Important Dates in Bills history presented by M&T Bank helps fans recognize what's important. In the NFL, having a solid run game is important, and on Jan. 25, 1992 Bills running back Thurman Thomas was acknowledged for his achievements on the ground.
An Oklahoma State University product, the Bills selected Thomas in the second round of the 1988 NFL draft with the 40th overall pick. Thomas proved to make a significant impact on Buffalo's offense early on. After accumulating 881 yards rushing on 207 carries in his first NFL season, Thomas went on to accomplish several seasons with over 1,000 yards. During the 1991 season, Thomas generated 1407 yards rushing on 288 carries and seven touchdowns.
Thomas also posted a staggering eight games with 100 yards or more that season. An integral component to Buffalo's K-Gun offense, Thomas posed a threat to the league's most capable defensive units. His run game efforts were complimented by his receiving ability. Thomas finished the year with 62 receptions for 631 yards and five touchdowns. That year, the Bills finished on top of the AFC East at 13-3, went on to win their second successive AFC Championship title and advanced to Super Bowl XXVI.
Thomas' legendary career in the NFL, which included four consecutive Super Bowl appearances with the Bills, came to an end when he retired in 2000. Like many of his teammates, Thomas' impressive statistics earned him a host of honors such as, five trips to the Pro Bowl during his 12 seasons in Buffalo, an induction to the Bills Wall of Fame in 2005 and an induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
