Tag: Zach Thomas

Throwback Thursday: Remembering former Dolphins RB Ricky Williams’ legendary 2002 season

Looking back at the season that was a recently-broken record.

In the Miami Dolphins Week 15 victory over the New York Jets, franchise history was made, as running back Raheem Mostert set a new franchise record for rushing touchdowns in a single season with his 17th.

When celebrating broken records, it’s always a great opportunity to look back and reflect on the individuals who made them so honorable. This was a record that had been held for 20 years by the legendary Ricky Williams, who set the mark during the 2002 season.

Williams was a college standout at the University of Texas. To this day, he holds the program’s single-season rushing record with 2,124 yards (1998), earning him the Heisman Trophy. He also won two Doak Walker awards in 1997 and 1998. His jersey number (No. 34) is retired by the Texas Longhorns football program.

Williams was selected fifth overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 1999 NFL draft, as the Saints traded their entire package of draft picks and two picks the following year to move up and take the running back.

Expectations for Williams were very high, and he delivered. In three seasons with the Saints, Williams totaled 3,129 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

However, after a disappointing losing season in 2001, New Orleans decided to move on from Williams even though the running back was coming off his best statistical season.

Williams was traded from the Saints to the Dolphins the following offseason with Miami sending two first-round picks to acquire the young superstar.

The Dolphins were coming off an 11-5 season that ended in a disappointing 20-3 wild-card loss to the Baltimore Ravens. They already had a star-studded defense with the likes of defensive end Jason Taylor, linebacker Zach Thomas and cornerback Patrick Surtain.

With a fresh start for Williams, he took his game to another level. He rushed for over 100 yards in his first three games, scoring touchdowns in each contest.

Williams started in all 16 games for the Dolphins in 2002, totaling a league-leading 1,853 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on an outstanding 115.8 yards per game, all of which were franchise records. He also proved himself respectable in the passing game, catching 47 passes for 363 yards and a score, making his all-purpose touchdown total 17 in 16 games.

The Dolphins unfortunately missed the playoffs in 2002 despite a strong start. After starting 5-1, they finished 9-7 as the offensive passing attack simply wasn’t good enough for the offense to put up points consistently. It was a frustrating finish to a team featuring elite talent on both sides of the football. Williams, Taylor, Thomas, and Surtain were all named First-team All-Pros.

Williams was an obvious choice for All-Pro with his production in 2002. He’s the last Dolphins running back to achieve First-team All-Pro honors. Hopefully, the season Mostert is having will break that trend.

While Williams’ single-season touchdown record might now be broken, his 2002 season should still be considered the best of any running back in team history. His 1,853 yards on 115.8 yards per game are still franchise records by wide margins.

No other Dolphin has rushed for more than 1,300 yards in a season, while Williams has done it twice. He’s also the only Dolphins running back to average over 100 rushing yards per contest in a season. Ronnie Brown came the closest in 2007 with 86 yards per game.

Willams set the bar for any running back who wears the aqua and orange. Passing the torch to other great running backs like Mostert is an invaluable honor when considering the legendary career Williams had with the Dolphins and everywhere else he played.

WATCH: Legendary Dolphins LB Zach Thomas receives Hall of Fame ring at halftime on Sunday

Miami fans celebrated the career of one of the greatest LBs to ever grace the field on Sunday.

While the Miami Dolphins were downing the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, the team held a very special ceremony during halftime of the contest to honor one of the best to ever don the uniform.

Former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame back in August, but he waited to receive his ring in front of the fans who cheered him on throughout his 12-year tenure in Miami.

Thomas got the opportunity to run out onto the field with his kids before hearing a few words from the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Jim Porter and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.

The former Dolphin then took the stage to thank his teammates, coaches, family and fans who helped him become the player that he was and the man that he is today.

Of course, Thomas, with his mind always on the game, ended with “Let’s win the second half.” So appropriate from one of the all-time gamers.

In hindsight, Sean McVay wishes he would’ve moved Joe Noteboom to LT vs. Bengals

After Alaric Jackson went down, the Rams put Zach Thomas at LT. In hindsight, Sean McVay realizes maybe that wasn’t their best option.

Things fell apart along the Rams’ offensive line in Week 3 after left tackle Alaric Jackson suffered a thigh injury and was unable to return. The pass protection broke down after that, with Zach Thomas struggling to hold up against the Bengals’ pass rushers at left tackle.

Some fans were surprised by Thomas being the first guy up on the left side, expecting Joe Noteboom to move out from guard to tackle in that situation. And as Thomas kept struggling, fans kept calling for Sean McVay to give Noteboom a shot outside.

