The NFL was stunned to learn the news of the shocking passing of former NFL Pro Bowl WR, DeMaryius Thomas. He was found dead at his home in Roswell, GA, Thursday. An official cause of death has not be announced but his family suggests that his recent battle with seizures may have been the cause.
His cousin, LaTonya Bonseigneur, shared with the Associated Press that the seizures stemmed from lingering neurological effects from his 2019 car accident. “He had been suffering from seizures for over a year, and we believe he had a seizure when he was showering,” Bonseigneur told the AP. “We’re not sure when he died. We just spoke with him yesterday. He was alone and a friend couldn’t get hold of him, so he called his driver, who has a key because of these seizures, and he went into his home and found him in the shower.”
The Denver Broncos released a statement on his passing:
“During nine seasons in Denver, Demaryius established himself as a dominant, record-setting wide receiver who was an instrumental part of two championship runs and our victory in Super Bowl 50. His legacy as a Bronco extended far beyond the playing field as a caring, generous member of our community. D.T. loved giving back—especially spending time with children—and impacted countless lives through the Broncos Boys and Girls Club, hospital visits, his annual football camp and many other genuine interactions. Demaryius’ humility, warmth, kindness and infectious smile will always be remembered by those who knew him and loved him.”
A future “Hall of Famer”, indeed. But, a better person.
I mentioned on the air how much I adored Thomas. He was the 22nd draft pick in the 2010 NFL draft during a time in my life where I was still very much invested in the game. His explosiveness combined with his grit energized me in my journey and though I wasn’t successful in football, I’m still grateful for the energy he gave me. I’m even more grateful to learn about his generosity, warmth, and humility from the stories that people have shared in remembrance of him.
Here are some of the reactions from across the league:
It goes without saying that Thomas will be honored with a gold jacket. I just wish he would be here to see it. His explosive career placed him in Broncos history with the 2nd most receiving yards and touchdowns (all-time). Thomas is also 3rd in career receptions. He holds the franchise record for reception yards in a season (1,619), most receiving yards in a game (226), and most touchdown receptions in a season (14). He’s been to the Pro Bowl 5 times, consecutively, making him one of only four to do so. He was one of the bests to do it but his former Quarterback Peyton Manning says his physical abilities don’t hold a candle to who he was as a man.
“D.T. was a better person than he was a player, and he was a Hall of Fame player,” Manning said in a statement. “That tells you how good of a person he was. He treated my kids like they were his own. He was there for every teammate’s charity event. I texted with D.T. on Tuesday. He was talking about a TD audible we called vs. Arizona in 2014. Absolutely devastated.”
Our thoughts and prayers with the Thomas family, friends, and fans of the late DeMaryius Thomas.
