Because while Thomas reaped rewards and perhaps soon the biggest individual honor from the game, he poured heart and soul into the sport and made it more interesting and exciting for all of us. Thomas defensive partner and former brother-in-law, Jason Taylor, was elected a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2017. This is Zach Thomas life now. Here are the 17 linebackers drafted ahead of Hall of Famer Zach Thomas in 1996. I get offered two scholarships, so I take one (to Texas Tech). Opponent and team-mate are in agreement and that theme of being overlooked is there again. It was definitely a chess match. And they just beat us at home, Thomas laments. Its all about perception play on a successful team (the Bears were 126-98 & went to a Superbowl during Urlachers career), and you get the recognition. It was a joy to watch him play the game. Zach Thomas I was trying to get the call, Thomas says. Zach Thomas Are Zach and Alex Still Together or Have They Broken Thomas talks about how much he loves Saban as a coach and greatly enjoyed playing in his defense. In NO way. Why Steve Hutchinson belongs in the Hall of Fame - Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football, Why Tony Boselli belongs in the Hall of Fame - Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football, 2023 Final NFL Mock Draft Live - Texans Pass On QB! But that motivated me even more than usual, the Dolphins trying to get rid of me, thinking I couldnt play in that defense. Zach Thomas As great as he was on the field, he is even better as a family man and a role model. That was him diagnosing plays before opponents ran them, fending off 300-pound centers before they slammed him, figuring the correct angles to ball carriers before they ran by him. Mawae laughed and still laughs at the story to this day. Each of you made me a better player and are a big part of where I am today. Jason Taylors son is a key starter for Aquinas, but hes And for me, I pretty much used that as, well, Im different. He is one of 48 Pro Football Hall of Fame voters. Facebook Mawae and Thomas, the great center and great linebacker, were rivals. Not that he necessarily needed it, but Thomas Hall of Fame candidacy received a jump-start in 2019. Taylor was no stranger to sacking the quarterback as I met with Belichick. Thomas had to prove himself every step of the way, even as a linebacker at White Deer High in Pampa, Texas. Theres no greater honor than to get that recognition from an opponent., Thomas later received an endorsement from another Hall of Famer Johnson who tweeted, He deserves to be in HOF!. Yeah, no one knew that until now but it happened in 2005. MIAMI Miami Dolphins great Jason Taylor and ex-wife Katina Taylor have agreed to dismiss a lawsuit she brought against him earlier this year to Katina was adamant she wanted Jason to come up with $3.4 million she claimed he still owed her in alimony. Zach Thomas Calls Out Dolphins for Disrespecting Thomas knew he had another concussion. Between 1996 & 2008 they won two division titles. Do you think Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor will make it Thats a momentous departure from the time Thomas sometimes refers to as crazy or wild a span of 13 NFL seasons he spent as perhaps the most adored Miami Dolphins player of the day. Growing up in Texas, I dreamed of playing football at any level. To where? And they told me it was to Green Bay. Former Miami Dolphin, Zach Thomas introduced his teammate, Jason Taylor to his sister, Katina. She grew up in Texas with her brothers, Zach and Bart. Both Zach and Katina graduated from Texas Tech University, where she earned her degree in broadcast journalism. Thats humbling. This is home: Jason Taylors unlikely path to NFL greatness With Thomas leading the way with major contributions from Taylor obviously the Dolphins defense finished in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed an 53 instead, which in New England belonged to former teammate and roommate Larry Izzo. So I was getting a call from the sideline and another coach was trying to coach me on what I did wrong the play before. Theyre the Patriots.. He also becomes the second linebacker chosen, joining the late Nick Buoniconti. So he did give me a 1-on-1 but they wouldnt allow me to meet with [reporters] at the facility. But as the rest of the team was floundering, Thomas was flourishing, averaging more than 10 tackles per game and collecting tackles for loss, passes defensed, and quarterback hits. And the truck behind us didnt even hit their brakes before they hit us. But I definitely dont want to disrespect the game by thinking I deserve any of it. Yes, life has changed for Thomas since he stopped playing in 2009. In 2005 Urlacher won the Defensive Player of the Year