Darwin Thompson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Darwin Thompson
| image = Super Bowl LIV (49606703293) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Thompson with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020
| current_team =
| number =
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|2|12}}
| birth_place = Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 200
| high_school = Jenks (Jenks, Oklahoma)
| college = Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (2015–2017)
Utah State (2018)
| draftyear = 2019
| draftround = 6
| draftpick = 214
| pastteams =
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2021}})
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2022|2023}})*
- Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
| status =
| highlights =
- Super Bowl champion (LIV)
- Second-team All-MWC (2018)
- Second-team NJCAA All-American (2017)
- Southwest Junior College Conference Offensive MVP (2017)
| statleague = NFL
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 225
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 = 3.5
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 2
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 16
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 108
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 = 1
| pfr = ThomDa06
}}
Darwin Thompson (born February 12, 1997) is an American professional football running back. He played college football at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College before transferring to Utah State. Thompson was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=D'Andrea |first=Christian |date=April 27, 2019 |title=Darwin Thompson thinks he can be the Chiefs' late-round Barry Sanders |url=https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2019/4/22/18352868/darwin-thompson-2019-nfl-draft-running-back-steal-short-barry-sanders |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=SBNation.com}} Thompson won a Super Bowl title as part of the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.
Early life
Thompson grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and attended Jenks High School. As a senior in 2014, he rushed for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns on 152 carries as the backup running back, and helped the team win a Class 6A-I state championship.{{Cite web |title=Darwin Thompson bio |url=https://utahstateaggies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=250 |access-date=August 22, 2019 |website=UtahStateAggies.com |publisher=Utah State Aggies Athletics}} As a football prospect, he was rated as a three-star recruit and the 16th highest rated recruit in the state of Oklahoma by the 247Sports Composite.{{Cite web |title=Darwin Thompson, Jenks, All Purpose Back |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Darwin-Thompson-64065/high-school-112139/ |access-date=August 22, 2019 |website=247Sports.com}}
College career
Thompson received zero NCAA Division I scholarship offers coming out of high school. He enrolled at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, a junior college in Miami, Oklahoma, and redshirted the 2015 season.{{Cite web |last=Farabaugh |first=Nick |date=March 1, 2019 |title=2019 NFL Draft: Darwin Thompson is out to prove his doubters wrong |url=https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2019/3/1/18225666/2019-nfl-draft-darwin-thompson-is-out-to-prove-his-doubters-wrong-scouting-combine-running-backs |access-date=March 19, 2021 |website=Behind The Steel Curtain |publisher=Vox Media}} As a redshirt freshman in 2016, he posted 1,029 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 150 attempts. As a redshirt sophomore in 2017, he was named Offensive MVP of the Southwest Junior Football Conference and an NJCAA second-team All-American after he ran for 1,391 yards and eight touchdowns on the year. His 2,420 career rushing yards is the second-most in Northeastern Oklahoma A&M school history.{{Cite web |last=McMullen |first=Matt |date=April 27, 2019 |title=Five Things to Know About Sixth-Round Pick RB Darwin Thompson |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/five-things-to-know-about-seventh-round-pick-rb-darwin-thompson |access-date=March 19, 2021 |website=Chiefs.com}}
Coming out of junior college, Thompson was again rated as a three-star recruit, ranked as the best JUCO all-purpose back in the country by 247Sports.{{Cite web |title=Darwin Thompson, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Running Back |url=https://247sports.com/Player/Darwin-Thompson-64065/junior-college-207539/ |access-date=August 22, 2019 |website=247Sports.com}} He committed to play at Utah State on December 17, 2017.
