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Zach Thomas

A good argument can be made that Thomas is the greatest football player ever from the Texas Panhandle. His honors and accomplishments at every level put him on that plateau.

He started as a freshman linebacker for White Deer’s undefeated 1988 1A state champions, and later transferred to Pampa where he was a two-time all-state linebacker for the Harvesters. Lightly recruited because of his size, Thomas signed with Texas Tech in 1992.

He would become the greatest defensive player in Tech history. Relentless, instinctive and quick, he was a three-year starter, and his last two years in 1994 and 1995, he was All-Southwest Conference both years. As a junior, he was a second-team All-American. As a senior, he was a unanimous first-team All-American. Those three seasons eventually would have him inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Again overlooked in the NFL draft, Thomas was taken in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins. For the next 12 seasons, he was as good as any linebacker in the NFL. He was named to seven Pro Bowls, was All-Pro five times, named to the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 2000s.  In 11 seasons he had more than 100 tackles, topping 150 six times and leading the NFL twice in tackles. 

In the summer of 2023, in Canton, Ohio, Thomas took his rightful place among the best to ever play the sport with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He has long made his home in South Florida with wife Maritza, their son and two daughters.