| Number | 46, 35, 28 |
|---|---|
| Position | Defensive back, end, flanker, halfback |
| Birth date | December 28, 1935 |
| Birth place | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Death date | January 27, 2026 (aged 90) |
| Height | 6 ft |
| Height in | 2 |
| Weight lb | 196 |
| High school | Southeast (Oklahoma City) |
| College | Oklahoma |
| Draftyear | 1958 |
| Draftround | 2 |
| Draftpick | 19 |
| Pastteams | |
| Highlights |
|
| Statlabel 1 | Interceptions |
| Statvalue 1 | 27 |
| Statlabel 2 | Fumble recoveries |
| Statvalue 2 | 10 |
| Statlabel 3 | Receptions |
| Statvalue 3 | 60 |
| Statlabel 4 | Receiving yards |
| Statvalue 4 | 1,046 |
| Statlabel 5 | Total touchdowns |
| Statvalue 5 | 5 |
| Pfr | ThomCl00 |
| Collegehof | 2271 |
Clendon Thomas (December 28, 1935 – January 27, 2026) was an American professional football player who was a halfback and defensive back for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Life and career
Thomas attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played for the Sooners under coach Bud Wilkinson. He led the Sooners in scoring during both the 1956 and 1957 seasons, while also leading the nation in the category during the 1956 season.[1] He helped lead the Sooners to back-to-back national championships in 1955 and 1956.[2] He was a first-team all-conference selection his junior and senior years[3] and was a consensus All-American his senior year.[1] He also finished in ninth place in the Heisman Trophy balloting that season (the award was won by John David Crow that year).[4]
In the 1958 NFL draft, Thomas was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round. He played for the Rams for four seasons before being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers where he played for another seven years and finished his career. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1963 NFL season.
Thomas was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2011.[5]
After retiring from football, Thomas had various business ventures. In 1978, he founded Chemical Products Corporation in Oklahoma City. The company manufactured water repellents treatments for concrete and similar surfaces. It was a pioneer in the use of siloxane-based chemistry.
Thomas died on January 27, 2026, at the age of 90.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "All-American: Clendon Thomas". SoonerSports.com. University of Oklahoma Athletic Department. Archived from the original on 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
- ^
- ^ "All-Conference Players". SoonerSports.com. University of Oklahoma Athletic Department. Archived from the original on 2010-05-23. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ "1957 - 23rd Award". Heisman.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
- ^ "NFF Announces 2011 Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Hall of Fame Class". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ Mussatto, Joe. "Clendon Thomas, legendary OU football RB, dies at 90". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 27 January 2026.
External links
- Clendon Thomas at IMDb