Remembering Duane Thomas: A Maverick in NFL History
The world of professional football mourns the loss of Duane Thomas, the former NFL running back who played a pivotal role in leading the Dallas Cowboys to their first Super Bowl title. Thomas passed away recently at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy of athletic excellence and enigmatic personality.
Thomas's entry into the NFL spotlight was nothing short of spectacular. Few rookie seasons are remembered as vividly as his debut in 1970. By the 1971 offseason, he had already etched his name in the annals of football history with one of the most outstanding rookie seasons ever recorded. Helping the Cowboys secure their inaugural Super Bowl berth, Thomas averaged an impressive 5.3 yards per carry—a franchise record that stood firm until it was matched by Emmitt Smith in 1993.
The tension between Thomas and Cowboys management began to surface as he sought a pay raise heading into the 1971 season. The team, however, was not inclined to meet his financial demands. An attempt to trade Thomas to the New England Patriots was subsequently vetoed by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle, compelling Thomas to return to Dallas, where he chose to remain silent throughout the entire season.
Despite his silence off the field, Thomas communicated volumes on it. Leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns during the 1971 season, his performance was a driving force behind the Cowboys securing their sixth consecutive division title. He continued to shine during the playoffs, scoring three touchdowns in as many games, including a standout performance in Super Bowl VI.
In the Cowboys' 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, Thomas's prowess was on full display. He ran for 95 yards on 19 carries, scoring a critical 3-yard touchdown and making three receptions. This game cemented his place in Super Bowl lore and contributed significantly to Dallas's historic win.
However, the honeymoon was short-lived. Before the 1972 season could kick off, Thomas was released by the Cowboys. He opted out of the 1972 NFL season entirely, only to later join the Washington franchise for two additional seasons before retiring from professional football.
Thomas's career was one marked by both brilliance and controversy. Even years after his playing days were over, his teammates and contemporaries continued to marvel at his natural talent and unique approach to the game. Roger Staubach, a fellow Cowboy legend, once said, "Duane Thomas gave everything he had. He blocked hard, he ran hard, he played hard, and he was very smart. Duane rarely made a mistake."
Bob Lilly, another iconic Cowboy, had similar high praise: "I just can't tell people enough how good he was. I just had visions of Jim Brown coming back to life. Duane, he had those same moves, the ones where you think you have him, and he wiggles out of it, or he gives up a limp leg. He could really go off-tackle, about as good as I ever saw, and start needing his way through the linebackers and the secondary. Almost like music. In fact, I can see it right now."
Thomas himself was introspective about his career and the impact of his enigmatic demeanor. Reflecting on his days in the NFL, he noted, "I didn't come in with an attitude of disruption. However, when I exposed my true personality, it was disruptive to other personalities on the team. But it was not disruptive to the performance of the team." Even decades after his retirement, he spoke of the sense of accomplishment he derived from his time on the field: "It's a sense of accomplishment that ... like I haven't had anything to replace it yet."
In remembering Duane Thomas, we recall not just a player of immense talent, but a man whose career was defined by a confluence of athletic excellence, personal expression, and a complex relationship with the structures of professional sports. His contributions to the Cowboys' first Super Bowl win and his influential rookie season remain benchmarks in NFL history. As the football world bids farewell to one of its mavericks, Thomas's legacy endures in the annals of the sport he so profoundly impacted.