Check out our series highlighting new 2021 player signings for the Houston Texans.
Get to know linebacker Joe Thomas, signed as an unrestricted free agent on March 22, 2021.
Name: Joe Thomas
Position: Linebacker
Height, Weight: 6-1, 233
Hometown: Blackville, South Carolina
School: South Carolina State
Get to know Thomas:
- Thomas played three seasons for the Green Bay Packers (2015-17) and three seasons for the Dallas Cowboys (2018-20).
- He reunited with Cowboys Head Coach Mike McCarthy in 2020 after playing under him for three seasons in Green Bay.
- In 2020, Thomas stepped in when injuries took out linebackers Leighton Vander Esch and Sean Lee. He recorded a career-high 12 total tackles (six solo) and a tackle for loss in Week 2 vs. Atlanta.
- During the first quarter of the Texans-Cowboys 2019 preseason matchup, Thomas blocked a punt and secured the ball in the endzone for a Dallas touchdown.
- Thomas played four seasons at South Carolina State University (2010-13) after redshirting in 2009. As a senior, he started all 13 games and earned first-team All-Conference honors after recording a team-high 115 tackles, including 19 for a loss, 7.5 sacks, five passes defensed and an interception.
- His father, Joe Thomas Sr., became the oldest player to play collegiate football at the age of 55 when he played for SCSU on the team's Senior Day in 2016. His cousin, Troy Brown, played wide receiver for the New England Patriots from 1993-2007 and won three Super Bowls during his career.
- At Blackville-Hilda High School, Thomas played running back and earned all-State honors as a junior and senior. He was named Division 1A South Carolina Player of the Year, rushing for 1,976 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior. Thomas also played basketball, track and soccer.
- Thomas finished the 2020 season with 45 total tackles (27 solo), three tackles for loss, two passes defensed and two quarterback hits in 15 games with four starts.
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The Houston Texans roster in photos.
DL Mario Addison, #56 (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
QB, Kyle Allen, #3
RB, Darius Anderson, #30
DB, Grayland Arnold, #35
TE, Antony Auclair, #83
DL, Ross Blacklock, #90
DL, Thomas Booker, #96
OL, Justin Britt, #68
DB, Terrence Brooks, #8
TE, Pharaoh Brown, #85
RB, Rex Burkhead, #28
WR, Jalen Camp, #17
OL, A.J. Cann, #60
LB, Blake Cashman, #53
DL, Maliek Collins, #97
WR, Nico Collins, #12
WR, Chris Conley, #18
WR, Brandin Cooks, #13
TE, Darrell Daniels, #47 (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
WR, Davion Davis, #14
LB, Tae Davis, #19
OL, Austin Deculus, #76
WR, Phillip Dorsett, #4
QB, Jeff Driskel, #6
DL, Michael Dwumfour, #98
WR, Drew Estrada, #81
K, Ka'imi Fairbairn, #7
DB, Jacobi Francis, #38
RB, Royce Freeman, #26
OL, Carson Green, #62
DL, Jonathan Greenard, #52
WR, DaeSean Hamilton, #5
OL, Kenyon Green, #59
DL, Rasheem Green (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
LB, Kamu Grugier-Hill, #51
LB, Christian Harris, #48
DL, Demone Harris, #94
WR, Damon Hazelton, #86
OL, Charlie Heck, #67
LB, Neville Hewitt, #43
QB, Kevin Hogan, #16 (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
OL, Tytus Howard, #71
DL, Jerry Hughes, #55 (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
FB, Andy Janovich, #41
An image from the Aug. 21, 2021 Houston Texans preseason game 2 against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. The Texans won 20-14.
WR, Johnny Johnson III, #89
P, Cameron Johnston, #11
TE, Brevin Jordan, #9
DB, Desmond King II, #25
LB, Christian Kirksey, #58
DL, Roy Lopez, #91
RB, Marlon Mack, #2
DB, Tristin McCollum, #39
OL, Justin McCray, #64
WR, John Metchie III, #88
QB, Davis Mills, #10
WR, Chris Moore, #15
OL, Jimmy Morrissey, #79
DB, Eric Murray, #23
DB, Steven Nelson (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
DB, Steven Nelson, #21
DL, Adedayo Odeleye, #75
OL, Cedric Ogbuehi, #77
RB, Dare Ogunbowale, #33
DL, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, #45
DB, Jonathan Owens, #36
RB, Dameon Pierce, #31
LB, Kevin Pierre-Louis, #57
DB, Jalen Pitre, #42
FB, Paul Quessenberry, #45
OL, Scott Quessenberry, #54
TE, Teagan Quitoriano, #84
LB, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, #34 (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)
DL, Derek Rivers, #95
OL, Max Scharping, #74
DB, Kendall Sheffield (AP Photo/Kevin Sabitus)
DB, Tremon Smith, #24
OL, Jordan Steckler, #70
DB, M.J. Stewart, #29
DB, Derek Stingley Jr., #24
DB, Tavierre Thomas, #37
OL, Laremy Tunsil, #78
LB, Garret Wallow, #32
WR, Connor Wedington (AP)
LS, Jon Weeks #46
DB, Isaac Yiadom, #20
