Thurman Thomas was talking about football as he sat down on a Toronto patio. He was surrounded by it all, from the jerseys on the wall to the videos on the TV screens to photos of celebrities to the photos of them. NFLOn King Street West’s most fashionable stretch, players greet passersby.
Pictures of pedestrians were taken Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee TitansAnd Green Bay Packers. There weren’t any billboard pictures advertising this. Buffalo Bills, but Thomas, one of the team’s most famous figures, was sounding their rallying cry in person.
“I’m the biggest fan of this team that we have right now,” he said. “The former players, who lost those four Super Bowls? They’re probably the biggest fans, who want them to win a Super Bowl — not only for the former players, but for the city of Buffalo and Bills Mafia all around the world.”
Thomas was visiting Toronto to promote The Huddle. This pop-up bar is a new sports bar that NFL Canada launched in Toronto’s downtown core. It will be open for game nights from Sept. 26 through Oct. 26. Thomas sat 20 yards from The Lombardi Trophy. This trophy was barely accessible during the four brutal winters of the 1990s.
He is 56 years old and spent his retirement at inductions into the American hall of fame. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2007) and the College Football Hall Fame (2008).2022).
Thomas and his wife, Patti, also run a construction business in Western New York and also sit on the board of his eponymous charitable Foundation. He is also very attentive to the Bills. His number (34) was retired four years ago.
Thomas took 20 questions from Toronto’s festivities, and took some time to answer them. The Athletic, talking about Bon Jovi, being grumpy and the “Bickering Bills.”
(This interview has been reduced in length and clarity.)
1. Toronto: Have we been forgiven by Buffalo? Attempted to steal the Bills?
(Thomas smiles)They should. They haven’t Forgiven Bon Jovi. They haven’t forgiven him. But I think with so many fans being from Toronto, they’ve forgiven the city.
2. How do you explain the Bills to Western New Yorkers when you meet with outsiders?
First, I want to say that Buffalo is a family-oriented community. It’s all about family. Community. Doing what’s right to help people in the Buffalo community, and just being a fan of a football team whether you win or lose.
3. Are Bon Jovi songs still prohibited on Buffalo radio?
(Thomas laughs)Yes, they are. People forget that they are there. Will Remember to remind them.
4. You’ve spent some time here. What is Toronto like as an NFL Market?
It’s a great sport. Obviously, with so many teams in the National Football League, you’re not going to have the entire city going for the Buffalo Bills. It was years ago that when the Bills hosted the Toronto series, I remember seeing people wearing other jerseys. It’s Canada, right? That was what I understood. I think it’s a great mixture.
5. It used to be so annoying. Eric Wood, Bills Center …
Right. Yes, I do. I didn’t want to bring that up, but yes it did. (Thomas laughs)
6. Because you are from Buffalo, I am curious: How many folding tables has your family jumped through?
I haven’t jumped on any tables yet. I do think that I will probably jump on a table if they win Super Bowl.
7. How often did the “Bickering Bills” really bicker in the 1990s?
We didn’t bicker at all. We knew what kind of talent we had for our football team. It was a simple miscommunication. Jim Kelly is my best friend. He’s the closest brother that I’ve ever had on a football team. He lives in Buffalo, 10 minutes from us. We met in Tennessee just a few days ago. We’ve been doing things ever since 1989. He’s one of my closest and best friends.
8. What’s the best way to describe an activity in group text chats you have with old colleagues?
Wow. The best way to describe it is, it’s real. It’s fun. It’s exciting because of what’s going on right now with the Buffalo Bills.
9. Why is it that so many newspapers describe you early in your career as grumpy,
You’re probably right. I’m an only child. It could be a reason for a lot. I never understood how you could play a game, and then read the paper or talk to people about how you were supposed to do your job — when you haven’t practiced, you don’t know the plays that are called, and you don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing. How can you explain to me what I should be doing and how I should be doing? This just offended me.
10. What is your most treasured piece of memorabilia from your career so far?
I think my most important memorabilia that I’ve kept has been my knee brace. You probably didn’t even know …
11. … from Oklahoma State?
