Pierre Thomas
COLLEGE: Illinois
POSITION: Running Back
BORN: December 18, 1984 in Chicago, Illinois
JOINED SAINTS: 2007
YEARS WITH SAINTS: 2007-14
Pierre Thomas' Career Background
Former Saints running back Pierre Thomas was enshrined in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2018 after spending eight seasons of his nine-year pro football career with the Black and Gold.
The Chicago, Ill. native was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2007 NFL Draft. He saw limited action behind Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister during his rookie campaign, but during Week 17 injuries awarded him the opportunity to set the tone for his NFL career in his hometown of Chicago, as he touched the ball on 32 of the 83 offensive plays, finishing the game with 226 yards from scrimmage and the second touchdown of his career. The next season in 2008, Thomas continued to prove himself after Bush sustained a midseason injury, as he averaged 112.8 scrimmage yards per game with at least one touchdown, including three two-touchdown performances, in six consecutive weeks for the NFL's highest scoring offense.
His most productive season came in 2009, where he totaled 1,095 yards from scrimmage in 14 regular season games with six starts. In Week three in Buffalo, he had a career-game where he overcame a case of the stomach flu that sidelined him for the entire first half and rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns on only 14 carries. He helped lead the team to the Super Bowl XLIV appearance with a 99 total yards from scrimmage, two touchdown performance in a narrow overtime win over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game. During the Super Bowl XLIV game, Thomas played a major role as he contributed 85 yards and the Saints first touchdown of the game to put New Orleans in the position to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Overall, throughout his eight seasons with New Orleans, Thomas played in 105 games with 38 starts and finished with career totals of 818 carries for 3745 yards and 28 touchdowns while adding on 336 receptions for 2692 yards and 12 touchdowns. He ranks sixth in franchise record books in all-time rushing yards and is one of only two Saints to amass 3,500 career rushing yards and 2,000 career receiving yards.
Thomas retired from the NFL following the 2016 season after stints with San Francisco and the Washington Commanders.
Pierre Thomas' College Career
Prior to being signed by the Saints, Thomas enjoyed a productive career at Illinois, where he led the team in rushing yards for three seasons. He finished his collegiate career having appeared in 40 games, where he ran for 2,545 yards (sixth all-time in Illinois history) and 20 touchdowns while adding on 57 catches for 411 yards and 3 touchdowns, combining with special teams yardage for a total of 4,451 all-purpose yards (then second all-time at Illinois).
Pierre Thomas' Career Honors
Super Bowl champion - XLIV
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame
New Orleans Saints 50th Anniversary Team