Thompson played one season at Utah State, starting in nine games and playing in 13 during the 2018 season. On November 3, he rushed for a career high 140 yards and three touchdowns against Hawaii, and was named Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week.{{Cite web |last=Glade |first=Matthew |date=November 5, 2018 |title=Darwin Thompson Named MWC Offensive Player of the Week |url=https://kslsports.com/401939/darwin-thompson-named-mwc-offensive-player-of-the-week/? |access-date=September 25, 2019 |website=KSLsports.com}} He rushed for 1,044 yards and 14 touchdowns on 153 attempts on the year, and was named second-team All-Mountain West Conference.{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2018 |title=Mountain West Announces 2018 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors |url=https://themw.com/news/2018/11/28/mountain-west-announces-2018-football-all-conference-teams-and-individual-honors.aspx |website=TheMW.com |publisher=Mountain West Conference}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 8
| weight = 198
| dash = 4.55
| ten split = 1.58
| twenty split = 2.63
| shuttle = 4.30
| cone drill = 6.93
| vertical = 39.0
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 6
| bench = 23
| arm span = 29 3/4
| hand span = 8 3/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1028320&DraftYear=2019 |title=2019 Draft Scout Darwin Thompson, Utah State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |website=draftscout.com |access-date=October 26, 2022}}
}}
=Kansas City Chiefs (first stint)=
Thompson was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round with the 214th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last1=Swanson |first1=Kent |last2=Sweeney |first2=Pete |date=April 27, 2019 |title=NFL Draft results: Chiefs select Utah State RB Darwin Thompson at No. 214 |url=https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2019/4/27/18520320/nfl-draft-results-chiefs-select-utah-state-rb-darwin-thompson-at-no-214 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |website=Arrowhead Pride}} As a rookie, Thompson appeared in 12 games and recorded 37 carries for 128 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with nine receptions for 43 receiving yards.{{Cite web |title=Darwin Thompson 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomDa06/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=January 23, 2020 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} In the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Houston Texans, Thompson recovered a fumble forced by teammate Daniel Sorensen on punt returner DeAndre Carter during the 51–31 win.{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2020 |title=Chiefs rally from 24–0 hole to beat Texans 51–31 in playoffs |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401131043 |access-date=January 12, 2020 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}} The Chiefs went on to win Super Bowl LIV after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 31–20 to give Thompson his first championship.{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Nick |date=February 2, 2020 |title=Chiefs rally once again to defeat 49ers, win SB LIV |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-rally-once-again-to-defeat-49ers-win-sb-liv-0ap3000001100762 |access-date=October 31, 2023 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}
In Week 17 of the 2020 season against the Los Angeles Chargers, Thompson recorded 110 yards from scrimmage, one rushing touchdown, and one receiving touchdown during the 38–21 loss.{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – January 3rd, 2021 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202101030kan.htm |access-date=January 7, 2021 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was released on August 31, 2021.{{cite web |title=Chiefs Announce Roster Moves to Meet NFL-Mandated 53 Players |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-announce-roster-moves-to-meet-nfl-mandated-53-players |website=Chiefs.com|date=August 31, 2021}}
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
On September 2, 2021, Thompson signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as part of their practice squad.{{cite web|title=Bucs Add Former Chiefs RB Darwin Thompson to Practice Squad|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-sign-former-chiefs-running-back-darwin-thompson-practice-squad-roster-moves|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=September 2, 2021}} He was released on January 13, 2022.{{cite web|title=Bucs Add WR John Brown to Practice Squad|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-sign-wide-receiver-john-brown-practice-squad-roster-moves|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=January 13, 2022}}
=Kansas City Chiefs (second stint)=
Thompson was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on January 14, 2022.{{cite web|title=Chiefs sign former draft pick Darwin Thompson to practice squad|url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/14/kansas-city-chiefs-draft-pick-darwin-thompson-signed-to-practice-squad/|work=Chiefs Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=January 14, 2022}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
On February 16, 2022, Thompson signed a reserve/future contract with the Seattle Seahawks.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign RB Darwin Thompson to Future Contract |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-rb-darwin-thompson-to-future-contract|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=February 16, 2022}} He was waived on August 30, 2022 and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves, Establish Initial 2022 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-establish-initial-2022-53-man-roster|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=August 30, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign 12 To Practice Squad|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-12-to-practice-squad|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=August 31, 2022}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 17, 2023.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign 10 To Future Contracts|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-10-to-future-contracts|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=January 17, 2023}} He was waived on April 17, 2023.
=Las Vegas Raiders=
On August 12, 2023, Thompson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2023 |title=Raiders sign RB Darwin Thompson, re-sign LB Kana'i Mauga |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-rb-darwin-thompson-lb-kana-i-mauga-nfl-2023-transactions |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Raiders.com}} He was waived on August 27.{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2023 |title=Raiders waive 8 players, place 3 on Reserve/Injured list |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-waive-8-players-place-3-reserve-injured-list-nfl-2023-transactions-82723 |access-date=2025-03-15 |website=Raiders.com}}
Personal life
Darwin is the son of Rueben and Lashonne Thompson. He is the nephew of former St. Louis Rams and Oklahoma State running back David Thompson. Thompson is a Christian.{{Cite web |last=Ackerman |first=Jon |date=January 29, 2020 |title=Chiefs RB Darwin Thompson aims to be 'identified as follower of Christ before football player' |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/football/2020/01/29/chiefs-rb-darwin-thompson-follower-of-christ-before-football/ |access-date=January 30, 2020 |website=Sports Spectrum}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|yahoo=32046|espn=4361606}}
- [https://utahstateaggies.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=250 Utah State Aggies bio]
- [https://neoathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2611 Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen bio]
{{Chiefs2019DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl LIV}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, Darwin}}
Category:American football running backs
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:Las Vegas Raiders players
Category:Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen football players
Category:People from Jenks, Oklahoma
Category:Sportspeople from Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Category:Players of American football from Oklahoma
Category:Seattle Seahawks players