PHOENIX — Zach Thomas, Corridor of Famer.
Fifteen years after his nice profession got here to an in depth, the Miami Dolphins star linebacker lastly bought the decision to Canton.
He’ll be part of the nine-man Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame class, crossing the 80% vote threshold on his fourth strive as a finalist.
Thomas, in August, will be part of the next classmates on the Corridor of Fame induction ceremony: Cornerback/security Ronde Barber; coach Don Coryell; linebacker Chuck Howley; defensive finish/defensive sort out/nostril sort out Joe Klecko; cornerback Darrelle Revis; cornerback Ken Riley; offensive sort out Joe Thomas; and linebacker/defensive finish DeMarcus Ware.
“I’m actually honored and humbled to be voted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame,” Thomas stated. “Rising up in Texas, I dreamed of enjoying soccer at any stage. To have performed at Texas Tech after which be drafted by the Dolphins was the final word. It was certainly a dream come true. I wish to thank my household for all of the sacrifices they made for me through the years. I might by no means have achieved this with out your love and assist.
“Thanks to all of my teammates. Every of you made me a greater participant and are an enormous a part of the place I’m as we speak. I’m trying ahead to celebrating this with all of you. Due to all my coaches, trainers and tools employees for serving to this honor develop into a actuality. Lastly, I wish to thank the Dolphins followers. Your assist means the whole lot to me.”
Thomas joins his former brother-in-law Jason Taylor as one among 11 former Dolphins gamers and coaches inducted into the Corridor of Fame. Thomas and Taylor had been the cornerstones of the final interval of sustained success for the group.
“On behalf of your complete Dolphins group and our followers around the globe, I wish to congratulate Zach on his election to the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame,” Dolphins proprietor Stephen M. Ross wrote. “It was a pleasure to look at him play the sport. Zach’s accomplishments on the sphere made him one of many best gamers in NFL historical past.
“His growth from a fifth-round draft option to a perennial Professional Bowl choice to receiving essentially the most prestigious honor this recreation has to supply is a testomony to his capability as each a participant and a pupil of the sport. As nice as he was on the sphere, he’s even higher as a household man and a task mannequin. We sit up for celebrating with him in Canton.”
Thomas was one among 5 modern-era finalists to get the decision, breaking by means of on his fourth strive. Whereas Thomas needed to endure by means of disappointment earlier than lastly getting in, his induction was all the time a matter of when, not if.
Over the course of his 13-year profession, he went to the Professional Bowl seven occasions (most by a Dolphins defender), recorded 1,734 profession tackles (fifth-most because the NFL started conserving observe of that statistic in 1987) and was a first-team All-Professional 5 occasions. He was additionally a member of the 2000s all-decade workforce. That physique of labor is just too good to maintain out.
Finalists who fell wanting the required vote whole: Defensive finish Jared Allen, offensive sort out Willie Anderson, defensive finish Dwight Freeney, kick returner Devin Hester, large receiver Torry Holt, large receiver Andre Johnson, cornerback Albert Lewis, large receiver Reggie Wayne, linebacker Patrick Willis and defensive again, Darren Woodson.
The 2024 class consists of the likes of edge defender Julius Peppers, tight finish Antonio Gates and security Eric Berry.
Extra Response To Zach Thomas Corridor of Fame Choice
Former Dolphins Coach Jimmy Johnson
“Zach Thomas ranks as one among my favourite gamers of all time. Having coached 10 Corridor of Fame gamers in my profession, I consider Zach deserves to be in that group. Zach was a coach’s dream as a pacesetter and a participant. I by no means had any participant that ready himself in addition to Zach. He belongs within the Corridor.”
Former Dolphins Coach Dave Wannstedt
“Of all of the gamers I coached in 40 years of teaching, I by no means had a participant who was a coach on the sphere as a lot as Zach. In the long run, that’s what made him so particular. Having a participant along with his capability to play at a excessive stage each play was uncommon. He was as helpful on third down when our opponents had been throwing the ball as a lot as he was on first down once they had been operating it. To have a participant like Zach who understood the sport after which was capable of carry it to the sphere for 60 minutes may be very, very distinctive and Zach is among the few who falls into that class. That’s why he’s deserving as any participant I’ve been round to make the Corridor of Fame.”
Former Dolphins Teammate Dan Marino
“Every thing about Zach stated Corridor of Fame. His statistics, how he performed, the successful defenses he led, the Professional Bowls and his information of the sport all leap out at you. He was not solely sure to be in the appropriate spot and get to the ball, however he would get everybody else lined up earlier than the snap. He was the quarterback of that protection and he made his teammates higher. Regardless that I used to be a veteran when Zach arrived in 1996, I began taking a look at how he labored day-after-day and the way he ready and it made you wish to enhance. You checked out his instance and stated, ‘l wish to work like that man.’ After which I noticed him play and develop and he bought higher over 12 years and I quickly acknowledged he was one of many greats of his time.”
Former Dolphins Teammate Jason Taylor
“Zach was arms down among the best teammates I’ve ever had. He was the captain of our protection and made each one among us higher on each play. No one labored more durable; no person ready extra, and in the event you didn’t see that first-hand every day, you actually noticed the outcomes on Sundays. Zach is totally deserving of a gold jacket and his place in historical past.”
Corridor of Fame Linebacker Ray Lewis
“I first met Zach as a buddy. Then I met the warrior. 12 months after yr, Zach confirmed to the world the right way to play the center linebacker place. He wasn’t the largest or quickest, however his instincts, ardour and information of the sport all the time impressed me. Sideline to sideline, there will not be many linebackers that I’ve ever seen higher than Zach.”
Corridor of Fame Heart Kevin Mawae
“Zach Thomas was my nemesis. My first yr with the Jets earlier than the primary recreation we performed one another, Invoice Parcells informed me in entrance of my total workforce, ‘In case you don’t block Thomas, we received’t win the sport.’ And for the subsequent 16 matchups, I by no means forgot that. Zach was one among – if not the neatest — gamers I ever confronted. He liked the sport, had enjoyable when he performed and introduced the most effective out in me. When folks ask me, ‘Who just isn’t within the Corridor of Fame that I believe needs to be?’ — it’s straightforward for me, quantity 54 from the Miami Dolphins.”
