Kansas City Chiefs to Retire Derrick Thomas' #58 Jersey
by Joel Thorman on Jun 23, 2009 8:00 PM CDT
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason
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A bit overdue, no?
The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Tuesday the team will officially retire the jersey of the late Derrick Thomas. #58 is special to so many Kansas Citians for his work on and off the field.
The family of Derrick Thomas will receive his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring at the December 6th game against the Denver Broncos. Fitting, if you ask me considering former Broncos quarterback John Elway was sacked by DT 14 times in Arrowhead.
Thomas will join the following members of the Chiefs retired jersey club:
K Jan Stenerud (3), QB Len Dawson (16), CB Emmitt Thomas (18), RB Abner Haynes (28), RB Stone Johnson (33), RB Mack Lee Hill (36), LB Willie Lanier (63), LB Bobby Bell (78) and DT Buck Buchanan (86)
DT holds a myriad of NFL records including sacks in a single game (7) and sacks in the 1990s (116.5). The team's MVP award is named after the late linebacker.
Here's a little more on DT from the mothership:
Truly one of the most dominant players of his era, Thomas produced 27 multi-sack games during his NFL tenure. From ‘92-99, the Chiefs were an astounding 16-1 when Thomas registered 2.0 or more sacks.
He was also the key figure in Kansas City’s record-setting ‘95 defensive unit that ranked in the NFL’s top five in scoring defense (1st), total defense (2nd), rushing defense (3rd) and pass defense (5th) as the Chiefs posted a 13-3 regular season record for the first time in team history.
He was admitted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2001, one year after his death in 2000.
DT will be the 16th player who has had some affiliation with the Chiefs to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He'll join:
Marcus Allen, Joe Montana, Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanon, Len Dawson, Lamar Hunt, Willie Lanier, Warren Moon, Marv Levy, Jan Stenerud, Hank Stram, Emmitt Thomas and Mike Webster.
Carl Peterson will be the presenter when Derrick Thomas is inducted into the Hall of Fame on August 8th in Canton, Ohio.
Congratulations to Derrick Thomas and the Chiefs for a job well done.
H/T NJChiefsFan in the FanShots for the link and for this awesome video of DT below. Enjoy!
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Should've done it a long time ago!!!
Fans stuck in the 80's are lame. Respect the past, live in the now.
Who's making the decision?
Question is to Steve down below as well.
Would it be the GM? That’s what I’m assuming…I don’t know who else it would be. Maybe Clark Hunt.
by Joel Thorman on Jun 23, 2009 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Well they are all morons for taking so long!
Fans stuck in the 80's are lame. Respect the past, live in the now.
I see what you're saying
But I do wonder who’s making the decision. It would be interesting to see the reasoning why Carl didn’t do it in the eight years he was employed by the Chiefs after DT died, and why Pioli did it within his first six months of being hired.
by Joel Thorman on Jun 23, 2009 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions
Two Guesses
One, maybe the Chiefs wanted to wait until he got into the Hall of Fame. The other is that Pioli in his second year with the Patriots retired Bruce Armstrong’s number only one year after Armstrong hung up the cleats. I don’t know if any of that means anything. Could just be a different philosophy. The underlining issue could be DT’s family wishes. I don’t think this was happening against the family wishes though, after all, they picked Carl to do DT’s introduction.
A person in good health in a Western liberal democracy is, in terms of his objective circumstances, one of the most fortunate human beings ever to have walked the surface of the earth.
A Father thought maybe.
You are so proud of your children But you want someone else to validate them. love I guess?
Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying
by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 23, 2009 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions
I am Soooo looking forward to Carl's introduction speech as well as DT's sons.
Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying
by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 23, 2009 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions
Get ready
for a tears from Peterson, I believe. He loved DT.
And Carls will not be the only ones shed.
Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying
by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 23, 2009 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions
That video is awesome
I love that so many of the sacks in the video are against Elway.
It’s too bad that none of our linebackers or d-linemen seem to play with DT’s intensity (at least not since Jared Allen left).
I know its a little off topic, and DT needs his praise.
If Jan Stenerud jersey is retired so does Nick Lowery. Just saying…
All Hail #58
Weird
I was just wondering about this today actually. I guess I’m going to have to go against the grain here, and say that 10 years is an appropriate amount of time to wait to retire a number.
Not when the question is of a player that has passed,
And not when that palyer was instrumental in bringing the Franchise back from obscurity.
In Fact the Face of the Franchise. 2-3 years would have been appopriate.
Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying
by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 23, 2009 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I just think...
that it would be to reactionist to retire the number of a player who passed. I think it’s much more genuine this way. It’s seem much more about the fact of how he was such a great player. I think if you give it up quickly, it just makes it about the fact that he died. As I said up top, Carl absolutely loved DT. I think he saw it the same way I am.
Derrick Thomas was a Great player whether he entered the Pro HOF or not.
He had been a Great Player and to the world a Great Ambassador of the KC Chiefs for many years before he died. NOONE would have said the Chiefs should not have retired his number at any time prior to now.
Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying
by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 23, 2009 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I won't disagree
that no one would have had an issue if this would have happened sooner. Nor would I have an issue with it if it would have happened sooner. As I said, I was just wondering today when it was going to happen.