In hindsight, McVay wishes he would’ve moved Noteboom to left tackle and plugged Tremayne Anchrum Jr. in at right guard instead.

“The main thing is, we had eight offensive linemen up,” McVay explained Wednesday. “Brian Allen, if something were to happen to Coleman Shelton. There had already been a situation a little bit later on where Joe (Noteboom) did get banged up. Tremayne Anchrum had to come in for an extended period of time and then you’ve got Zach Thomas. And so, if you did do that, you’re talking about a two-man switch where you moved Joe out, then you put Tremayne in. There was a lot of levels to that and so I think in hindsight, you’d say maybe would you give Joe an opportunity to go out there? Yes, but he also got banged up and there had been some things that we had seen and there was a lot of things that had gone on quickly. I’m not going to pretend to be perfect, but I will learn from those things and we’ll make better decisions if we feel like those are applicable.”

Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like Jackson’s injury will be a long-term one, with McVay saying the Rams are taking it a “day at a time” as they prepare to face the Colts on Sunday afternoon. His status is still unclear for that game, but the hope is that he can go.

If not, the Rams might have to seriously consider playing Noteboom at left tackle and Anchrum at guard because Thomas had a rough time on Monday night, earning a pass-blocking grade of 8.6 from Pro Football Focus.

Even McVay admitted it was a tough night for Thomas.

“I think it was tough,” McVay said of Thomas’ play. “I think it was a challenging situation. It was a tough atmosphere and environment. There was a lot of different things. He came in and competed the best that he could, but there were certainly some challenges as I think we all saw.”

Jackson is a key piece of this offensive line and we saw just how important he is on Monday night.

Bears stars to attend autograph and photo event in Schaumburg

Bears players, including Justin Fields and DJ Moore, will appear at the Elite Icons Autograph and Sports Card Show in October.

The Chicago Bears will be making their grand return to historic Soldier Field in just over a week, kicking off a 2023 season that is sure to be a rollercoaster of highs and lows. And while Chicago fans enjoy the festivities week in and week out, they’ll have the chance to meet the team’s biggest stars.

Several players will reportedly participate in the Elite Icons Autograph and Sports Card Show, an event that will take place in the Chicago suburb of Schamburg from Friday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 8.

According to the show’s official Facebook event page, fans will have the opportunity to receive autographs and take photos with some big-name Bears players: Justin Fields, Tremaine Edmunds, DJ Moore, Darnell Wright, T.J. Edwards and Jack Sanborn. They will be joined by all-time great NFL players such as Zach Thomas, Ladainian Tomlinson and Bo Jackson.

The event provides diehard football fans a rare opportunity to meet the super humans they root for every season. The dates of the event coincide perfectly with a pseudo-bye week the team will be enjoying. They’ll battle Washington Commanders in a Week 5 game on Oct. 5, and they have a mini-bye week before they play a Sunday divisional game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 15.

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WATCH: Zach Thomas gets emotional finding out he’s inducted into the Hall of Fame

He waited a long time for this moment.

After a 14-year wait, former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas was finally announced as an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday during the NFL Honors.

Thomas joined a class of incredible players, coaches and contributors who impacted the game, including Joe Thomas, Ronde Barber, Darrelle Revis, Demarcus Ware, Chuck Howley, Don Coryell, Ken Riley and Joe Klecko.

A familiar face got a chance to break the news to Thomas, as his coach from 1996-99, Jimmy Johnson, was there with loved ones to inform the linebacker of his fate.

This was such a cool moment to get to see from a guy who gave everything to the game during his 13 NFL seasons. Now, he’ll be immortalized with a bust in Canton, Ohio.

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Drew Brees on Dolphins Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas: ‘A rolling ball of butcher knives’

Former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas has made it to the Hall of Fame. Drew Brees once singled him out as one of his toughest opponents:

Take a bow, Zach Thomas. The former Miami Dolphins linebacker was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this week, and at least one of his former opponents has to be feeling happy for him. Legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees once described Thomas as one of the most underappreciated enforcers of his generation.

Brees only played against Thomas three times, all with the then-San Diego Chargers in the early days of his career, but the 5-foot-11, 228-pound linebacker left a strong impression. He was intercepted by Thomas on his very first pass attempt in their 2002 matchup, and he was tackled by Thomas twice. Brees remembers both hits well, telling ESPN in 2021: “That dude was like a rolling ball of butcher knives. Here he is, this undersized middle linebacker, and yet he would make every tackle. And when he’d hit you, he hit you so damn hard.”

