Tag: Earl Thomas

Former Seahawks S Earl Thomas a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

Former Seahawks S Earl Thomas a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class

The semifinalists for the Hall of Fame’s 2025 class have just been announced, which include six players in their first year of eligibility. Fans of the Seattle Seahawks will certainly recognize one name in particular, which is none other than a founding member of the Legion of Boom: safety Earl Thomas.

Thomas was announced as a nominee in late September, alongside running back Marshawn Lynch. While it is unfortunate Lynch did not progress this far, it is impressive Thomas has. Joining Thomas as semifinalists in their first year of elibility are quarterback Eli Manning, kicker Adam Vinatieri, guard Marshall Yanda, and linebackers Terrell Suggs and  Luke Kuechly.

When Thomas was announced, I wrote about how from a football perspective it was a no-brainer he was a Hall of Fame caliber player. Overqualified, in fact. He was the best safety in the league during his prime, a Super Bowl champion, a member of the All-Decade team, and a key player on the best single season defense in NFL history.

I also mentioned his off the field/personal issues possibly could have hampered his first ballot status. So far, that does not seem to be the case. At least, as far as him making it to the semifinalists stage.

Like I said, the legacy of Thomas is complicated, especially since he has not reconciled with the franchise whatsoever after his departure prior to the 2019 season. Should Thomas make it to Canton, hopefully he and the Seahawks can mend fences, as it would be awkward to have a HOF’er who wants nothing to do with the team he built his career with.

The next step will be a finalists round, which will feature 15 total players and it will be announced later this year. Eventually, the Hall of Fame selection committee will make their decision on the 2025 class before Super Bowl LIX in February.

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Former Ravens S Earl Thomas shares thoughts on 2019 season with team

Former Ravens safety Earl Thomas shared his thoughts on his 2019 season with the team

The Baltimore Ravens signed safety Earl Thomas to a big-money contract before the 2019 season. While Thomas was an incredible player for the team on the field, the signing was a disaster off of it, with Thomas being cut after just one season with Baltimore.

Thomas joined Josina Anderson on “The Exhibit,” where he talked about his time with the Ravens, how it ended, and more. When bringing up the 2019 team, Thomas had a very interesting comment: While quarterback Lamar Jackson was Lamar Jackson, he let the team know that he himself was Earl Thomas.

It never felt like Thomas meshed with the Ravens off the field, and his fit inside of Baltimore’s culture always felt like it wasn’t completely there. While he helped anchor one of the best defenses in the NFL that year, the off-field baggage was too much to handle, leading to his release.

Former Ravens safety says he’s better than the legendary Ed Reed

Former Ravens safety Earl Thomas told Josina Anderson that he was better than Hall of Fame defensive back Ed Reed

Earl Thomas was an All-American defensive back at the University of Texas and a first-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks.

Thomas had a decorated NFL career, but injuries and off-the-field issues caused the defensive back to be out of the league by 2019 after his stint with Seattle and one season in Baltimore.

Thomas is clamoring for a return to the NFL. He recently sat down with Josina Anderson on ‘The Exhibit’ and claimed he was better than Ed Reed, a Hall of Fame safety.

“I know I still can play….cause my opportunities were slim to none after I had that incident in baltimore…it has to be a good atmosphere where coaches are going to go out there and let me play and communicate. I know the plays and the formations; just an atmosphere where they understand me. I’m still the best safety in the league… I would just know, I’m better than Ed Reed. I’m better than Troy Polamalu….I know a lot of Seattle fans would agree. I know for sure that 2013 team -we don’t win a Super Bowl without me.”

A key member of Seattle’s ‘Legion of Boom’ defense, Thomas was on his way towards carving out a Hall of Fame resume. Thomas played 10 seasons for the Seahawks and Ravens, logging 497 solo tackles, 216 assists, 2.0 sacks, six fumble recoveries, and 30 interceptions. He was selected to play in 7 Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl.

Reed played 12 seasons for the Ravens, Jets, and Texans, logging 534 solo tackles, 112 assists, 6.0 sacks, 13 fumble recoveries, and 64 career interceptions.

Reed was selected to play in 9 Pro Bowls, winning one Defensive Player of the Year award and one Super Bowl.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

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Former Seahawks S Earl Thomas nominated for the 2025 Hall of Fame class

Former Seahawks S Earl Thomas nominated for the 2025 Hall of Fame class

The initial list of nominees for the 2025 Hall of Fame class was released on Wednesday morning. Fans of the Seattle Seahawks were quick to notice among the first time nominees was beloved running back Marshawn Lynch. However, Lynch was not alone. Alongside him was his former Seahawks teammate in safety Earl Thomas.

