Broderick Thompson
{{Short description|American football player (1960–2002)}}
{{for|the Canadian skier|Broderick Thompson (alpine skier)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Broderick Thompson
| number = 70, 67, 76
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|08|14}}
| birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|02|04|1960|08|14}}
| death_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 295
| high_school = Gahr (Cerritos, California)
| college = Kansas
| undraftedyear = 1983
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1983}})*
- San Antonio Gunslingers ({{USFL Year|1983}})*
- Chicago Blitz ({{USFL Year|1984}})*
- Los Angeles Express (1984)*
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1984}})*
- Portland Breakers (USFL) ({{USFL Year|1984}}–{{USFL Year|1985}})
- Memphis Showboats (USFL) (1985)*
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1985}})
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1987|1992}})
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1993|1994}})
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|1995|1996}})
| highlights =
- All-USFL ({{USFL Year|1985}})
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 152
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 135
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 2
| pfr = ThomBr22
}}
Broderick Lorenzo Thompson (August 14, 1960 – February 4, 2002) was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Denver Broncos. He also played for the Portland Breakers of the USFL. He played college football at the University of Kansas.
Early life
Thompson attended Richard Gahr High School where he was a standout in basketball and played but didn't start football, before moving on to Cerritos Junior College where he became a starter as a defensive tackle.
He would later transfer to the University of Kansas on a football scholarship. As a junior, he was one of the starting defensive tackles. He missed most of his last year with a stress fracture in his ankle.
Professional career
=Dallas Cowboys (first stint)=
Thompson was not selected in the 1983 NFL draft, because an ankle injury forced him to miss much of his senior season. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys, who converted him to the offensive line, playing both on offense and defense during training camp.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19830428&id=cJoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lugFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6855,6002884 | title=Scribbner scrapped draft, then got Packer surprise | accessdate=February 19, 2017 | archive-date=May 5, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505165854/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2199&dat=19830428&id=cJoyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lugFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6855,6002884 | url-status=live }} He was waived on August 2.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19830802&id=vEFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4773,397783 | title=Transactions | accessdate=February 19, 2017 | archive-date=May 18, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518212837/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19830802&id=vEFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4773,397783 | url-status=live }}
=San Antonio Gunslingers (USFL)=
On November 12, 1983, he signed with the San Antonio Gunslingers, but was traded to the Chicago Blitz in exchange for the rights to quarterback Bob Gagliano on January 3, 1984. He was cut on January 31.
=Los Angeles Express (USFL)=
The Los Angeles Express signed him on February 10, 1984, but was released three days later.
=Los Angeles Rams=
On May 4, 1984, he was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Rams. He was waived on August 21.
=Portland Breakers (USFL)=
Thompson signed with the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League on January 23, 1985. The team ended up moving to Portland, where he played in all 18 games and earned All-All-USFL honors at right guard. In July the team was bankrupt and couldn't pay its payroll, so their players became free agents.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19830802&id=vEFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4773,397783 | title=Transactions | accessdate=February 19, 2017 | archive-date=May 18, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518212837/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19830802&id=vEFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4773,397783 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19850801&id=5JQgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_2cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1182,115148 | title=Breakers can't meet payroll | accessdate=February 19, 2017 | archive-date=April 28, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428220340/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1928&dat=19850801&id=5JQgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_2cFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1182,115148 | url-status=live }}
He was claimed off waivers by the Memphis Showboats on August first and released the next day.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19850802&id=3pFTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AIcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3219,1578635 | title='Boats claim 3 Breakers | accessdate=February 19, 2017 | archive-date=May 13, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513052931/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19850802&id=3pFTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AIcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3219,1578635 | url-status=live }}
=Dallas Cowboys (second stint)=
On August 3, 1985, Thompson signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys and played 11 games as a backup. He was cut six games into the 1986 season.
=San Diego Chargers=
In 1987, he signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers. He played in 9 games (4 starts) alternating between right tackle and right guard. The next year, he was a regular starter at right guard and then to right tackle,{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-06-sp-1480-story.html | title=Wall Comes Tumbling Down : Chargers: There's a person behind the facade guard Broderick Thompson has sometimes hidden behind--some would say a pretty caring one | website=Los Angeles Times | date=6 October 1990 | access-date=February 19, 2017 | archive-date=2017-03-06 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306033952/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-10-06/sports/sp-1480_1_broderick-thompson | url-status=live }} eventually accumulating a streak of 62 straight starts, becoming a team captain and one of the Chargers top offensive linemen.
In 1992, he started 12 games at right guard before suffering a shoulder injury against the Kansas City Chiefs. The next year, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fifth round selection.{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-04-26/sports/25982238_1_eagles-trade-usfl-chargers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221714/http://articles.philly.com/1993-04-26/sports/25982238_1_eagles-trade-usfl-chargers |archive-date=2016-03-03 |first=Tim|last=Panaccio|title=Eagles Trade Pick To Chargers For Blocker|date=April 26, 1993}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
Although he had never played the position before, the Philadelphia Eagles moved him to left tackle and started 10 games until suffering a calf strain that put him out of the season.{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-08-12/sports/25970434_1_training-camp-camp-and-two-preseason-eric-pink-floyd|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064730/http://articles.philly.com/1993-08-12/sports/25970434_1_training-camp-camp-and-two-preseason-eric-pink-floyd |archive-date=2016-03-04 |last=Paolantonio|first=S.A.|date=August 12, 1993|title=Thompson Wards Off Protege, Wins Job At Offensive Tackle}} The next year, he started 14 games at right tackle, before being replaced with Tom McHale.{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/1994-12-15/sports/25856292_1_eagles-antone-davis-panos|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232213/http://articles.philly.com/1994-12-15/sports/25856292_1_eagles-antone-davis-panos |archive-date=2016-03-03|date=December 15, 1994|first1=Tim|last1=Panaccio|first2=S.A|last2=Paolantonio|first3=Gwen|last3=Knapp|title=Thompson, Davis To Sit In Line Shake-up }}
=Denver Broncos=
In 1995, he signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos, reuniting with his previous offensive line coach Alex Gibbs.{{cite web | url=http://articles.philly.com/1995-03-10/sports/25698935_1_rhett-hall-eagles-defensive-assistant | title=Rhett Hall Eagles Defensive Assistant | access-date=February 19, 2017 | archive-date=2016-03-04 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084138/http://articles.philly.com/1995-03-10/sports/25698935_1_rhett-hall-eagles-defensive-assistant | url-status=dead }} He was the starter at right tackle during his two seasons with the team.
Personal life
Thompson died on February 4, 2002, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-08-sp-newswire08-story.html | title=De La Hoya Will Retire After Three More Fights | website=Los Angeles Times | date=8 February 2002 | access-date=February 19, 2017 | archive-date=6 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306034040/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/08/sports/sp-newswire08 | url-status=live }} His sister Necie Thompson was a basketball All-American at UCLA.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170306040802/http://www.scout.com/junior-college-football/story/36196-remembering-ex-jc-broderick-thompson Remembering ex-JC Broderick Thompson]
- [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19930812&id=hAIiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hKIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4393,6719347 Thompson never gave up]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Broderick}}
Category:Players of American football from Birmingham, Alabama
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Cerritos Falcons football players
Category:Kansas Jayhawks football players
Category:Sportspeople from Cerritos, California
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:San Diego Chargers players
Category:Players of American football from Los Angeles County, California
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Denver Broncos players