Former Georgia Tech, NFL receiver Demaryius Thomas passes away at 33

Former NFL receiver Demaryius Thomas has passed away, his high school position coach Jeff Clayton confirmed Thursday. He was 33.

At this time, it is unclear what led to the passing of the Denver Broncos legend.

Thomas played college football for Georgia Tech from 2007-09, compiling 1,154 yards and eight touchdowns during his final season. That earned him a first-round selection in the NFL draft, where Denver took him 22nd overall.

A native of Montrose, Georgia, the receiver got his start at West Laurens High School. Despite also receiving a scholarship offer from the Georgia Bulldogs, he opted to play for the Yellowjackets. They made an appearance in the Orange Bowl in 2009, falling to Iowa.

He went on to enjoy a decorated career that included four Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl. He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in five of his 11 seasons, finishing with a total of 9,763 yards and 63 touchdowns. His 9,055 receiving yards over nine seasons with Denver ranks second in franchise history. His 60 career touchdown catches are third among all Broncos.

Thomas also spent time on the Houston Texans, New England Patriots and New York Jets. He announced his retirement from the sport just months ago in June of 2021.

Broncos fans will always remember Thomas’ integral role with the team in the early 2010s, but none stands out more than 2015. With Peyton Manning as his quarterback, Thomas finished with 105 receptions for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns. He helped the team to a 24-10 Super Bowl victory against Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.

In all, the Broncos made the playoffs in five of the nine seasons Thomas was on the roster. They have not been back since he left. In addition to winning the Super Bowl in 2015, they also made an appearance in the big game during the 2013 season. They lost that matchup, however, to the Seattle Seahawks.

Players from around the NFL including James White and Benjamin Watson took to Twitter to offer their condolences to Demaryius Thomas. In wake of the heartbreaking news, it is encouraging to see many celebrating the life and numerous achievements of the great receiver.