Who was Demaryius Thomas? NFL great dies aged 33 at USA home - tributes from Peyton Manning and Denver Broncos

Demaryius Thomas was involved in a car accident in 2019 but there is no suggestion the injuries sustained were a cause of death at this stage
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The NFL world is mourning the loss of one of the game’s greats, Demaryius Thomas.

While many fans are taking to social media to pay tribute to the former Super Bowl champion, others are curious about the car accident he was in some three years ago.

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There is no evidence or suggestion at the moment that the accident is linked to his death, with police stating the 33-year-old was found at his home in Roswell, Georgia, USA.

Local officers at the Roswell Police Department have confirmed to US media outlets that his death stemmed from a medical issue based on the preliminary information at hand.

Who was Demaryius Thomas?

After shining for Georgia Tech in the collegiate system, Demaryius Thomas was a first round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft for the Denver Broncos.

He spent nine seasons with Denver, winning two AFC championships, Super Bowl 50 in 2015 and is second in the all time Broncos history books for receiving yards.

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Thomas was a four time Pro Bowl selection and had brief spells with Houston Texans and New York Jets before retiring from the NFL in June of 2021.

In 2015, US president Barack Obama commuted the sentence of Thomas’ mother who was 15 years into a 20 year federal sentence for drug distribution.

Thomas’ grandmother, who was serving a life sentence for cocaine trafficking, also saw her sentence commuted in 2016, by president Obama in a wider programme.

When was Demaryius Thomas in a car accident?

Demaryius Thomas was arrested and charged with vehicular assault in February 2019 after crashing the car he was driving.

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According to reports at the time, Thomas was driving at speeds in excess of 70mph in a 30mph zone with two people inside the vehicle when he lost control.

The car rolled on to a grassy median.

Thomas was given a one year probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of careless driving, expressing his remorse for the incident.

Thomas and another male passenger suffered minor injuries while a female passenger sustained more serious injuries.

After the incident, Thomas spoke to TMZ: "I think one of my main things after my accident is having another opportunity. I could have been gone, but I still get another opportunity."

Tributes to Demaryius Thomas

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Former players, teammates and franchises have paid tribute to Demaryius Thomas following his death, aged 33.

Among them were former employers Denver Broncos and star studded teammate Peyton Manning, as well as the NFL.

The NFL issued a statement in which it read: "The NFL family mourns the tragic loss of Demaryius Thomas and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones."

The Broncos also went on record to express their sadness: "We are devastated and completely heartbroken. Demaryius’ humility, warmth, kindness and infectious smile will always be remembered by those who knew him and loved him."

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While Hall of Fame quarterback and former Broncos teammate Peyton Manning said: "He treated my kids like they were his own. He was there for every teammate’s charity event.

"I texted with D.T. on Tuesday. He was talking about a TD audible we called vs. Arizona in 2014. Absolutely devastated."

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