The versatile athlete who traded baseball for football stardom
In short: Before becoming an NFL linebacker, Shaq Thompson was a standout baseball prospect for the Boston Red Sox. After struggling to find his rhythm at the plate, he pivoted to football, eventually becoming one of the most versatile players in college football history and a first-round NFL draft pick.
Shaquille Green Thompson's path to professional football was not a straight line. The Boston Red Sox selected him during the 18th round of the 2012 MLB draft. His professional baseball tenure was short, consisting of a summer with the Sox' rookie-level Gulf Coast League squad. After batting 0-for-39 with 37 strikeouts over 13 games, Thompson decided to abandon baseball to focus entirely on football. He was a three-sport star at Grant Union High School, excelling in track and baseball alongside football. This multi-sport talent helped him earn several All-America honours during his high school years.
This decision led to a prolific career at the University of Washington from 2012 to 2014. Thompson proved his exceptional versatility by playing safety, slot corner, linebacker, and running back. His ability to impact the game in multiple roles earned him the fifth annual Paul Hornung Award in 2014, an honor given to the nation's most versatile player. During that standout season, he scored six total touchdowns—two as a running back and four on defense. In his final collegiate season, he was also named a Midseason All-American by several major outlets. He notably became the first Husky to record two defensive touchdowns in a single game.
After excelling in college, he entered the NFL when the Carolina Panthers took him in the 2015 Draft's first round (25th overall). Over the next nine years in Carolina, Thompson became a mainstay on the defense, including a massive 2022 season where he started all 17 games and recorded a career-high 135 tackles. His journey has since taken him to the Buffalo Bills, reuniting him with former coaching staff from his time in Carolina. During his tenure in Carolina, he appeared in Super Bowl 50. He eventually joined the Buffalo Bills in 2025 to reunite with his former defensive coordinator.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Shaq Thompson
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-shaq-thompson.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