The legacy of Earl Thomas is rather… complicated, and it’s reasonable for the 12th Man to feel this way. Earl Thomas, the player, was a transformative safety who helped usher in the greatest era in Seahawks history. A founding member of the Legion of Boom, Thomas quickly became an irreplaceable cog in one of the best defenses to ever take the field. It is not an overstatement to say the 2013 Legion of Boom was the greatest single-season defense in league history, and Thomas was a reason why.

Thomas’ speed and inate ball-hawking skills helped make him the best safety in the league during his prime. An argument can easily be made he was one of the most talented men to ever wear a Seahawks uniform.

On the other hand, Thomas’ personal issues directly contribute to why his legacy is complicated. His tenure in Seattle ended tragically in 2018. Thomas had held out of training camp because he was seeking a new contract, which he never received. Thomas wanted financial security in case of an injury, and Seattle did not want to commit more years/money to an aging safety. In the end, both were proven right, as Thomas suffered a season-ending broken leg.

The final image of Earl Thomas in a Seahawks uniform was him being carted away, flipping off his own team… something he said he did not regret doing. To this day, Thomas is the only major member of those Seattle teams who has not reconciled (at least not publicly) with Pete Carroll or the franchise. Everyone else who left under less-than-ceremonious circumstances have all found their way home.

Thomas landed on his feet in Baltimore, signing a three-year contract in 2019. But his tenure with the Ravens lasted only a year, as he was cut before the 2020 season due to him punching teammate Chuck Clark. Later, it was revealed Thomas had become a problematic teammate in Baltimore by constantly showing up late to, or missing, meetings, as well as never truly buying into the culture. When Ravens head coach John Harbaugh approached his leadership council of veteran players to address what to do with Thomas after the altercation with Clark, all but one voted to have him cut.

And that was essentially the end of his NFL career. No team was interested in the services of a player who was a considerable issue in the locker room, even if he was coming off his seventh Pro Bowl season.

Off the field, Thomas’ life has been a bit of a mess. In 2020, his then-wife held him at gunpoint after she found him and his brother in bed with other women, which eventually led to a divorce. Thomas was then arrested in 2022 for repeatedly violating a protective order against him, reportedly by his ex-wife.

So, yeah, complicated almost seems like an understatement when it comes to Earl Thomas.

If we are judging him solely on his football ability, the case for him to be in Canton is clear. In nine years, Thomas defended 71 passes, recorded 30 interceptions, forced 12 fumbles, and had 713 sacks. He was named to seven Pro Bowls, named to the All-Pro team three times, is a member of the 2010’s All-Decade Team, and has a Super Bowl ring.

But I can’t imagine the off the field/locker room issues won’t factor into the minds of voters. No, Canton isn’t filled with saints. There have been players with far more checkered pasts than Thomas enshrined in the Hall. Still, it may be what prevents Thomas from being a sure-fire first ballot player that we all were convinced he would be one day.

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First look at DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett in Seahawks uniforms

First look at DJ James and Nehemiah Pritchett in Seahawks uniforms

During the 2024 NFL draft, the Seattle Seahawks selected a pair of cornerbacks. Certainly not unusual for a team that values its secondary, but they did something that is not always common: they drafted a pair of teammates.

TSeattle selected cornerbacks Nehemiah Pritchett (round 5, No. 136) and DJ James (round 6, No. 192) during this pasat spring. These two will go from being Tigers to Seahawks. Now, we have officially gotten our first look at the two of them wearing the navy and neon.

It is only fitting these two have such close matching jersey numbers as well. Pritchett will wear No. 28, last worn by Kyu Blu Kelly and Kelvin Joseph in 2023. As for James, he will be No. 29, which was worn by SaRodrick Thompson.

Of course, when it comes to No. 29, the first name that should always come to mind is former Seahawks great Earl Thomas, who rocked this jersey from 2010-2018.

By drafting these two, the Seahawks are sending a message to their cornerback room: everyone’s job is up for grabs. Clearly, Mike Macdonald and John Schneider saw a pressing need to draft support or potential replacements from what they have currently. Here’s hoping these two Tigers can help bolster what many considered to be one of Seattle’s strengths.

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Pete Carroll coaching up rookie Earl Thomas is a blast from the past

Pete Carroll coaching up rookie Earl Thomas is a blast from the past

We can debate about a lot of things. It is what makes sports so fun and interesting. But one thing we can all find a consensus on is this: Pete Carroll is/was the best coach in the history of the Seattle Seahawks. His unique, player-focused style is truly unrivaled. Every so often, we get a glimpse at him in his element. Such is the case with this now-vintage footage of him talking to Earl Thomas.

