Emmitt Thomas

Biography

One of Head Coach Mike Smith’s first decisions when he was hired in Atlanta was to retain the experienced services of Emmitt Thomas and promote him Assistant Head Coach/Secondary. The 2009 season marks the 42nd year in the NFL for Thomas as a player (13 years) and longtime coach (29 years).

The culmination of Thomas’ playing career as a stellar cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs was realized in August, 2008 when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was joined by wide receiver Art Monk, cornerback Darrell Green, defensive end Fred Dean, linebacker Andre Tippett and tackle Gary Zimmerman as enshrinees into the “Class of 2008”.

The Falcons defense under Thomas’ watchful eye in 2008 finished 11th in the NFL in fewest points allowed at just an average of 20.3 per contest.

In 2007, Thomas started his second season as the Defensive Backs Coach for the Falcons before being named Interim Head Coach for the last three games of the season. In the season finale against playoff-bound Seattle, the Falcons recorded a 44-41 victory to earn Thomas his first win as an NFL Head Coach. Atlanta’s 44 points against Seattle was the most in a game since 1998 and the combined score was the highest since 1982. The Falcons' 24 points in the fourth quarter were also the most in a game since 1981.

During the 2006 season, the Falcons were forced to innovate with personnel as cornerbacks battled through injuries throughout the year. Atlanta’s secondary still contributed to a defense which ranked tied for fifth in the NFC in opponents points per game (20.5).

In 2005 under Thomas' guidance, the team's passing defense finished 14th in the NFL and improved in key areas from the year before. The defense led the League by allowing an NFL-high low 30.2% (58 of 192) of opponents third down conversions. The passing yards per game average and completion percentage were both down from 2004. The Falcons defense was also among the NFL leaders in preventing big pass plays, allowing only 28 passes of 20+ yards, to rank in the top three. The nickel and third down defensive packages were very stingy when opponents attempted to move the chains in 2005. When Atlanta's defense forced its opponents into a third and long situation of 6+ yards, the team only allowed 14 conversions out of 101 attempts (13.9%), which was the League's best mark.

The Falcons secondary accounted for three of the five defensive touchdowns scored with interception returns in 2004, which tied for the second-highest total of defensive touchdowns in team history. In 2002, Thomas' first year guiding the Falcons defensive backs, the birds finished tied for third in the NFL with 24 interceptions. Also, Atlanta's pass defense improved from 30th in 2001 to 16th in 2002.

Prior to landing in Atlanta, Thomas, a holder of  three Super Bowl rings (with two titles coming as an assistant coach and one as a player) served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2000-2001. In his first season in Minnesota, Thomas helped the Vikings win the NFC Central crown and advance to the NFC Championship Game. Under his direction, Minnesota's defense finished sixth in the NFC in rushing defense in 2000.

Thomas joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a Defensive Coordinator for four seasons (1995-98) before taking a similar post with the Green Bay Packers (1999). The Eagles' 1998 defense was ranked No. 1 against the pass and was third in the NFL in sack percentage. His 1996 unit finished fifth in the league overall and his 1995 defense was fourth overall in yards surrendered as the Eagles posted back-to-back 10-6 records and a pair of playoff berths.

Thomas' extensive coaching career began at Central Missouri State University, where he coached the secondary from 1979-80, and his NFL coaching career started with the-then St. Louis Cardinals in 1981. This product of Angleton, Texas, moved on to the Washington Redskins for nine seasons from 1986-94 as a Wide Receivers Coach and then as a Defensive Backs Coach (where he coached both Hall of Famers Art Monk and Darrell Green). His time with the Redskins was marked with five trips to the playoffs, two NFC Championships and victories in Super Bowls XXII and XXVI.

Thomas was a standout defensive back for 13 years with the Chiefs (1966-78). He played in 181 NFL games, including Super Bowls I and IV, and was selected to play in five Pro Bowls. Thomas finished his career with 58 interceptions, which is still tied for eighth-most ever in League history, as he led the league twice in interceptions in a single-season. He is a member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame as Arrowhead Stadium bears his name om the stadiums walls. A quarterback and receiver at Bishop College in Dallas, he was converted to defensive back as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Chiefs.

Thomas was born June 3, 1943 in Angleton, Texas. He has two grown children, a son, Derek, an Assistant Basketball Coach at the University of Detroit, and a daughter, Dedra, a Licensed Vocational Nurse in Marshall, Texas.

He and his wife, Jacqui, reside in Suwanee, Ga.

Thomas’ Coaching Background

• 2008-09 -- Assistant Head Coach/Secondary // Falcons
• 2007 -- Defensive Backs/Interim Head Coach (final three games) // Falcons
• 2004-06 -- Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary // Falcons
• 2002-03 -- Secondary // Falcons
• 2000-01 -- Defensive Coordinator // Vikings
• 1999 -- Defensive Coordinator // Packers
• 1995-98 -- Defensive Coordinator // Eagles
• 1987-94 -- Secondary // Redskins
• 1986 -- Wide Receivers // Redskins
• 1981-85 -- Wide Receivers/Tight Ends // St. Louis Cardinals
• 1979-80 -- Secondary // Central Missouri State
• 1979 -- Defensive Coordinator // Central Missouri State