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13. Emmitt Thomas

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13. Emmitt Thomas

Emmitt Thomas is the franchise leader in Interceptions (58, one more than Johnny Robinson) and was a two-time league leader in that statistic (1969 & 1974).  Making a case as the greatest Cornerback in Chiefs history, Thomas played thirteen of his NFL seasons with Kansas City and he was named to the AFL All-Star Team once (’68) and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection (1971, 1972, 1974 & 1975), the last of which was First Team All-Pro worthy.  In that season his league-leading 12 Interceptions was matched by an also league-high 214 Interception Return Yards.  Like so many on the upper echelon of this list, Thomas was a member of the Super Bowl IV winning team and was also an AFL Champion in 1966.

Thomas would win two more Super Bowl rings as a Wide Receivers/Defensive Backs Coach with the Washington Redskins and he was elected to the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.  This has been quite a career for an undrafted player from Bishop College.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Cornerback
  • Acquired: Signed as an Undrafted Free Agent in 1966.
  • Departed: Retired after the 1978 Season.
  • Games Played: 181
  • Notable Statistics:

    157 Games Started
    11 Punt Returns
    64 Punt Return Yards
    29 Kick Returns
    673 Kick Return Yards
    58 Interceptions
    937 Interception Return Yards
    5 Interception Return Touchdowns
    7 Fumble Recoveries
    4 Fumble Recovery Yards
    100 Approximate Value

    7 Playoff Games
    5 Interceptions
    101 Interception Return Yards
    1 Punt Return
    2 Punt Return Yards

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Super Bowl Champion (IV)
    AFL Champion (1966 & 1969)
    First Team All-Pro (1974)
    Pro Bowl Selection (1971, 1972, 1974 & 1975)
    AFL All-Star (1968)
    Most Interceptions (1969 & 1974)
    Most Interception Return Yards (1974)

Last modified on Saturday, 22 July 2023 19:21

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