Ranking the top 25 running backs in NFL history…
Drafted in the second round (40th overall) by the Buffalo Bills in 1988 out of Oklahoma State University, Thomas overcame early injuries to become one of the most versatile running backs in NFL history.
Over 12 seasons with the Bills, he powered the team’s [“K-Gun”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGyPTWxIXx8) no-huddle offense, leading them to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances from 1990-1993.
Thomas set numerous franchise records, including rushing yards (11,938) and touchdowns (65) and became the first player to lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage for four straight seasons (1989-1992). He earned five Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro honors and was named NFL MVP in 1991 after rushing for 1,407 yards and adding 631 receiving yards. His standout 1989 season featured 1,244 rushing yards and a league-leading 1,913 yards from scrimmage, showcasing his dual-threat ability.
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Traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2000 for his final season, Thomas retired as the NFL’s ninth all-time leading rusher.
Thomas’s career totals include 12,074 rushing yards on 2,877 carries (4.2 yards per carry), 65 rushing touchdowns, 472 receptions for 4,458 yards and 23 receiving touchdowns, amassing 16,532 all-purpose yards and 88 total scores.
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Thomas’s standout attributes were his exceptional vision, quickness and elusiveness, allowing him to evade tacklers in tight spaces and accelerate through holes. He possessed reliable hands as a receiver, making him a mismatch nightmare for linebackers.
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Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, Thomas remains a Bills legend.
Featured image via Thurman Thomas surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in the 1996 season finale against the Chiefs, a 20-9 victory that clinched a playoff berth. Bills Vs Chiefs