How a chance encounter in a classroom led to a multi-million dollar NFL draft pick
In short: In 2017, the San Francisco 49ers drafted Solomon Thomas third overall. The man who selected him, general manager John Lynch, had actually studied alongside Thomas as a mature student while working for FOX Sports, offering him advice years before he would ever be in a position to draft him.
Solomon Christopher Thomas, born August 26, 1995, in Chicago, Illinois, followed a nomadic path before reaching the pinnacle of professional football. After moving to Sydney, Australia, at age two and living there for five years, he eventually attended Coppell High School in Texas. His dominance at the high school level—recording 78 tackles and 12.5 sacks as a senior—set the stage for a stellar collegiate career at Stanford University.
At Stanford, Thomas became a standout defensive force. Following a redshirt year in 2014, he earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors in 2015. By 2016, he was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection and a Morris Trophy winner, having recorded 62 tackles and 8.0 sacks. These performances led him to be ranked as the second-best defensive end in the nation by outlets like ESPN and Sports Illustrated, trailing only Myles Garrett.
The 2017 NFL Draft saw the 49ers select him third overall, making him the third consecutive defensive end drafted by the franchise, following Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner. His arrival was marked by a massive four-year, $28.14 million fully guaranteed contract. His influence reaches past the pitch, despite stints with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, and Las Vegas Raiders. Following the tragic loss of his sister to suicide in 2018, Thomas founded 'The Defensive Line,' a nonprofit dedicated to reducing youth suicide.
His resilience is reflected in his professional journey, including a recovery from a torn ACL in 2020 and his recognition as the Dallas Cowboys' Walter Payton Man of the Year for his community impact.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Solomon Thomas
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-solomon-thomas.
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
