieg, former Seahawks QB who Thomas sacked 7 times during a Veteran's day game in 1990. How about former Raiders QB Jeff George, who Thomas pulverised in a 1998 game, which saw him sack George 6 times.

He also forced fumbles, try 3 times during one game, and 45 for his career, which is still an NFL record to this day. The DT train was rolling at full speed, and it wasn't going to slow down until someone could figure out this method to his madness.

Thomas was everywhere on the field. Opposing teams knew he was coming to attack their QB, just no one could figure out how to stop him. His speed off the end caused fits for O-Lineman around the league, and gave Offensive Coordinators nightmares.

Thomas and the Chiefs also slowly started to build an established, proven defense behind DT and his knack to sack QBs.

Unfortunately for Thomas and the Chiefs, the defensive prowess that he, Neil Smith and others had created was never able to land the Chiefs a Super Bowl trophy. In fact, Kansas City only won one playoff game during the Thomas years. A below average offense mean't that the Chiefs had to rely on Thomas and his defense to score points for the club.

By the time the 1998 season had ended, many critics and NFL experts started to bicker that Thomas was declining, even though he still finished with 12 sacks that year. The next year, 1999, the critics' voices started to grow louder about Thomas's level of play declining. He finished with 7 sacks, which was his lowest total he had achieved since becoming a Chief.

Shortly after the 1999 season, on January 23, 2000, Thomas was driving through a horrific snow storm en route to Kansas City International Airport, when his '99 Suburban went off the side of the road. Thomas, and one of his two passengers survived the tragic accident, but DT was severely injured.

The news was first reported during the 1999 Pro-Bowl Game, and the initial reports were that Thomas had broken his back due to a car accident near Kansas City. Chiefs fans were devastated with the reality of the news that their team's defensive leader for the previous 11 seasons had likely played his last game already.

The news spread though KC like a shock-wave. The good news was that it appeared Derrick was going to live through it, but he would probably never see the field again, and doctors weren't confident that he would even walk again.

A couple weeks passed, and optimism about Thomas's future started to grow a little. Sources around Thomas began to say that he had a decent chance to walk again, and things were starting to look up for the riddled Chiefs star.

Sadly, this all changed on February 8, 2000. Derrick Thomas died in his wheel-chair on this day from an apparent blood clot that had formed from his injuries sustained in the car accident.

Kansas City fell silent. Thomas's death became the main news story on ESPN and sports stations nationwide. Shortly after his death, Arrowhead Stadium was opened up for fans to pay respect to the fallen Chiefs hero.

Thomas's absence was felt immediately during the next season, and is still felt today as the Chiefs have not adequately replaced him with a dominant defensive play-maker like the one he came to be.

DT's presence was not only felt on the field, but also off the field as well. He, and good friend Neil Smith helped set up the Third and Long foundation which aimed at improving the lives of young children who grew up in the inner city.

Unfortunately, news came out after Thomas's death that he had seven illegitimate children with five different wives during his life. He wasn't perfect in every asset of life, and who knows, this could have been why he made strides to help kids through 3rd and Long more, because he didn't want other kids to know how kids had felt when he deserted them.

If there's one thing that DT will be remembered for it will be his play-making ability and his incredible way of taking over a game whenever he wanted. That is what placed him in the hearts of many Chiefs fans everywhere, and scared opposing blockers, knowing that they would have to slow down one of the best past-rushers in the history of the game.

Another thing that his abilities and talents got him was a spot in the NFL Hall of Fame. Sadly for DT fans everywhere, he was not able to accept his award at his induction ceremony earlier tonight. Instead, Derrick's son Derrion accepted the award and you can bet that Derrick was smiling down from Heaven with open arms.

DT will be remembered for a lot of things, many of them I already mentioned above. It's too bad that many people might remember him more for how he died, rather than how he played on field.

Regardless of how others remember him, there is one main thing I will always remember him by: he was and still is a Kansas City Chiefs legend, forever.