Demaryius Thomas Awards Mom With Game Ball After Playoff Win
Demaryius Thomas helped lead the Denver Broncos past the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday to advance to the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. After the game, the Broncos star wide receiver was more focused on reuniting with his mother than gloating about the victory. Once his postgame media responsibilities were completed, Thomas scurried out of the locker room to find his mom and present her with the game ball, according to a report from ESPN. The reason the gesture was so special was because Sunday was the first time Thomas’ mother, Katina Smith, had the opportunity to watch her son play in person.
Demaryius Thomas, who had four receptions for 40 yards and a two-point conversion in the Divisional Playoff win, was originally handed the game ball from his quarterback Peyton Manning, who told his receiver to give the ball to his mother. The Broncos win made the moment that much sweeter, Thomas explained.
“It’s very special. She came out, got to see us win a game, her first time here, her first time seeing me play. It felt great, a really special feeling. Just excited she was here for her first game. The fact that we came out with a win made it even better.”
Demaryius Thomas has shown that he is indeed a family man. He has the phrase “Family First” tattooed on his biceps and stars in an NFL television commercial entitled “Football is Family.” In the ad, Thomas recalls growing up playing ball and hopscotch with his two sisters. He proclaims his love for his family and admits that one sister thinks she can beat him in anything. Football just might be the exception, though, as Thomas is a three-time Pro Bowler and has the record for most receptions in a Super Bowl with 13.
Demaryius Thomas’ mom, Katina Smith, was arrested for narcotics trafficking when Thomas was only 11-years-old, as previously reported by the Inquisitr. Thomas, who is now 28, saw his mother finally released in November after President Obama expedited the releases of Smith and 45 other non-violent drug trafficking offenders. Even upon her release, the reunion wasn’t easy since she was restricted to the state of Georgia only for the ensuing two months. Finally, after 17 years and 60 extra days, mom got to watch her son play professional football for the first time ever in person.
Demaryius Thomas professes his dedication to his family via tattoos. Katina Smith showed hers with the flashiest jersey in all of Denver. Aside from a blingy, bright orange Broncos cap and a bright orange jacket, Smith sported a custom Broncos jersey with Thomas’ No. 88 on it and the words “Bay Bay’s Mama” instead of the customary “Thomas” on the back, complete with bedazzles. Demaryius and Smith were finally able to embrace outside the Broncos’ locker room, where they then exited the stadium arm in arm, stopping only to exchange more embraces with teammates and friends before finding the parking lot.
Demaryius Thomas helped the Broncos advance with a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter Sunday that put Denver ahead 20-13 with three minutes left in the game. The Steelers were unable to tie the game and ultimately fell to the hosts 23-16. The number-one seeded Broncos will now host the Patriots for a right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Thomas, who had 105 receptions for 1,304 yards and six touchdowns this season, had just one catch for 36 yards despite 13 targets in the teams’ regular-season meeting in November. The Broncos won that game, 30-24, in overtime, handing New England their first loss of the season, after what was a 10-0 start.
[Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images]
