Tommy Thompson (linebacker)

Tommy Thompson
Thompson on a 1952 football card
Thompson on a 1952 football card
No. 34, 24, 54
Position:Linebacker, center
Personal information
Born:(1927-01-06)January 6, 1927
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Died:October 1, 1990(1990-10-01) (aged 63)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Career information
High school:Woodbridge (NJ)
College:William & Mary
NFL draft:1948 / round: 3 / pick: 16
(By the Washington Redskins)
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:54
Interceptions:6
Fumble recoveries:8
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Thomas Wright Thompson (January 6, 1927 – October 1, 1990) was an American professional football linebacker and center who played for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the National Football League (NFL) in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He played college football at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.

Thompson was a standout athlete at his high school in New Jersey. He continued playing football at William & Mary between 1944 and 1948 – his career was interrupted by a year of service in the U.S. military during World War II – and helped the team to a series of winning records and bowl appearances. He was named an all-Southern Conference center three times in college and was a third-string All-American in 1948, his senior year.

Thompson joined the Browns in 1949 and played primarily as a linebacker as the team won the AAFC championship. The Browns joined the NFL in 1950 and won the league championship that year. Thompson was a leader for Cleveland, serving as its captain in 1952 and 1953, his final two seasons. He was named a first-team All-Pro in 1953. After retiring, Thompson worked as a financial executive and was a trustee at William & Mary. He was inducted into his college's athletics hall of fame in 1969 and into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1975. He died of cancer in 1990.

Early life and college

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Thompson grew up in Woodbridge Township, New Jersey and attended Woodbridge High School.[1][2] He played football there and was named an all-state athlete under head coach Nick Priscoe.[1][2] After graduating, Thompson attended the College of William & Mary in Virginia, where he continued to play football as a center.[2] He also played linebacker on defense for the William & Mary Indians, often staying on the field for the entire duration of games.[3] Thompson played for William & Mary in 1944 and between 1946 and 1948 – his career was interrupted by a brief stint in the U.S. Army during World War II.[4] He was a leader on the team and an anchor of its line.[3][5]

William & Mary finished with an 8–2 win–loss record in 1946, and Thompson was named an all-Virginia center.[3][6] The team improved to 9–2 the following year under head coach Rube McCray and won the Southern Conference, but lost to Arkansas in the Dixie Bowl.[6] Thompson was again named an all-Virginia player and was named to an all-Southern Conference team.[2] The Associated Press also named him an honorable mention All-American.[4] In 1948, William & Mary posted a 7–2–2 win–loss–tie record and beat Oklahoma State in the Delta Bowl.[6] Thompson was an all-state player for the third time in a row and an all-Southern Conference player for the second year running.[2] The Associated Press named him a third-string All-American, and he was selected to play in the annual College All-Star Game, a now-defunct matchup between the champion of the professional National Football League (NFL) and a selection of the best college players in the country.[3][4]

Professional career

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Thompson was drafted in 1948 by the Washington Redskins of the NFL, but he instead signed with the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), a team coached by Paul Brown.[2][7] Led by a sturdy defense and an offense that featured quarterback Otto Graham, fullback Marion Motley and end Dante Lavelli, the Browns finished with a 9–1–2 record in 1949 and won the AAFC championship.[8][9] Thompson spent some time at center during his rookie year, but was mostly a middle linebacker in the Browns' 5-3 defense in his first three seasons.[10]

The AAFC dissolved after the 1949 season, and the Browns were absorbed by the more established NFL.[11] The Browns won the NFL championship in 1950, and advanced to the championship game but lost each year between 1951 and 1953, Thompson's last season.[12] During his last two years, he was the right-side linebacker after Cleveland switched to a 5-2 defense.[10] He was named a second-team All-Pro in 1951 and 1952 and a first-team All-Pro in 1953.[10] Thompson, who was known as a sure tackler and a tenacious leader on defense, was the Browns' team captain in his final two seasons.[2][10]

Later life and death

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Thompson started a career in the financial industry after retiring from football.[5] He was inducted into the William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame in 1969 and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.[2][13] Thompson, who served on William & Mary's board of trustees, was appointed a senior vice president at the brokerage Shearson Lehman Hutton in early 1990, heading the company's Baltimore office.[5] He died of cancer in later that year.[5] Thompson and his wife, Elizabeth, had four children.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "1952 Disastrous for Inexperienced High School Grid Team, But Pro Golden Bears' Record Best in Many Campaigns" (PDF). Raritan Township and Fords Beacon. Woodbridge. December 31, 1952. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Thomas Thompson". Virginia Sports Hall of Fame Museum. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d Kalison, Pete (October 10, 2012). "One man's guide to Tribe football's greatest 11". College of William & Mary. Archived from the original on May 25, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Tommy Thompson". Tribe Athletics. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Thomas Thompson, former football player". The Baltimore Sun. October 3, 1990. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "William & Mary Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  7. ^ "Tommy W. Thompson NFL Football Statistics". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  8. ^ "1949 Cleveland Browns Statistics & Players". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  9. ^ Piascik 2007, pp. 144–146.
  10. ^ a b c d Peticca, Mike (September 4, 2012). "Cleveland Browns' 100 best all-time players: No. 80 -- Tommy Thompson". Cleveland Plain Dealer. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  11. ^ Piascik 2007, pp. 141–144.
  12. ^ Piascik 2007, pp. 181, 233, 253, 281.
  13. ^ "Tribe Football in the W&M Hall of Fame". Tribe Athletics. Retrieved August 5, 2013.

Bibliography

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  • Piascik, Andy (2007). The Best Show in Football: The 1946–1955 Cleveland Browns. Lanham, MD: Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58979-571-6.
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