Sidney Thornton

{{Short description|American football player (1954–2023)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Sidney Thornton

| image = Sidney Thornton in his earlier days.jpeg

| caption = Thornton with the Pittsburgh Steelers

| number = 38

| position = Running back

| birth_date = {{birth date|1954|09|02}}

| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|01|29|1954|09|02}}

| height_ft = 5

| height_in = 11

| weight_lbs = 230

| high_school = Capitol (LA)

| college = Northwestern State

| draftyear = 1977

| draftround = 2

| draftpick = 48

| pastteams =

• Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1977|1982}})
• Oklahoma Outlaws ({{USFL Year|1984}})

| highlights =

• 2× Super Bowl champion (1979, 1980)

| statlabel1 = Rushing attempts

| statvalue1 = 356

| statlabel2 = Rushing yards

| statvalue2 = 1,512

| statlabel3 = Receptions

| statvalue3 = 46

| statlabel4 = Receiving yards

| statvalue4 = 515

| statlabel5 = Total TDs

| statvalue5 = 24

| pfr = ThorSi00

}}

Sidney Thornton (September 2, 1954 – January 29, 2023) was an American professional football player who was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2nd round (48th overall) of the 1977 NFL draft. A 5'11", {{convert|230|lb|abbr=on}}. running back from Northwestern State University in Louisiana, he played in 6 NFL seasons from 1977 to 1982 for the Steelers, winning two Super Bowl titles with the team.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThorSi00.htm | title=Sidney Thornton | publisher=Sports Reference LLC | work=pro-football-reference.com | access-date=26 July 2014}}

Thornton returned to pro football in 1984, playing one season with the Oklahoma Outlaws and rushing for 288 yards on 101 carries (2.9 yard per carry average). He was second on the team in rushing, finishing behind Ernest Anderson. Anderson rushed for ten more yards during the season than Thornton, however, Thornton led Outlaws in rushing touchdowns, with four.{{Cite web|url=https://www.usflsite.com/stat84ok.php|title=1984 Oklahoma Outlaws Statistics - USFL (United States Football League)|website=www.usflsite.com}}

Thornton died on January 29, 2023, at the age of 68.{{cite news |last1=Geddes |first1=Nick |title=Sidney Thornton, Former Pittsburgh Steelers RB, Dead at 68 |url=https://outsider.com/sports/nfl/sidney-thornton-former-pittsburgh-steelers-rb-dead-68/ |access-date=2 February 2023 |publisher=Outsider |date=1 February 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202042605/https://outsider.com/sports/nfl/sidney-thornton-former-pittsburgh-steelers-rb-dead-68/ |url-status=dead }}