Julius Thomas

Julius Thomas
Name	Julius Thomas
Birth date	8 May 1988
Birth place	Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Height	6 ft 5 in
Weight	255 lb
College	Portland State
Draftyear	2011
Draftpick	120
Position	Tight end
Nflteams	Jacksonville Jaguars (2011–2012) Denver Broncos (2013–2016) Miami Dolphins (2017–2018)
Highlights	Pro Bowl (2013, 2014)
Nfl	julius-thomas

Julius Thomas (born May 8, 1988) is a former American professional American football tight end who played in the National Football League (NFL) during the 2010s. After a collegiate career at Portland State University and a transition from collegiate basketball to professional football, he became a two-time Pro Bowl selection with the Denver Broncos and contributed to playoff runs including the Broncos' appearance in the Super Bowl XLVIII. Thomas later played for the Miami Dolphins and finished his career noted for his red-zone productivity and athleticism.

Early life and college

Thomas was born in Denver, Colorado and attended George Washington High School before transferring to Mullen High School, where he was a standout in multiple sports. He initially pursued basketball at Portland State University for the Portland State Vikings, playing under coach Ken Bone in the Big Sky Conference. While at Portland State, Thomas played both basketball and football; he walked on to the Vikings football team and played tight end under coach Jerry Glanville's successors, eventually earning a scholarship. His multi-sport background echoed other dual-sport athletes from Colorado, and his size and hands drew comparisons to collegiate tight ends who transitioned from college basketball to the NFL, such as Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham.

At Portland State, Thomas developed blocking fundamentals and route-running ability while learning from position coaches and competing against Big Sky Conference opponents including Eastern Washington University, Montana State University, and Northern Arizona University. He graduated with a degree in liberal studies and entered the 2011 NFL Draft after impressing scouts at regional combines and Pro Day workouts, where his athletic testing attracted interest from NFL teams seeking a versatile tight end convertible from basketball.

Professional football career

Thomas was selected in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He spent two seasons with the Jaguars mainly as a developmental prospect behind established tight ends and contributed on special teams and in blocking packages against AFC South rivals such as the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and Houston Texans. In 2013, Thomas was traded to the Denver Broncos in a midseason deal that reunited him with his hometown and placed him on a roster led by quarterback Peyton Manning and coached by John Fox.

With the Broncos, Thomas experienced a breakout under offensive coordinator Payton Manning's successor staff dynamic (with play-calling by Adam Gase later in his tenure). He became a primary target in the passing game alongside wide receivers Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and Eric Decker, helping the Broncos to a high-scoring offense and deep postseason runs, including the 2013 AFC Championship and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVIII against the Seattle Seahawks. Thomas signed a multi-year extension with Denver and remained a key red-zone threat through 2016. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2017, joining coach Adam Gase's offense and veteran players like Ryan Tannehill and Jarvis Landry, but his production declined due to injuries and offensive changes. Thomas announced his retirement from professional football after brief stints and workouts with other teams, closing a career that included significant playoff experience and Pro Bowl honors.

Playing style and statistics

Thomas combined the frame of a former basketball forward with the blocking responsibilities of an NFL tight end. At 6 ft 5 in and approximately 255 lb, he excelled in contested catches, high-pointing passes over defenders such as cornerbacks from AFC and NFC rosters, and working the seam against linebackers from teams like the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. Analysts compared his skill set to tight ends who had basketball backgrounds, citing his leaping ability and body control when matched against defenders like Patrick Chung and Aqib Talib.

Statistically, Thomas posted consecutive 12+ touchdown seasons early in his tenure with the Broncos and finished among league leaders in tight end touchdown receptions in those years. He recorded career totals that placed him within franchise single-season records for the Broncos in tight end receiving touchdowns and ranked in NFL seasonal leaderboards during his Pro Bowl campaigns. Advanced metrics from analytics sites noted his red-zone target share and catch rate as strengths, while blocking grades varied depending on scheme and opponent, with tougher matchups against defensive fronts such as the Seattle Seahawks 2013 defense and the New England Patriots front seven.

Personal life

Off the field, Thomas has been involved with community initiatives in Denver and Jacksonville, supporting youth sports programs and charity events often connected to former teammates and local foundations. He has been seen at events with NFL alumni and participated in autograph signings, charity golf tournaments, and youth football clinics that included players from franchises such as the Broncos and Dolphins. Thomas has maintained friendships with quarterbacks and coaches from his playing days, including Peyton Manning, Trevor Siemian, and members of coaching staffs across the NFL.

He has also pursued interests outside of sport, engaging in business ventures and occasional media appearances that connected him with broadcasters and sports networks covering the NFL and college football. Thomas values privacy regarding family life and has focused on post-career planning, leveraging connections within professional networks and community organizations.

Honors and legacy

Thomas earned two consecutive Pro Bowl selections during his peak seasons with the Denver Broncos and received team-based honors for his postseason contributions in 2013 and 2014. He is remembered in the Broncos’ early-2010s era for his red-zone efficiency and as part of an offense that set single-season scoring marks under Peyton Manning. His path from Portland State basketball to NFL tight end contributed to the narrative of multi-sport athletes succeeding at the professional level, cited alongside examples like Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham, and Tony Gonzalez in discussions of crossover skill sets. Thomas’s on-field performances and community involvement left a mark on the franchises he represented and on aspiring players from Colorado and Portland State University.

Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:American football tight ends Category:Denver Broncos players Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players Category:Miami Dolphins players Category:Portland State Vikings football players Category:Players of American football from Denver, Colorado