Brian
PANEM ET CIRCENSES
Don't know if this has been posted yet or not, but in the Kent Somers article Denny is seeking this guy as DC. Thoughts?
An NFL veteran of more than 30 years as a player and coach, Emmitt Thomas enters his second season as secondary coach of the Atlanta Falcons. In his first year guiding the Falcons defensive backs, Thomas' mark became very evident as the Falcons tied for third in the NFL with 24 interceptions. Furthermore, Atlanta's pass defense improved from 30th in 2001 to 16th last season. Thomas has been a winning presence on the NFL landscape for 35 seasons as a player and assistant coach. He has captured a total of three Super Bowl rings during his tenure in the league with two titles coming as an assistant coach and one as a player. Prior to landing in Atlanta, Thomas served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2000-2001. In his first season in Minnesota, Thomas helped the Vikings win the NFC Central crown and advance to the NFC Championship Game. Under his direction, Minnesota's defense finished sixth in the NFC in rushing defense in 2000. Thomas' extensive coaching career began at Central Missouri State University and in 1981 his NFL coaching career started with the then St. Louis Cardinals. This native of Angleton, Texas, moved on to the Washington Redskins (1986-94) for nine seasons as a wide receivers coach and then as a defensive backs coach. His time with the Redskins was marked with five trips to the Playoffs, two NFC Titles and victories in Super Bowl XXII and XXVI. Thomas joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a Defensive Coordinator for four seasons (1995-98) before taking a similar post with the Green Bay Packers (1999). The Eagles' 1998 defense was ranked No. 1 against the pass and was third in the NFL in sack percentage. His 1996 unit finished fifth in the league overall and his 1995 defense was fourth overall in yards surrendered as the Eagles posted back-to-back 10-6 records and a pair of playoff berths. Thomas was a standout defensive back for 13 years with the Kansas City Chiefs (1966-78). Thomas played in 181 NFL games, including Super Bowls I and IV, and was selected to play in five Pro Bowls. He finished his career with 58 interceptions, which is still tied for eighth most ever in NFL history, as he led the league twice in interceptions in a single-season. A quarterback and receiver at Bishop College in Dallas, he was converted to defensive back as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Chiefs. Thomas was born June 3, 1943 in Angleton, Texas. He has two grown children, a son Derek, who is head men’s basketball coach at Western Illinois, and a daughter, Dedra a LVN in Marshall, Texas. He and his wife, Jacqui, reside in Suwanee, Ga.
An NFL veteran of more than 30 years as a player and coach, Emmitt Thomas enters his second season as secondary coach of the Atlanta Falcons. In his first year guiding the Falcons defensive backs, Thomas' mark became very evident as the Falcons tied for third in the NFL with 24 interceptions. Furthermore, Atlanta's pass defense improved from 30th in 2001 to 16th last season. Thomas has been a winning presence on the NFL landscape for 35 seasons as a player and assistant coach. He has captured a total of three Super Bowl rings during his tenure in the league with two titles coming as an assistant coach and one as a player. Prior to landing in Atlanta, Thomas served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2000-2001. In his first season in Minnesota, Thomas helped the Vikings win the NFC Central crown and advance to the NFC Championship Game. Under his direction, Minnesota's defense finished sixth in the NFC in rushing defense in 2000. Thomas' extensive coaching career began at Central Missouri State University and in 1981 his NFL coaching career started with the then St. Louis Cardinals. This native of Angleton, Texas, moved on to the Washington Redskins (1986-94) for nine seasons as a wide receivers coach and then as a defensive backs coach. His time with the Redskins was marked with five trips to the Playoffs, two NFC Titles and victories in Super Bowl XXII and XXVI. Thomas joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a Defensive Coordinator for four seasons (1995-98) before taking a similar post with the Green Bay Packers (1999). The Eagles' 1998 defense was ranked No. 1 against the pass and was third in the NFL in sack percentage. His 1996 unit finished fifth in the league overall and his 1995 defense was fourth overall in yards surrendered as the Eagles posted back-to-back 10-6 records and a pair of playoff berths. Thomas was a standout defensive back for 13 years with the Kansas City Chiefs (1966-78). Thomas played in 181 NFL games, including Super Bowls I and IV, and was selected to play in five Pro Bowls. He finished his career with 58 interceptions, which is still tied for eighth most ever in NFL history, as he led the league twice in interceptions in a single-season. A quarterback and receiver at Bishop College in Dallas, he was converted to defensive back as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Chiefs. Thomas was born June 3, 1943 in Angleton, Texas. He has two grown children, a son Derek, who is head men’s basketball coach at Western Illinois, and a daughter, Dedra a LVN in Marshall, Texas. He and his wife, Jacqui, reside in Suwanee, Ga.