Thomas was one of the best defensive players of the 2010’s, period. His elite speed and power punished NFL offenses week in, week out. But he had to grow into this role, channeling raw talent and skill into dominance. Fortunately, he had a quality mentor in Coach Carroll.

Of course, the caption in the tweet above is a bit misleading. Nothing Carroll said was tough or brutal, just simply a brilliant mentor teaching his young star. The Seahawks won the featured game 27-20, and the victory proved pivotal as Seattle would go on to win the NFC West with a 7-9 record.

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Seahawks share cartoon tribute to Pete Carroll that leaves out Earl Thomas

One face that isn’t included is that of Earl Thomas, who was arguably the best player on an all-time great defense.

The Seahawks shared a cartoon tribute to Pete Carroll last week on social media and then later deleted it. The cartoon includes a bunch of players from today’s team, including Bobby Wagner, Geno Smith, Devon Witherspoon, JSN, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Quandre Diggs, Jason Myers and Nick Bellore.

There are also a bunch of legends from the Legion of Boom days, including Russell Wilson, Red Bryant, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Marshawn Lynch and Doug Baldwin.

via Seahawks

One face that isn’t included is that of three-time All-Pro free safety Earl Thomas, who was arguably the best player on an all-time great defense.

It was an ugly split between ET and the front office, but there’s no reason to erase him from history like this. Deleting it was the right call.

Update:

Welp, the team has shared the cartoon again. Still no Earl Thomas.

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Cliff Avril tells a story about Earl Thomas snapping on him at practice

Watch.

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The Seattle Seahawks in their peak Legion of Boom days were the most entertaining and compelling group of athletes in the world. One reason they were so dominant was an unparalleled intensity. Sometimes that high motor resulted in clashes behind the scenes, though.

Earlier this week Cliff Avril was a guest on K.J. Wright’s podcast and he told a story about Earl Thomas snapping on him for eating sunflower seeds during a walkthrough practice. Watch.

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Those in the know see an elite back-end defender, though.

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Quandre Diggs flew under the radar in Detroit, as many great players seem to do. However, since getting traded to Seattle Diggs has been impossible to ignore. No other safety in the league is a better ball-hawk right now and he’s earned three straight trips to the Pro Bowl for his efforts.

Diggs is more than just an All-Star these days, though. Those in the know see that he’s developed into an elite back-end defender. That includes Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire, who’s begun his annual NFL positional rankings lists, starting with the safeties. Diggs came in at No. 2 on his list. Only Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Steelers ranked higher.

“Over the last two seasons (1,078 in 2021 and 1,012 in 2022), Quandre Diggs lined up at free/deep safety on 2,090 snaps, by far the most in the NFL… Yes, Diggs’ overall stats were great (10 catches allowed on 21 targets for 135 yards, 62 yards after the catch, two touchdowns, five interceptions, three pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 60.7), but you really have to separate him from everyone else in the NFL at his position as a deep defender.”

For Diggs to recover the way he has (he says he couldn’t even cut six weeks before the 2022 season began) and return to a high level of play only a few months after breaking his leg is mind-blowing stuff. Hats off to No. 6, who’s easily the best free safety this franchise has had not named Earl Thomas.

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Ravens trade S Chuck Clark to Jets

The Ravens have agreed to trade safety Chuck Clark to the Jets

The Baltimore Ravens are looking at plenty of roster changes as the 2023 offseason rolls along. They will almost certainly need to either restructure, extend, cut or trade a few of their contributors from 2022 in order to get under the cap, which is what they did on Thursday

Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the news that the Baltimore is trading safety Chuck Clark to the New York Jets for a 2024 seventh-round pick.  The move will help out the Ravens from a salary cap perspective as they need as much money as possible to make moves, but they lose one of their most consistent contributors on defense.

The trade can’t be made official until Wednesday, March 15th, when the new league year starts, but the trade has been agreed upon. Without Clark on the defense, it seems like second-year safety Kyle Hamilton will be thrust into a bigger role moving forward.

Clark, a sixth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft out of Virginia Tech was a solid piece for the Ravens defense.  He stepped up big time when the Ravens released safety Earl Thomas. In his career in Baltimore, Clark played in 96 games, had 384 total tackles, three and a half sacks, five interceptions with one of those being a pick six. All in all, Chuck Clark epitomized the “Play Like A Raven” mantra.

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