Now Thomas is off to be immortalized in Canton, Ohio having waited 14 years since his retirement from the NFL. This year’s Hall of Fame class includes Joe Thomas, Ronde Barber, Darrelle Revis, Demarcus Ware, Chuck Howley, Don Coryell, Ken Riley, and Joe Klecko.

But don’t expect Brees to face such a delay in earning his own bronze bust. He’ll be eligible for the Class of 2026 alongside all-time greats like Frank Gore, Larry Fitzgerald, and Jason Witten, and he built quite a case for himself as one of the NFL’s most prolific passers. Just like Thomas (and Sam Mills, the Dome Patrol legend who was inducted last year), he’s earned his space in NFL history as someone who was thought too short or lightweight to last very long. Instead, they’ll be remembered for years too come.

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Cowboys great DeMarcus Ware makes Pro Football Hall of Fame

Ware joins an impressive Class of 2023 that also includes onetime Cowboy LB Zach Thomas and “Doomsday” standout Chuck Howley. | From @ToddBrock24f7

It took him an extra year to get there, but DeMarcus Ware is on his way to Canton.

The Cowboys legend and all-time sack leader was announced as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 during NFL Honors on Thursday night.

Ware was called to the stage by Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.

The 13-year veteran was also a finalist for the Hall in 2022, his first year of eligibility. Over nine seasons in Dallas, he made seven straight Pro Bowl appearances and earned four first-team All-Pro nods. He went on to play four more years and earn a Super Bowl ring with Denver.

Linebacker Zach Thomas, who spent one season as a Cowboy after a long career with the Dolphins, was also welcomed to Canton as part of the Class of 2023.

The Cowboys’ “Doomsday” defense standout Chuck Howley, the only man to be named a Super Bowl MVP while playing for the losing team, enters the Hall in the Senior Category.

Joe Thomas, Darrelle Revis, Ken Riley, Joe Klecko, Ronde Barber, and Don Coryell round out the Class of 2023.

Cowboys safety Darren Woodson, a three-time Super Bowl champ as a member of the dynasty teams of the 1990s, was also a finalist for the first time after six times as a semifinalist. His wait for Canton continues.

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Joe Thomas, Darrelle Revis among nine members of 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class

The Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomed nine new enshrinees to its ranks. Here is the 2023 Hall of Fame class.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has welcomed the following players, coaches, and contributors to its ranks with the 2023 class:

Joe Thomas, Darrelle Revis, DeMarcus Ware, Ken Riley, Joe Klecko, Chuck Howley, Ronde Barber, Don Coryell, and Zach Thomas.

There were 15 modern-era finalists, with Dwight Freeney, Revis and Thomas as the three first-ballot players.

The new enshrinees, in order of announcement on the NFL Honors show, and their official biographies from the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

Former Dolphins LB Zach Thomas finally inducted into Hall of Fame

It took longer than it should have.

During the 2023 NFL Honors, the inductees to the 2023 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced to the world, and after a long wait, a name that became synonymous with the Miami Dolphins was called.

Over 14 years after his retirement, and after being a finalist the last four years, former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas was immortalized in Canton, Ohio.

He joined Joe Thomas, Ronde Barber, Darrelle Revis, Demarcus Ware, Chuck Howley, Don Coryell, Ken Riley, Joe Klecko as this year’s inductees.

Thomas played 12 of his 13 NFL seasons with the Dolphins. In his career, he totaled 1,734 tackles, 20.5 sacks, 17 interceptions, and 16 forced fumbles. He was named to seven Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro selection five times.

After an incredible career that was certainly worthy of ending in a gold jacket, Thomas can stop hearing other names called instead of his own.

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Zach Thomas named a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame 2023 class

This is his fourth straight finalist selection.

During his 13-year NFL career, linebacker Zach Thomas was one of the greatest players in the league, and there’s a chance that he’ll finally be recognized for his greatness in 2023.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame, after a delay due to the situation with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, announced their 15 modern-era player finalists for their 2023 class, and Thomas was among them.

Thomas spent 12 seasons with the Dolphins before ending his career with a one-year stint with the Dallas Cowboys in 2008. With Miami, he made the Pro Bowl seven times and was voted a first-team All-Pro five times.

1,734 total tackles, 20.5 sacks, 17 interceptions and 16 forced fumbles also earned him a pot on the Hall of Fame’s All-2000s team.

This is Thomas’ fourth straight year as a finalist, and with everything that he accomplished, he really should hear his name called for Canton.

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