EMMITT THOMAS

'Emmitt Thomas' is an American former college and professional football player born June 3, 1943, who played for the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs from 1966 to 1969, and then for the Chiefs in the NFL from 1970 to 1978. He owns the Chiefs all-time interception record with 58, which places him ninth on pro football's all-time list. He made the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent from Bishop College in Dallas.
Thomas was an AFL All-Star in 1968 and made the NFL's AFC-NFC Pro Bowl 4 times (1971, 1972, 1973, 1975) after the Chiefs joined the NFL in the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger. He was also selected All-Pro 2 times. In the 1969 season, he led all pro football with 9 interceptions, which he returned for 146 yards and a touchdown, helping his team win the AFL Championship and the fourth and last AFL-NFL World Championship Game, which the Chiefs won 23-7 over the NFL champion Vikings. Thomas recorded an interception in the Kansas City victory. In 1974, Thomas led the NFL in interceptions (12), return yards (214), and return touchdowns (2).
Thomas finished his 13 Pro Football seasons with 58 interceptions, which he returned for 937 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also recovered 4 fumbles, gained 64 yards returning punts, and returned 29 kicoffs for 673 yards. He played in 181 career games, tying for the 5th-most in club annals, and his 58 interceptions are a franchise record.
He has been an NFL assitant for six teams in the last 26 years. Thomas is currently a Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary with the Atlanta Falcons.
His son Derek is the head basketball coach at Western Illinois University.
On August 24, 2007 Thomas and Marshall Goldberg have been selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee as finalists for election into the Hall of Fame with the Class of 2008.

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★ Other American Football League players