Tra Thomas
{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1974)}}
{{for|the American football defensive back|Tre Thomas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Tra Thomas
| image = Tra-Thomas-2008-11-02-vsSeahawks.jpg
| caption = Thomas during his tenure with the Eagles
| number = 72
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|11|20}}
| birth_place = DeLand, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lbs = 316
| high_school = DeLand
| college = Florida State
| draftyear = 1998
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 11
| pastteams = * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1998}}–{{NFL Year|2008}})
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2009}})
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|2010}})*
| pastcoaching = * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2014}})
Offensive assistant
- IMG Academy (2021-present)
Offensive line coach
| highlights = * Second-team All-Pro (2002)
- 3× Pro Bowl (2001, 2002, 2004)
- Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame
- Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team
- National champion (1993)
- Second-team All-American (1997)
- First-team All-ACC (1997)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 174
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 168
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 2
| pfr = ThomTr00
}}
William "Tra" Thomas III (born November 20, 1974) is an American football coach and former player who is the offensive line coach for IMG Academy. He played as an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL), primarily for the Philadelphia Eagles. Thomas played college football for the Florida State Seminoles. He was selected by the Eagles with the 11th overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft. He played for the Eagles for 11 seasons, from 1998–2008.
Thomas was also a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers. He was a one-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection in his career.
Early life
Thomas attended DeLand High School in DeLand, Florida and was a letterman in football.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 7 3/4
| weight = 349
| bench = 24
| arm span = 36 1/2
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=22798 |title=Tra Thomas, Combine Results, OT - Florida State |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=November 19, 2022}}
}}
=Philadelphia Eagles=
Thomas was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round with the 11th overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1998 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1998/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played for the Eagles from 1998–2008, starting 165 of 166 games at left offensive tackle. He made three Pro Bowls with the Eagles.
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
On March 9, 2009, Thomas signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent.{{Cite web |title=Thomas to sign with Jaguars |author= |website=Jaguars |date=9 March 2009 |url= https://www.jaguars.com/news/thomas-to-sign-with-jaguars-5841168}} He was released on February 11, 2010.
=San Diego Chargers=
Thomas was signed by the San Diego Chargers to a one-year contract on June 9, 2010. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee during training camp.{{cite news |author=Acee, Kevin |title=Tra Thomas to retire |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/aug/21/tra-thomas-retire/ |work=The San Diego Union Tribune |date=August 21, 2010 |access-date=2010-08-21}}
=Retirement=
Thomas officially retired from the NFL as a Philadelphia Eagle on August 16, 2012.
Coaching career
Thomas rejoined the Philadelphia Eagles as a coaching intern in 2013, working primarily with the offensive line. He was hired following training camp as an offensive assistant coach. His contract expired after the 2014 season and he was not re-signed.{{cite news |title=Eagles coaching moves: Tra Thomas no longer assistant |url=http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-coaching-moves-tra-thomas-no-longer-assistant |publisher=csnphilly.com |date=February 3, 2015 |access-date=2015-02-03}}
He is currently the offensive line coach at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Broadcast career
In 2011, Thomas replaced Vaughn Hebron as an analyst for Eagles Post Game Live on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, which airs after every Philadelphia Eagles game. In 2019, Thomas joined 97.5 WPEN for their morning broadcast with Marc Farzetta. On March 31, 2020, Thomas was let go from 97.5 due to cutbacks by Beasely Media Group.{{Cite news |title=Former Eagle Tra Thomas let go by 97.5 The Fanatic due to cutbacks |last=Tanenbaum|first=Michael |website=PhillyVoice |date=31 March 2020 |url= https://www.phillyvoice.com/tra-thomas-975-fanatic-let-go-cutbacks-coronavirus-beasley-media-group-farzetta/ }}
Name changes
Thomas' given name is William Thomas III; during the Ray Rhodes era, the Eagles had a Pro Bowl linebacker also named William Thomas. During his early years in the NFL, Thomas was referred to by his nickname, "Tra". However, before the 2006 season, Thomas requested to be called William Thomas. In April 2008, he decided to return to Tra Thomas after the name William failed to catch on.[http://philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=15282&spadaro=1 Musing On Smith Move, Reid Interview, More - Philadelphia Eagles]
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/coaches/tra-thomas/3a348ce5-dfdc-44a7-9ae4-f5f16af6f45d Philadelphia Eagles coaching bio]
{{1993 Florida State Seminoles football navbox}}
{{1998 NFL Draft}}
{{EaglesFirstPick}}
{{Eagles1998DraftPicks}}
{{Eagles75}}
{{Eagles Hall of Fame}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Tra}}
Category:Sportspeople from DeLand, Florida
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Florida State Seminoles football players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles players
Category:Philadelphia Eagles coaches
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:San Diego Chargers players
Category:Players of American football from Volusia County, Florida