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Broncos great, 4-time Pro Bowler Demaryius Thomas announces retirement
Demaryius Thomas is calling it quits.
The four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos announced his retirement on Monday at 33 years old in a social media video.
“I’m Demaryius Thomas, and I’ve finally come to a decision to hang it up. I’m going to retire, and I’m going to retire a Denver Bronco.” pic.twitter.com/Q6nNrxc59B
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 28, 2021
“I’m Demaryius Thomas, and I’ve finally came to a decision to hang it up," Thomas said in the video shared by the Broncos. 'I’m going to retire, and I’m going to retire a Denver Bronco.
"I'm honored and I'm grateful. I'm appreciative. There's so many things I can say. I'm just happy to say I'm done, and it did me well."
Forever linked with Tim Tebow
The Broncos selected Thomas out of Georgia Tech with the 22nd pick as the first receiver taken in the 2010 NFL draft, two picks ahead of Dez Bryant. He was the first of two first-round picks by the Broncos, who took Tim Tebow with the 25th pick.
Thomas and Tebow played two seasons together in Denver. The pair connected for one of the most memorable plays in playoff history, an 80-yard catch-and-run on the first play of overtime to eliminate the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2011 season's wild card round.
Demaryius Thomas announces his retirement today.
Never forget his legendary performance in the Playoffs against the Steelers with the help of some dimes from Tebow that lead to the win. pic.twitter.com/INbXo0iHDM— Ben Cary (@Ben_Cary_) June 28, 2021
Tebow congratulated Thomas on his career and his decision to retire in a video shared by the Broncos on Monday.
“You made other people’s lives better because they were in your presence.” @TimTebow on Demaryius Thomas: pic.twitter.com/as8mHVYKVE
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 28, 2021
"You made other people's lives better because they were in your presence, and I think that is really cool," Tebow said.
Thomas dominated as Peyton Manning's top target
At his peak, Thomas was one of the game's most potent offensive weapons, a dangerous combination of size (6-3, 225 pounds), speed and talent. He produced three straight seasons from 2012-14 with at least 1,400 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as Peyton Manning's top target. He tallied 1,304 yards and six touchdowns during the Broncos' 2015 Super Bowl season.
“I always had great respect for your toughness, your work ethic, your fearlessness across the middle, your ability to make big catches in big games. … You did it the right way.”
Peyton Manning on Demaryius Thomas: pic.twitter.com/3RhBODuhP8— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 28, 2021
Manning also shared a message for Thomas.
"DT, Peyton here," Manning said. "Congratulations on an incredible NFL career. It was an honor and a privilege to play with you, to be your teammate."
Thomas finishes his career with 724 catches for 9,763 yards and 63 touchdowns in 10 seasons. He played eight of those seasons in Denver before a mid-season trade to the Houston Texans in his ninth . He played his final season with the New York Jets in 2019 and did not play in 2020.
His 9,055 receiving yards with the Broncos ranks second in franchise history behind Rod Smith (11,389 yards). The Broncos plan to honor Thomas during their home opener against the Jets on Sept. 26.
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