Oklahoma State. In 1986, I tore my ACL. Instead of having to undergo the surgery and missing a whole season, I wore a CTI Brace. It has been my favorite piece of clothing since junior year. It stayed with me throughout my entire career. I was spared a lot of injuries by that brace. It gave me confidence, knowing I can go out — I can cut; I can do whatever I want to do — knowing that I only had about 75 percent of my ACL.
12. How would a multi-purpose Thurman Thomas fare in today’s more pass-friendly NFL?
Oooh, man. It would be something I would absolutely love. I would absolutely love it, if I’m playing with a quarterback like Josh AllenWho can scramble? You know, Jim wasn’t the best scrambler in the National Football League. (Thomas laughs) But when you get a guy like Josh Allen, and you’re out there in the slot — from Brian Daboll to now Ken Dorsey (as offensive coordinator) — and you put out your receiver skills, you’re going to some passes thrown your way. You’re going to be the No. 1 receiver. I would love the opportunity to play in this match today.
13. The 1990 Buffalo Bills and the 2022 Buffalo Bills: Which team wins?
That’s a tough one. Their defense is very, very good. Bruce Smith is always mentioned when we talk about defense. I mean, that’s a load right there to handle by himself. When you compare the two teams, I believe that we have the edge because we had a running match back then. Josh Allen is the Bills’ running game. So I’d take the ’90 Bills.
14. Bills quarterback Josh Allen has 32 rushing touchdowns: Will he catch you as the team’s all-time leader (65)?
I believe he will. Just because he’s such an athletic quarterback. And when you get down there on the goal line, he’s such a great scrambler. Fine if he does catch it. I’m referring to the fact that I want him to catch it. I maybe don’t want a quarterback to catch it, because it means he’s doing a lot of running. And when you do a lot of running in this league — and knock on wood, he hasn’t been injured throughout his career — you take a lot of bumps and bruises. … I love that Josh is a scrambling quarterback, but I hate the shots that he takes down the field.
The Bills retired Thurman Thomas’s No. 34 in October 2018. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. (Timothy T. Ludwig / USA Today)
15. Please describe what would happen in Western New York if Bills win the Super Bowl.
Oh my god. It would have been 850,000 Alexander Ovechkins. That’s how it would be. You can see how he got from winning to the season starting. I don’t even think he worked out. That would be my guess. It would involve 850,000 Buffalo Bills fans doing the exact same thing.
16. Who is your second-best golfer?
Me. My wife is more intelligent than me. My wife was an easy student at Oklahoma State college. I’m closing the gap. If her driver’s on, it’s going to be a long day for me. I’ve got to pretty much hit fairway-green almost every single time if her driver is on. I’m fine with being the second-best golfer in our family.
17. Please tell me about the highlights of your career in athletics since you retired from NFL.
No, man. Ever since I retired, I don’t do none of that. Golf is the only thing I enjoy. I played pickleball once. That was a great sport that I loved. That’s as far as I’ll take my career since I retired from football.
18. Your history with concussions has been discussed: Can football ever become a safe sport?
I don’t think it will ever be a safe sport, even though they’re changing the rules up. Guys aren’t hitting as often as they used to in training camp. And they definitely don’t do it during the week. But I still don’t think it will ever go away.
19. What are your feelings today?
I’m feeling great. Ever since I came out and announced that I’ve had those concussions and was going through some things, you go through tests and you do different things with your body. I’m working out every day. I’m almost 20 to 25 pounds from my playing weight. I’m feeling good. I’m enjoying my life more than anything and not worrying about what might happen. Because you never know what? You’ll see things happen the older you get. I’m 56 years old. When I’m 65, I don’t know how my memory’s going to be. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to walk up and down stairs or play with my grandkids. It’s all about taking it day by day. But eventually — soon — it will probably catch up with me.
20. Complete the following sentence: “By the time I’m done …”
I just want to be remembered by being a good man. Continuing my career in the Buffalo area has definitely helped me, because I’m still so involved with the community, and involved with the team. This was my job back when I was a player. I wanted to play football. I didn’t want to be doing this, or doing that, or whatever. But now that I’ve been retired for almost 22 years, I’m enjoying life probably more than ever.
(Top photo: John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