Sorry
We don’t bite but I just Barked. DT cuts deep in all, but for those that lived in the wasteland of late 70’s and 80’s Chiefs, DT was Moses that led us to a promised land that has as of yet denied us another SB.
Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying
by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 23, 2009 10:12 PM CDT up reply actions
Not a surprise.
Just a matter of time. I’m glad they waited till he got in the Hall.
How many US Open runner ups have you blazed with? Way to go, Ricky Barnes.
Can you...
explain your thing about Barnes at the bottom? I’m not getting it, but I’d like to.
Know him from undergrad...
spent the better part of three years abusing substances at the house and shared horseshoe pit next to his and three other U of Ale jocks’ pad. Barnes and 2 lesser golfers as well as b-baller Big Stick Rick Anderson. He was living next door when he won the US Amateur, players getting paid now. Bear Down!
How many US Open runner ups have you blazed with? Way to go, Ricky Barnes.
by HIV 2 Elway on Jun 23, 2009 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions
From ‘92-99, the Chiefs were an astounding 16-1 when Thomas registered 2.0 or more sacks.
Kinda ironic that the only loss that the Chiefs had with Thomas registering 2 or more sacks in a game was the game that he set the record.
Dave Kreig was some kinda shifty. Nahhhh
Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying
by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 23, 2009 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions
The only reason they lost
Is because Thomas slid off Kriegs shoulder pads and missed the 8th sack on the last play of the game. Krieg then threw a TD. I watched that game a little while ago….hell of a game.
If anyone wants to see this game...
look here. November 11, 1990
I've been rapping for about seveteen years okay? I don't write my stuff anymore I just kick it from my head you know what I'm sayin? I can do that. No disrespect but that's how I am.
I have always wished we could have
seen the 95 defense and the 2003 offense at the same time, that team would have been out of this world.
Herm is gone things are better with that one move!!
by bringbacktheglory on Jun 23, 2009 9:45 PM CDT reply actions
Yikes that team would've kicked ass. Maybe throw Montana in there instead of Green lol
Fans stuck in the 80's are lame. Respect the past, live in the now.
Yes
I fixed it, thanks. I even had him on my list here.
by Joel Thorman on Jun 23, 2009 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions
There is no criteria for retiring a players Jersey in the NFL
It is left to the discretion of the team itself. Some teams like the Cowboys do not offically retire jerseys, but it is understood that certain numbers will not be issued any longer (Roger Staubach, Bob Lily, etc.)
I honestly believe in this case that the decision was made solely by the Hunt family, due to the fact that Pioli was just hired.
This is a rarity folks. The last time the Chiefs retired a number was for someone that played in the 70’s. 30 years ago. If you can get to the game, be there, it’s something you may not see again for another 30 years.
Yeah, let's just keep matriculatin' the ball down the field, boys! ...
Order your Arrowhead Pride Wolf Pack T-shirt at ARROWHEAD ATTITUDE
Just want to put my two cents in........
He should have been in a long time ago……He’s part of what I said in another post…..Football was great at one time. It still is, but not like the 70’s & 80’s. I’m too young to remember the 60’s, but I’ll bet there are some who could tell me some real good stories of the KC, Raiders rivalry. DT was and is an inspiration. His family must be real proud……..
Thanks for stopping by Raidermomo
And welcome to AP.
by Joel Thorman on Jun 23, 2009 11:30 PM CDT up reply actions
+1
Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying
by Steve_Chiefs on Jun 23, 2009 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions
The Raiders are another team that doesn't offically retire numbers
Davis has never given his consent to do so.
Props to Otto, Blanda, Biletnikoff, and Upshaw.
Yeah, let's just keep matriculatin' the ball down the field, boys! ...
Order your Arrowhead Pride Wolf Pack T-shirt at ARROWHEAD ATTITUDE
by oldchiefsfan on Jun 23, 2009 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions
After all this time...
I cant believe it still hurts to watch him… all hail No.58!
God Bless DT. In Chiefs Fan's Hearts for all eternity
Forever in my our hearts. #58 soldiers for all time!
Can't wait to put my pads on a Raider, My Helmet on a Hater. I'm the Arrowhead Gladiator!!
by ArrowheadGladiator on Jun 24, 2009 12:16 AM CDT reply actions
I only hope...
…that the donkeys aren’t stomping us on the day the ceremony occurs.
I agree that this is long overdue, but clearly it seems as if they wanted to wait until he hit the hall of fame before doing it.
by GonzosDirtyTrailer on Jun 24, 2009 6:59 AM CDT reply actions
It's about time
I did not know D.T. personally, but I wish I did. When he passed, I was heart broken but as a fan was proud of Him and knew two things. #1) He was going to the H.O.F. and #2) His number would be retired. Recently it has been asked what the Chiefs need this year to improve… The answer is we need D.T.
is it me? or isn't about time the Lamar Hunt trophy belonged to His team?
just thought I'd repost this here if anybody was intereted
Click for the original post from March 29.
I've been rapping for about seveteen years okay? I don't write my stuff anymore I just kick it from my head you know what I'm sayin? I can do that. No disrespect but that's how I am.
DT=greatest Chief ever!!!
We haven’t been the same since he died. RIP.
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