Broncos will induct D. Thomas into Ring of Fame

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Demaryius Thomas, whose signature grin was arsenic large a portion of his bequest with the Denver Broncos arsenic his agelong database of large plays, volition beryllium inducted into the team's Ring of Fame during the 2025 season.

Thomas was the lone erstwhile subordinate oregon manager selected for the grant Tuesday. The team's Ring of Fame committee is headed up by owners Rob Walton arsenic good arsenic Greg and Carrie Penner. Thomas died successful Dec. 9, 2021, conscionable days earlier his 34th birthday, of what Fulton County (Georgia) Medical Examiner's bureau ruled arsenic "complications of a seizure disorder."

In a statement, the Penners said Thomas' enactment to the Ring of Fame was "a testament to the indelible people helium near connected our enactment and community. One of the astir beloved players and top wide receivers successful franchise history, Demaryius inspired our fans with breathtaking athleticism, record-setting performances and joyful, infectious spirit."

Thomas volition beryllium formally inducted during the team's alumni play successful October with a ceremonial astatine halftime of the Oct. 19 crippled against the New York Giants.

Thomas, who was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, was the archetypal of 2 first-round picks for the Broncos successful the 2010 NFL draught -- backmost Tim Tebow was the different -- and spent 9 seasons with the Broncos. He finished his vocation arsenic the team's second-leading receiver (9,055 yards), down lone Rod Smith.

He is 3rd successful franchise past successful catches (655) down Smith and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe. He played successful 10 seasons wide successful his NFL vocation -- his last play was successful 2016 with the New York Jets -- and finished with 724 catches for 9,763 yards to spell with 63 touchdowns.

Between 2012 and 2015, with Peyton Manning down center, Thomas had astatine slightest 90 receptions and 1,300 yards successful 4 consecutive seasons, joining Hall of Famers Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice and Rams fable Torry Holt arsenic the lone players to scope those totals implicit 4 consecutive seasons.

In the Broncos' record-setting play successful 2013, Manning acceptable NFL records for passing yards (5,477) and touchdowns (55) portion the Broncos scored a league-record 606 points that twelvemonth and Thomas finished with a career-best 14 touchdowns. The pursuing play helium finished with a career-best 1,619 yards receiving.

The Broncos past won Super Bowl 50 to adjacent retired the 2015 season. Thomas was traded to the Houston Texans 8 games into the 2018 play and finished his vocation with the Jets successful 2019.

Manning has called Thomas 1 of the astir important reasons the Hall of Fame backmost chose the motion with the Broncos successful escaped bureau successful 2012 -- "he was a large crushed I came retired to play here," Manning has said. Thomas was besides successful 1 of the astir celebrated plays successful squad past with his 80-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown connected the archetypal play of overtime -- connected a walk from Tebow -- successful a Wild Card triumph implicit the Pittsburgh Steelers successful the 2011 season.

Thomas besides caught Manning's 509th and 510th vocation touchdown passes, which astatine the clip gave Manning the NFL's all-time mark.

Thomas' trademark grin and ever-present tendency to assistance those successful request made him 1 of the franchise's astir fashionable players successful the community. He was a predominant visitant to a section Boys and Girls Club arsenic good arsenic different section outreach programs and charities with an quality arsenic Santa Claus during 1 vacation season.

His decease sent daze waves done the NFL and Denver. At the clip of his death, immoderate of Thomas' household members said publically helium had suffered seizures for astir a twelvemonth earlier helium died.

Several erstwhile teammates besides said astatine the clip that Thomas had told them helium had suffered seizures successful the months earlier helium died.