award. Like it or not, those who make a fuss in an entertainment business (which sport essentially is) can often capture the attention. WebHe actually drafted and coached Zach, Jason Taylor, Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain during his tenure as Miamis head coach. I didnt like how he treated a couple of those guys, but he works in ways that no one gets too comfortable, too relaxed. Zach made 182 starts over his 13 season career whilst Urlacher made 180 over his 13 year career. This is about individual recognition. And one said, Thats my favorite player. About Katina Thomas is an American TV News. It was a love Saban maybe didnt fully understand in the spring of 2006 when Mawae visited. He was one of the most reliable and consistent facets of the team during that whole period. When he regained consciousness, Thomas wanted to keep playing as it was before the NFLs concussion protocol rules. And maybe I should have bit my tongue, but thats just not me.. They're just delaying inevitable. But soon the games old stresses and retirements welcome peace will be locked in a standoff. Now hes a big Dolphins fan, Maritza says of her father. Habib: Hall voters didn't 'rob' Dolphins' Zach Thomas. Hes the man. The former NFL middle linebacker spent his career smack in the middle of chaos. Thomas, who narrowly missed making the cut in 2020, becomes the 11th man whose career is primarily associated with the Dolphins to make the Hall. Masons uncle, Zach Thomas, was a standout linebacker for 13 seasons with 3 teams, being named to 7 Pro Bowls of his own. Jason Taylor NO. Im like, Yes, sir. . Former Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson will be his presenter. Required fields are marked *. Thats because while the rest of the country (and parts of the world) will be captivated by Super Bowl 54 on Feb. 2, Thomas will be more focused on Feb. 1, when he and 14 other finalists are considered for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jenna and Zach married in 2021 and welcomed a baby boy together. Those five games I played that year were probably the best five games I put together, Thomas says. The conversation got far enough along that Belichick told Thomas he probably wouldnt be able to take Tedy Bruschis jersey number 54, the one Thomas wore in Miami. For me to sit here and say I deserve being in the Hall of Fame, thats just not me. The Challenge: 5 Couples Who Are Still Together So he must have been much better than Thomas who has waited until 2020 to be a finalist right? Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas has been on the doorstep of the Pro Football Hall of Fame a couple of times but still hasnt gotten in. He pretty much said that any linebacker hed had, once they hit 35 it was downhill. I understood the whole business part of it. Its a blessing that he can do that.. I went to the sideline, but I couldnt sit down because I was falling asleep on the bench, Thomas says. Columnist. During his career he was often compared to Brian Urlacher as their time in the NFL overlapped. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Zach and I always had a So [Saban] stopped practice and made a scene. But on the first play of the second game, [Dallas] brought in a LB at fullback to take me on. Ill be the first to admit that Urlacher outstrips Thomas in sacks by a factor of two to one but then Thomas was making far more tackles per game. The somber thoughts often drifted into Jason Taylor's mind as he friend and brother-in-law Zach Thomas. Bill Parcells took the reins of the team, along with head coach Tony Sparano and general manager Jeff Ireland. I teach my kids to be grateful for everything they do and get. And they decided it was time for Thomas and the Dolphins to go their separate ways. You might say theyre a team of hope. Dolphins enter 2021 season with hope in a lot of areas. What Happened to Zach Thomas and Where is He Now? Thank you to all of my teammates. Zach Thomas was my nemesis, Mawae said 22:16 into his 27-minute Hall of Fame speech. Your email address will not be published. Zach has all the history with the guy going from a 5th* round pick by Jimmy to 2 time 1st team All-pro selection before Jimmy Retired beginning of 99 If youre grading my play, I was figuring it out so it was hard to sit out. Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor will be there for you to meet. And Im grateful to football. Obviously I think (know) that Zach Thomas should be in the Hall of Fame. And two of his most decorated proteges, Bill Belichick in New England and Sean Payton in New Orleans, must have thought that a mistake because they tried to sign Thomas. Well thats over now. And Im going to be here when you get here to work and Im going to be here when you leave. But that simply wasnt possible. Zach being Zach, its not going to disappear until after Aug. 5, when he unveils a bust that may as well have a grin. The following season the Dolphins had a new administration in charge again. In 168 games for the Dolphins all starts he had 1,640 tackles and 19.5 sacks. Traffic came to a real fast stop, Thomas says. Taylor was enshrined in 2017. Should that reflect on Thomas? Recently, there has been a shroud of mystery over the current status of Zachary Todd and Alexandra Terans relationship. Lastly, I want to thank the Dolphins fans. Tori Deal & Jordan Wiseley (Off) Tori Deal and Jordan Wiseley were considered one of the ultimate power couples. The games been too good to me.. I felt bad for a while because I thought that was a reason he didnt sign with us at the time, Thomas says, But Kevin told me the Dolphins didnt offer him a contract, and thats the reason he didnt sign.. Jason Taylor 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Hes covered Dolphins games in London, Berlin, Mexico City and Tokyo. His relationship with Zach Thomas, however, might be the one that made the deepest impact on Jason, both professionally and personally. She is famous for sister of NFL player Zach Thomas. And I felt like they mishandled that part. He and Zach had significant cultural differences because Lozanos first home in the United States was in Queens, New York, and he was a New York Jets fan. Zachs accomplishments on the field made him one of the greatest players in NFL history. Does Zach Thomas belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? The honor comes in Thomas' fourth year as a Hall finalist. The tough decisions are picking which real estate investment to try and what workout to do to keep trim. Zach Thomas I knew right then I was going to have issues when the symptoms kicked in.. Thats different than some recent Dolphins teams, including the ones who produced good moments and the ones that disappointed. Now Taylor hopes that his former teammate, Zach Thomas, gets the same good news on Saturday, when the remainder of the 2020 Hall class is determined. If it wasnt for Zach Thomas, I wouldnt be in the Hall of Fame, Taylor told me Wednesday at the Miami Beach Convention Center. So now Im in his head. In 182 games Urlacher had 1,046 solo tackles (5.74 per game). And I said, No disrespect, but there are so many other guys who have already gone home. The Hall of Fame vote on the Saturday before the Super Bowl is a routine-changer for the Thomas family this year. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. He recalls playing Hall of Fame running backs like Marshall Faulk and Curtis Martin and fondly speaks of his meetings against Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, which felt as much like a chess match as a football game. I love my Dolphins and you cant control what coaches want to do to turn a team around, but I thought it was mishandled.. Zach was there with offensive tackle Todd Wade. So I enjoyed the visit, but I couldnt pull the trigger. Thomas always prided himself in preparation. I said, Hes the guy that will play hard to the whistle but hell be away from the play and hell cut you, youll blow your knee out, and as hes walking away, hell say, God bless you. . What Happened To Jason Taylor? (Complete Story) I dont know what else they wanted. Thomas playing from 1996-2008 & Urlacher from 2000-2012. Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas plays a pick-up game of soccer in Davie, Florida, Tuesday, January, 21, 2020. Latest NFL Draft mock drafts, news, live picks, grades and analysis, Dolphins legend Zach Thomas says handicap as preschooler instilled work ethic, Oops! Those early mornings and late nights during the week were an investment so that the squatty guy who doesnt look like a football player could often perform better than anyone else on the field those three violent hours on game day. As we can see they both forced a fairly even number of turnovers or turnover opportunities all told. Thomas dated Maritza for two years and then proposed, but not before asking Guillermo for Maritzas hand in marriage. On the other hand the former Bears player forced 11 fumbles as a player whilst Thomas forced 16. But somehow Urlacher was a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee and Thomas who retired earlier is still waiting to get into Canton. But it was all love.. The somber thoughts often drifted into Jason Taylor's mind as he friend and brother-in-law Zach Thomas. Coupled with the 2008 season spent with Dallas, Thomas finished his career with 1,734 tackles (74 for loss) and 20.5 sacks. Seeing his bust in Canton will complete a storybook climb for Thomas, who arrived in South Florida with little fanfare. Zach Thomas Is Hall Of Fame Worthy