Thurman Thomas slipped to the second round of the 1988 National Football League Draft due to concern about a knee injury he had suffered during his senior year at Oklahoma State. The Buffalo Bills, who had no first round pick that year, selected Thomas, an All-America running back, in the second round with the 40th overall pick.
In 1989, after an impressive rookie season that included a division title for the Bills, the multi-dimensional Thomas rushed for 1,000 yards, caught 60 passes, and scored 12 touchdowns in his second season.
His ability to catch the ball as well as run with it was a key ingredient to the Bills' "No Huddle" offensive attack. The team improved to 13-3 in 1990 as Thomas led the NFL in all-purpose yards. He rushed for 1,297 yards and scored 11 touchdowns while catching 49 passes for 532 yards and two touchdowns. With the versatile back leading the way, the Bills marched through the playoffs to the first of their unprecedented four straight Super Bowl berths.
Thomas rushed for 100 yards in each of the playoff games that post-season including Super Bowl XXV when he gained 135 yards on just 15 carries and scored on a 31-yard run early in the fourth quarter. He also had 5 receptions for 55 yards.
In 1991, Thomas amassed more than 2,000 all-purpose yards, just the 11th player ever to do so. His league-leading yardage output included 1,407 yards on the ground and an additional 631 yards on a career-high 62 receptions. He scored 12 touchdowns. He reached the 2,000-yard total again the following season which marked a record fourth straight season of leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage.
Named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s, Thomas was selected first- or second-team All-Pro and All-AFC five times, and was voted to the Pro Bowl five straight years. Thomas retired as the NFL's ninth ranked rusher with 12,074 yards and added another 4,458 yards on 472 catches. He scored 65 rushing and 23 receiving touchdowns in his 13-season career.
Championship Games
1988 AFC - Cincinnati Bengals 21, Buffalo Bills 10
Thomas started the game at running back. He had four rushes for six yards in the game.
1990 AFC - Buffalo Bills 51, Los Angeles Raiders 3
Thomas started the game at running back. He had 25 rushes for 138 yards and one touchdown. He also had five receptions for 61 yards, recovered one of his two fumbles and had one tackle.
1991 AFC - Buffalo Bills 10, Denver Broncos 7
Thomas started the game at running back. He had 26 rushes for 72 yards. He also had three receptions for 15 yards.
1992 AFC - Buffalo Bills 29, Miami Dolphins 10
Thomas started the game at running back. He had 20 rushes for 96 yards. He also had five receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown and one fumble.
1993 AFC - Buffalo Bills 30, Kansas City 13
Thomas started the game at running back. He had 33 rushes for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 22 yards.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl XXV - New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19
Thomas started the game at running back. He had 15 rushes for 135 yards and one touchdown. He also had five receptions for 55 yards.
Super Bowl XXVI - Washington Redskins 37, Buffalo Bills 24
Thomas did not start but played. He had 10 rushes for 13 yards and one touchdown. He also had four receptions for 27 yards.
Super Bowl XXVII - Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17
Thomas started the game at running back. He had 11 rushes for 19 yards and one touchdown. He also had four receptions for 10 yards and fumbled the ball once.
Super Bowl XXVIII - Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13
Thomas started the game at running back. He had 16 rushes for 37 yards and one touchdown. He also had seven receptions for 52 yards and fumbled the ball twice.
