One-time Patriots receiver Thomas dead at age 33
Demaryius Thomas, who was with the Patriots in 2019, was found dead in his home at age 33. (AP photo)
ATLANTA — Demaryius Thomas, who eared five straight Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl ring during a prolific receiving career spent mostly with the Denver Broncos and very briefly with the New England Patriots, has reportedly died at the age of 33.
Thomas was found dead in his suburban Atlanta home Thursday night, said Officer Tim Lupo, public information officer for the police department in Roswell, Georgia.
“Preliminary information is that his death stems from a medical issue, and our investigators currently have no reason to believe otherwise,” Lupo said in a statement early Friday.
Thomas last played in the NFL in 2019, playing 11 games with 10 starts for the New York Jets. He officially announced his retirement in June.
Thomas played in the league from 2010-2019, with most of his career spent with the Broncos, who took him with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2010 draft out of Georgia Tech.
Thomas went just picks ahead of Tim Tebow in Round 1 of that draft. Thomas finished his career out with part of a season with the Houston Texans and then a year with the Jets in 2019. But during that preseason, he was with the New England Patriots before being dealt to the Jets.
On April 16, 2019, Thomas signed a one-year contract with New England, but was released during final roster cuts on August 31. On September 2, 2019, he was re-signed on a one-year contract but eight days later the Patriots surprisingly traded him to their AFC East rivals for a sixth round pick in the 2021 draft.
The four-time Pro Bowler thrived alongside Peyton Manning in Denver during the Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl run, too, and recorded 1,304 yards and six touchdowns that season.
Thomas is also credited with one of the more memorable moments in Broncos playoff history, when he caught an 80-yard touchdown from Tebow on the first play of overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2011 wild-card round.


