Not to be confused withDerrick Thomas (RB · 1987).

Derrick Thomas is a Hall of Fame pass rusher whose career earned one of the highest career value scores of 96 in the Knox value model. Thomas's enshrinement reflects a career that consistently placed him among the elite of his generation.

On the boards· Appears on 5 boards

Streaks4 straight · 10 sacks · 1989–92

OLBKC#58ACT

Derrick Thomas

★ HALL OF FAME9× Pro Bowl2× All-ProTop 1% all-time pass rushersIron Legend🌅 Early Bloomer · 1990

Height6'3"

Weight

Career Value · VORP

406 career value over replacement — #42 all-time of 4,695. 36.9/season above a replacement-level LB.

Draft OutcomeSteal ↑

Pick #4 (Rd 1) · KC · 1989 · +32.7 vs expected KV-H

96actual

63.3 expected · Δ+32.7

💔+44.6 stolen VORP·1.21 szns lost

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Combined Season Grid

Season totals or exact team stints. Career totals count each season once.

1 categories · One row per season · Scroll for all statistics

Season	Age	Team	G	GS	VAL	Defense
Season	Age	Team	G	GS	VAL	Tkl	Solo	Ast	TFL	QBHits	Sk	Dis	Int	PD	FF	FR	TD	Sfty
1989	22–23	KC	16	—	8.4	—	—	—	—	—	10.0	10.0	—	—	—	—	—	—
1990	23–24	KC	15	—	16.0	—	—	—	—	—	20.0	20.0	—	—	—	—	—	—
1991	24–25	KC	15	—	11.6	—	—	—	—	—	13.5	13.5	—	—	—	—	—	—
1992	25–26	KC	16	—	12.1	—	—	—	—	—	14.5	14.5	—	—	—	—	—	—
1993	26–27	KC	15	—	6.8	—	—	—	—	—	8.0	8.0	—	—	—	—	—	—
1994	27–28	KC	15	—	10.4	—	—	—	—	—	11.0	11.0	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995	28–29	KC	15	—	6.7	—	—	—	—	—	8.0	8.0	—	—	—	—	—	—
1996	29–30	KC	14	—	11.3	—	—	—	—	—	13.0	13.0	—	—	—	—	—	—
1997	30–31	KC	10	—	8.7	—	—	—	—	—	9.5	9.5	—	—	—	—	—	—
1998	31–32	KC	10	—	11.3	—	—	—	—	—	12.0	12.0	—	—	—	—	—	—
1999	32–33	KC	16	—	4.9	54	46	8	10	4	7.0	21.0	1	5	3	1	0	0
Career		—	157	—	108.2	54	46	8	10	4	126.5	140.5	1	5	3	1	0	0

All-Time Rank & Honors

career ranks, postseason ranks, awards, title context

Regular-season all-time ranks

18thSacks·126.5

Pro Bowls

All-Pro

Yes

Hall of Fame

Season honors and record seasons

Led NFL1990·Sacks20 14thsingle season

Archetype Intelligence

Iron LegendExplore archetypes →

An all-time caliber edge rusher (top 1% all-time) who combined elite production with excellent availability over their career. Iron Legends define eras — they show up, every game, for years on end.

Career Value · VORP

VORP 406 · #42 · All-Time

Worth 406 points of value above a freely-available replacement linebacker — top 2% of all 4,695 ranked at the position. 11 of 11 seasons cleared the replacement bar, by +36.9 on average.See board →

Seasons above replacement

11 cleared

Beat replacement (adds to VORP) Below it — adds 0, never a debit

Replacement

the KC-H bar

→

Seasons over

cleared the bar

+36.9

Avg surplus

peak +51

11 seasons × ~36.9 surplus ≈ VORP 406