Thomas to honor ‘angels in outfield’
Michael Thomas’ mother was a pioneering lawyer from Louisiana who taught the Texans safety the value of education and took immense pride in his sociology degree from Stanford.
Now Thomas is honoring her memory and grieving her death in May. He buried his mother, Bernadette, on Mother’s Day, after a rich life ended by post-stroke symptoms and early Alzheimer’s disease.
Whenever Thomas makes his debut for his hometown team, the 30year-old Nimitz graduate won’t be alone. He has dedicated this season to his mother and his older sister, NnZinga, who died last September at age 30 from breast cancer.
“My mom used to joke with me all the time about a baseball movie called ‘Angels in the Outfield’ and told me: ‘You’ve got those angels in the outfield out there with you,’ ” said Thomas, who grew up in Aldine. “My mom will definitely be out there with me on the field. This whole season is dedi
cated to my family, and I have some things in the works to honor them.”
Over a lunch of grilled fish and vegetables in The Woodlands, Thomas discussed the importance of family, the grieving process and how he’s forged an eight-year career since going undrafted to earn Pro Bowl recognition and all-decade status as a specialteams ace.
A year ago, Thomas was playing for the New York Giants and away from Houston when his sister died. Huddling together, Thomas’ family is cherishing this time together.
“My sister had been fighting and battling cancer since 2015. She was strong, and our family is still mourning,” Thomas said. “My mom, last month, she took a turn for the worse. You just hate to see someone you love like that struggle for so long. God called her home. We’re mourning and trying to be there for each other. It’s great that I’m closer to home and can help support them. It’s a blessing in so many different ways for me to come back home and play for the Texans.
“It’s definitely tough when you’re not with your family. When I lost my sister, I had that feeling of ‘I’m not there.’ My mom was sick and coping with the loss of my sister, and you’re not present. It bothered me a little bit. It ate at me.”
Thomas’ parents met in law school at Southern University. She became one of the first African Americans to run for judge in Louisiana as both parents established accomplished legal careers.
“She was my best friend,” Thomas said. “My dad and I could talk sports and history all day. My mom taught me a lot about life. She was defiit’s nitely a pioneer. She had that trailblazing mentality.
“That’s who she was even in her declining years. She preached education. I love her for that, and I love her for everything she taught me.”
As a dual-threat high school quarterback, Thomas drew the recruiting attention of then-Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh while he was scouting a player on the Stratford team of Andrew Luck, Thomas’ eventual teammate with the Cardinal.
The future Giants specialteams captain earned a scholarship offer from Harbaugh through how he competed against Luck, now a retired Indianapolis Colts quarterback.
“He was watching the film and said, ‘Hold up. Rewind the play. Who’s that kid on the other team running around that looks very athletic?’ ” Thomas said. “To think that I got my opportunity to play for Stanford while coach Harbaugh was recruiting somebody else from Andrew’s team, crazy to think about.
“To get a scholarship to a school like Stanford and what it meant for everybody back at Nimitz, I definitely didn’t want to fail. I wanted to show the kids that it’s possible. It was a life-changing experience to go to school there.”
A married father with two children, 5-year-old daughter Genesis and 6-monthold son Messiah, Thomas is one the most communityoriented players in the NFL. He’s also the vice president of the NFL Players Association executive community.
For the past five years, Thomas has held his annual Camp Mike T football and life skills camp at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center and Thorne Stadium.
Thomas exposes youths to educational trends and motivational speeches from community leaders to expand their understanding of the world. He also invites college representatives to speak to the campers and awards an annual scholarship.
Thomas and his friends founded the Aldine Sports Association, a youth organization that focuses on community, athletics and academics. That was intended so Aldine kids didn’t have to travel around the area to play sports.
“We keep it engaging with the kids, and we incorporate education. It’s not a snooze session,” Thomas said. “It’s all about giving these kids a chance to be their best.”
In his first season with the Giants, Thomas recorded 59 tackles, one sack and two interceptions on defense and 16 special-teams tackles. He was named to the Pro Bowl as a special-teams replacement.
For his career, which includes stints with the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers, Thomas has 297 career tackles, two sacks and three interceptions, with 26 passes defended.
Thomas has an outgoing, friendly personality but on the field is as aggressive and relentless as anyone. That led Texans special-teams coordinator
Brad Seely and assistant special teams coach Tracy Smith, his former coaches in San Francisco, to recommend him to coach and general manager Bill O’Brien. O’Brien signed Thomas to a one-year, $1.187 million contract that includes a $137,500 signing bonus.
“It takes a different mentality,” said Thomas. “I learned it from Seely and Tracy. I realized it was my ticket to playing in the NFL and having a long career: special teams, special teams, special teams. I don’t want to merely do it. I want to be the best at it.
“Imagine trying to tackle (Chiefs star) Tyreek Hill in the open field. It’s not an easy task. I took it upon myself to master that craft. I’m not the biggest guy on the field, but I’m one of the fastest, quickest and strongest. That’s why I’ve been able to lead the league in specialteams tackles since 2014.”
When Thomas was put on the spot on defense for the Dolphins in his first NFL game after being signed off the 49ers’ practice squad, he intercepted a Tom Brady pass with two seconds remaining to seal a victory over the New England Patriots. Thomas also broke up a potential Brady touchdown pass intended for Danny Amendola.
“Two starters on defense get hurt, and I’m thrown right into the fire,” Thomas said. “Tom Brady is picking on me. He knows I’m just off the practice squad and the game is on the line. They call a play where I’m in doublecoverage with Reshad Jones, Julian Edelman goes underneath, and the next thing I know, the ball is coming my way.
“It was like a movie in slow motion. My career was never the same after that. Tom Brady is definitely the GOAT. We had small conversations after that. I definitely made an impression on him where he knew my name after that.”
Thomas has enjoyed his conversations with O’Brien, secondary coach D’Anton Lynn and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. He’s looking forward to competing for playing time as a third safety.
“(O’Brien) is a straightforward guy, very fiery,” Thomas said. “What I love about him is he sets the expectation, lets you know what he wants from you and how he sees you. Coach Weaver played the game and understands different roles. There are superstars who are cornerstones, and there are other guys doing the grunt work. Everyone is important.”
During an unprecedented offseason marked by the coronavirus pandemic, Thomas is staying in shape with old-school workouts. Whether going through intense football drills with movement coaches Rischad Whitfield and Delfonte Diamond in Tomball or knocking out pushups, Thomas is staying ready.
“It’s made everybody be creative, adjust and face adversity,” Thomas said. “It has definitely tested us, but we can all persevere, and we can all figure it out. Accept the new norms and the new realities.”
As difficult as mourning the losses of his mother and sister has been for him and his family, Thomas is embracing the moment. It’s significant for him to play for the Texans.
“It’s surreal to even think that I’m playing back at home,” Thomas said. “I didn’t know it would mean that much to me. To get a chance to be here and help this team win and play for the hometown team, it’s amazing. It’s a blessing.”