Rodney Thomas Dies: Former NFL, Texas A&M Running Back Dead At 41

Former NFL and Texas A&M running back Rodney Thomas died Saturday, leaving behind a legacy as one of the best rushers ever at the venerated college program.

Thomas died in his hometown of Groveton, Texas, according to Trinity County Justice of the Peace Rod Blair. The cause of his death was not noted.

Rodney Thomas was selected by the Houston Oilers in the the third round of the 1995 NFL draft, rushing for 947 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie year. Thomas would go on to play for the Tennessee Titans when the franchise moved, and played in Super Bowl XXXIV against the St. Louis Rams.

Though he enjoyed a solid NFL career, his true mark was at the college level. He led a three-pronged rushing attack at Texas A&M along with Greg Hill and Leeland McElroy, rushing for more than 3,000 yards.

Thomas was a consensus All-SWC Running Back (’93 and ’94) and played for three SWC Championship Teams (’91, ’92, and ’93), and in 1994 won the Aggie Heart Award (1994).

Many in the Texas A&M community remembered Thomas for his character. This was captured in a 1994 issue of Sports Illustrated, via SB Nation:

“Thomas is happy to share the spotlight. In fact he has been known to ask the coaches to give McElroy more carries. But then Thomas’s ethics—which he refuses to discuss—are legendary. Two years ago a vending machine in the athletic dorm went berserk, spewing out free candy bars. Thomas, unlike many of his teammates, did not partake of the windfall, but waited for the horde to disperse and then inserted all his spare change into the machine.”

Many in the Texas A&M community expressed condolences after Rodney Thomas died.

“I was shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of Rodney Thomas,” former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum said in a statement. “He was a great football player, but more importantly, he was one of the finest young men that I have ever met. He was so kind, considerate and unselfish. He impacted all that met him in a positive way. Our prayers go out to his family and friends. Aggieland lost one of its brightest stars today.”

An autopsy was planned to determine the cause of death for Rodney Thomas.