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

Career arc · VAL by season

11 seasons · peak 16.0 in 1990

VAL (Value Above League) measures each NFL season against that season's league; the dashed line is zero — a season that added nothing above the league's fringe. ● peak · ○ league-best season.

What he added · wins above replacement

8.3 career wins over 11 seasons · 1 win = 13.08 VAL

Best season · 1990 · +1.2 wins

1.2 of KC's 11 wins (11%)

Estimated from the season line (early era)

Defense

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

KV-H Anatomy

KV-H 96 · All-Time Great

A all-time great career by KV-H: a peak-driven profile that scores 96 of 100, era-normalized against sacks/g peers across 11 scored seasons.

Sustained

career value

×.6

Peak

best 3 seasons

×.4

×1

Longevity

career length

Blend 88.6 × longevity 1 = KV-H 96· confidence 100%

What builds the career mark of 83

On-field 64.8

Availability 18.2