Lynn Thomas
{{Short description|American football player (1959–2021)}}
{{similar names||Lynne Thomas (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Lynn Thomas
| image =
| position = Defensive back
| birth_date = {{birth date|1959|7|9}}
| birth_place = Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|4|11|1959|7|9}}
| death_place = Gulfport, Mississippi, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 11
| weight_lbs = 181
| high_school = Pascagoula (Mississippi)
| college = Pittsburgh (1976–1980)
| draftyear = 1981
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 121
| pastteams =
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1981}}–{{NFL Year|1982}})
- Oakland Invaders ({{USFL Year|1984}}–{{USFL Year|1985}})
| highlights =
- Super Bowl champion (XVI)
- Second-team All-East (1980)
| pfr = T/ThomLy20
}}
Ronald Lynn Thomas (July 9, 1959 – April 11, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a defensive back for two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 1981 NFL draft after playing college football at the University of Pittsburgh. Thomas also played for the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League (USFL). He was a member of the 49ers team that won Super Bowl XVI.
Early life and college
Ronald Lynn Thomas was born on July 9, 1959, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and attended Pascagoula High School.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/players/t/thom11800.html | title=Lynn Thomas | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=9 December 2024}} He was a member of the Pittsburgh Panthers football team from 1976 to 1980 and a four-year letterman from 1977 to 1980. He was named Associated Press second-team All-East in 1980.{{cite news|title=All-East Team|newspaper=Reading Eagle|date=December 19, 1980|page=30|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I94hAAAAIBAJ&dq=1980+All-Eastern+football+team&pg=PA30&article_id=2433,6645689}}
Professional career
Thomas was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round, with the 121st overall pick, of the 1981 NFL draft. He played in 15 games for the 49ers during his rookie year in 1981.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomLy20.htm | title=Lynn Thomas | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=9 December 2024}} He also appeared in three playoff games that season, including Super Bowl XVI where he recovered a fumble in the 26–21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomLy20/gamelog/post/ | title=Lynn Thomas | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=9 December 2024}} He played in nine games, starting one, for the team during the 1982 season. Thomas was released on March 31, 1983.{{cite web | url=http://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/t/thom11800.html | title=Lynn Thomas NFL Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=9 December 2024}}
Thomas appeared in four games for the Oakland Invaders of the United States Football League in 1984. He was also a member of the Invaders in 1985.
Personal life
Thomas was the brother of fellow NFL player Norris Thomas. On April 11, 2021, Lynn died at the age of 61 in Gulfport, Mississippi.{{cite news|url = https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/04/14/former-49ers-defensive-back-lynn-thomas-dies-at-61/|title = Former 49ers defensive back Lynn Thomas dies at 61|last = Williams|first = Charean|work = Pro Football Talk|publisher = NBC Sports|date = April 14, 2021|accessdate = April 14, 2021}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=thomalyn001 Stats Crew profile]
- [https://www.hartwellschristianmortuary.com/obituary/ronald-thomas Obituary]
{{49ers1981DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XVI}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Lynn}}
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Pittsburgh Panthers football players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players
Category:Oakland Invaders players
Category:Players of American football from Pascagoula, Mississippi