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For the sixth straight season, the Falcons will heavily lean on the expertise of 28-year coaching veteran Emmitt Thomas. A highly-respected and universally-liked NFL "lifer", Thomas' added experience built from a stellar 13-year playing career will bode well for the entire Falcons defense again in 2007.
Since his arrival to Atlanta in 2002, the Falcons rank in the top 10 among all NFL teams for total interceptions with 86.
In 2006, the Falcons were forced to be creative with personnel as cornerbacks battled through injuries during the season. CB DeAngelo Hall continued his high caliber play as the third-year defender posted four interceptions, while allowing less than half the passes thrown his way to be completed, on the way to his second consecutive Pro Bowl and first as a starter. Thomas also made an impact in the successful transition at the safety position as Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker joined the team during the offseason and lined up as starters during all 16 games.
In 2005 under Thomas' guidance, the team's passing defense finished 14th in the NFL and improved in key areas from the year before. The defense led the League by allowing an NFL-low 30.2% (58 of 192) of opponents third down conversions. The passing yards per game average and completion percentage were both down from 2004. The Falcons defense was also among the NFL leaders in preventing big pass plays, allowing only 28 passes of 20-plus yards to rank in the top three. The nickel and third down defensive packages were very stingy when opponents attempted to move the chains in 2005. When Atlanta's defense forced its opponents into a third and long situation of 6-plus yards, the team only allowed 14 conversions out of 101 attempts (13.9%), which was the League's best mark. Hall evolved into a Pro Bowler in just his second year with Thomas' help.
The Falcons secondary accounted for three of the five defensive touchdowns scored with interception returns in 2004, which tied for the second-highest total of defensive touchdowns in team history. Hall came on strong after being injured in the first part of his rookie season, returning two interceptions for scores.
In 2002, Thomas' first year guiding the Falcons defensive backs, the Falcons finished tied for third in the NFL with 24 interceptions Also, Atlanta's pass defense improved from 30th in 2001 to 16th in 2002.
Thomas has been a winner in the NFL during his 42-year career as a player and coach. He has captured a total of three Super Bowl rings with two titles coming as an assistant coach and one as a player.
Prior to landing in Atlanta, Thomas served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2000-2001. In his first season in Minnesota, Thomas helped the Vikings win the NFC Central crown and advance to the NFC Championship Game. Under his direction, Minnesota's rushing defense finished sixth in the NFC in 2000.
Thomas' extensive coaching career began at Central Missouri State University, where he coached the secondary from 1979-80, and his NFL coaching career started with the then St. Louis Cardinals in 1981. This product of Angleton, Texas, moved on to the Washington Redskins for nine seasons from 1986-94 as a Wide Receivers Coach and then as a Defensive Backs Coach. His time with the Redskins was marked with five trips to the playoffs, two NFC Championships and victories in Super Bowls XXII and XXVI.
Thomas joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a Defensive Coordinator for four seasons (1995-98) before taking a similar post with the Green Bay Packers (1999). The Eagles' 1998 defense was ranked No. 1 against the pass and was third in the NFL in sack percentage. His 1996 unit finished fifth in the league overall and his 1995 defense was fourth overall in yards surrendered as the Eagles posted back-to-back 10-6 records and a pair of playoff berths.
Thomas was a standout defensive back for 13 years with the Kansas City Chiefs (1966-78). He played in 181 NFL games, including Super Bowls I and IV, and was selected to play in five Pro Bowls. Thomas finished his career with 58 interceptions, including one in Super Bowl IV against Minnesota, which is the ninth-most ever in NFL history and he led the League in interceptions twice in a single-season. He is a member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame and his name is etched on the stadium walls at Arrowhead Stadium. A quarterback and receiver at Bishop College in Dallas, he was converted to defensive back as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Chiefs.
Thomas was born June 3, 1943 in Angleton, Texas. He has two grown children, a son, Derek, who is head men's basketball coach at Western Illinois, and a daughter, Dedra, a LVN in Marshall, Texas.
He and his wife, Jacqui, reside in Suwanee, Ga. | 