All-Pro: 1989 (NEA), 1990 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW), 1991 (AP, PFWA, NEA, SN, PW)
All-Pro Second Team: 1989 (AP), 1992 (AP, NEA), 1993 (AP)
All-AFC: 1989 (UPI, PW), 1990 (UPI, PW), 1991 (UPI, PW), 1992 (UPI, PW), 1993 (UPI, PW)
All-AFC Second Team: 1994 (UPI)
(5) - 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
At time of his retirement following 2000 season
[2nd] Most Consecutive Seasons 1,000 or More Yards Rushing - 8 (1989-1996)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Seasons 1,000 or More Yards Rushing - 8 (1989-1996)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons Leading League in Combined Net Yards - 3 (1989, 1991-1992)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League in Combined Net Yards - 2 (1991-1992)
Super Bowl Records
[Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career - 4
[Tied for 2nd] Most Fumbles, Game - 2 (SB XXVIII, vs. Dallas)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Points Scored, Career - 24
[Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdowns, Career - 4
[Tied for 3rd] Most Pass Receptions, Career - 20
[Tied for 3rd] Most Combined Net Yards Attempts, Career - 72
[Tied for 3rd] Most Fumbles, Career - 3
Post-Season Records
[1st] Most Consecutive Games Scoring Touchdown - 9 (1992-1998)
[1st] Most Combined Net Yards Gained, Career - 2,124
[Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns Scored, Career - 21
[Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games Rushing for Touchdowns - 8 (1992-1998)
[Tied for 1st] Most Pass Receptions, Game - 13 (at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
[2nd] Most Combined Net Yards Attempts, Career - 417
[Tied for 2nd] Most Points Scored, Career - 126
[Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns Scored, Game - 3 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Games 100 or More Yards Rushing, Career - 6
[Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Career - 16
[Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns Scored, Game - 3 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
[3rd] Most Yards Rushing, Career - 1,442
[3rd] Most Consecutive Games 100 or More Yards Rushing - 4 (1990-1991)
[3rd] Most Rushing Attempts, Career - 339
[Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games with Pass Reception - 18 (1989-1998)
Bills' records held by Thomas
Records through the 1999 season, Thomas' final season with Buffalo
[1st] Most Yards Rushing, Career - 11,938
[1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career - 2,849
[1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Season - 355 (1993)
[1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Career - 65
[1st] Most 100-Yard Rushing Games, Career - 46
[Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns, Career - 87
[Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games with Pass Reception - 43 (1992-1995)
[2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Career - 456
[2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 37 (vs. Pittsburgh, Nov. 8, 1992)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Points, Game - 24 (vs. L.A. Rams, Sept. 6, 1992)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Game - 4 (vs. L.A. Rams, Sept. 6, 1992)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Game - 13 (at N.Y. Jets, Sept. 15, 1991)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Points Scored, Career - 522
[Tied for 3rd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game - 3 (vs. L.A. Rams, Sept. 6, 1992)
Post-Season Records
[1st] Most Rushing Yards, Career - 1,442
[1st] Most Rushing Yards, Game - 186 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23. 1994)
[1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Career - 339
[1st] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 33 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
[1st] Most Pass Receptions, Game - 13 (at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
[Tied for 1st] Most Points Scored, Game - 18 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
[Tied for 1st] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game - 3 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 23, 1994)
[2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Career - 76
[2nd] Most Receiving Yards, Career - 672
[2nd] Most Rushing Yards, Game - 158 (vs. Miami, Dec. 30, 1995)
[2nd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 32 (vs. Miami, Jan. 12, 1991)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Rushing Touchdowns, Game - 2 (vs. Miami, Jan. 12, 1991)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Game - 2 (at Cleveland, Jan. 6, 1990)
[3rd] Most Rushing Yards, Game - 138 (vs. L.A. Raiders, Jan. 20, 1991)
[3rd] Most Rushing Attempts, Game - 26 (vs. Denver, Jan. 12, 1992)
AFC Statistical Championships
Rushing Leader: 1990, 1991, 1993
Touchdown Leader: 1989, 1991, 1992
Team Statistical Championships
Rushing Leader: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
Touchdown Leader: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996
1991 MVP/Player of the Year (PFWA, AP, SN)
1991 Offensive MVP/Player of the Year (AP, PW, UPI-AFC)
1990s All-Decade Team
| 1988 |
Buffalo Bills |
12
|
4
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1989 |
Buffalo Bills |
9
|
7
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1990 |
Buffalo Bills |
13
|
3
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1991 |
Buffalo Bills |
13
|
3
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1992 |
Buffalo Bills |
11
|
5
|
0
|
(2nd)
|
| 1993 |
Buffalo Bills |
12
|
4
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1994 |
Buffalo Bills |
7
|
9
|
0
|
(4th)
|
| 1995 |
Buffalo Bills |
10
|
6
|
0
|
(1st)
|
| 1996 |
Buffalo Bills |
10
|
6
|
0
|
(2nd)
|
| 1997 |
Buffalo Bills |
6
|
10
|
0
|
(4th)
|
| 1998 |
Buffalo Bills |
10
|
6
|
0
|
(3rd)
|
| 1999 |
Buffalo Bills |
11
|
5
|
0
|
(2nd)
|
| 2000 |
Miami Dolphins |
11
|
5
|
0
|
(1st)
|