Gold Jacket Spotlight: Scout’s notes kept Zach Thomas on Dolphins’ radar

In 1996, future Hall of Fame head coach JIMMY JOHNSON took over the reins for the Miami Dolphins as coach and general manager, hoping to continue his prior success in Dallas. With the Cowboys, Johnson quickly realized how important a strong draft would have on his team’s future, with TROY AIKMAN and EMMITT SMITH as prime examples.

Hoping to improve a Miami squad coming off a 9-7 record, Johnson wanted to nail his first draft, selecting players who would create an immediate impact. 

Little did Johnson realize that ZACH THOMAS, a 5-foot-11 linebacker from Pampa, Texas, and the subject of this week’s Gold Jacket Spotlight, would be his brightest spot of 12 picks that year. All thanks to longtime NFL scout Mike Westhoff. 

The Dolphins’ front office saw the undersized Zach as a vital special-teams player and sent Westhoff to Lubbock to scout and work out Thomas at Texas Tech. There, a bond between player and scout was formed, with Westhoff immediately realizing Miami couldn’t pass on Zach. 

During the workout, Zach’s performance didn’t stand out. 

“They started (the vertical jump) at 10-feet high, and every player in that line reached it the first time but me,” Zach remarked. “They had to lower it for me.”

And combined with his already below-average size for a linebacker, Westhoff worried that if he reported the actual results back to the Dolphins’ front office, they would overlook Zach. “He asked me how many reps I could do on the bench press, and I told him 20,” Zach said, which was lower than the average for a middle linebacker. “I saw him write down 23.”

“He was almost exactly the kind of guy I was looking for,” Westhoff said. “When I was there, their coach said, ‘No matter what, this is a football player. He makes a million plays.’ He said he’s a much better athlete than people think.”

At the time, another scout was also on Texas Tech’s campus to scout Zach and also gave him a glowing scouting report.

“… as instinctive a football player as I ever saw,” the scout said. “There were times, honest to God, I had to run the film back because before the ball’s snapped he’s pointing at where the play’s going. Or he’s already taken a step in the direction the play’s going.”

Westhoff’s fudged numbers all but certainly kept Zach on Johnson’s and the Dolphins’ radar come the 1996 NFL Draft. 

As the picks and rounds passed, Zach’s fear of not being drafted grew larger, until the fifth round. Seventeen linebackers were selected before him, including Hall of Famer RAY LEWIS. As each linebacker was picked, Zach recalled thinking for some, “Who is this guy?” 

Miami selected five defensive players before Zach, including a linebacker in the fourth round who never played a single snap for the Dolphins. 

The phone rang at Zach’s residence in Pampa, Texas, where he sat with his parents and sister. At pick No. 154, the Dolphins made one of the greatest selections in the franchise’s history.

Despite still being questionable to make the 53-man roster, even as a special-teams player, Zach displayed his leadership, preparation and passion for the game from his first day inside the facility. He quickly won over his coaches. 

Zach would win the 1996 AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and throughout his 12-year tenure in Miami he led the team in tackles in 10 seasons, was voted first-team All-Pro five times, was selected to seven Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s. 

Not bad for a guy many considered not athletic enough to play in the NFL. 

“Coach Mike Westoff, I see you,” Zach said during his Enshrinement speech. “You flew from Miami to good ol' Lubbock, Texas, to scout me. And I thank you for embellishing my stats and especially that 40 time. You're a great friend, Mike.”