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Father of Leatherneck basketball coach selected as finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

October 10, 2007 on 10:22 pm | In Athletics |

CANTON, Ohio - Emmitt Thomas, current Atlanta Falcons assistant and father of Western Illinois University head men’s basketball Coach Derek Thomas, has been selected as a finalist for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and will learn whether or not he is a member of the induction Class of 2008 in early February.

Thomas, a 13-year starter at cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Chicago Cardinals back Marshall Goldberg, have been selected as finalists by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee. The pair will join 15 still-to-be-named modern-era candidates on the list of finalists from which the Class of 2008 will be selected at a meeting on February 2, 2008. To be elected, finalists must receive 80 percent of the voting support from the 44-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors.

Thomas recorded 58 career interceptions, which he returned for 937 yards and five touchdowns, during his 1966-78 career with the Chiefs. His interception total ranked fifth at the time of his retirement and is still the fourth-best among true cornerbacks. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and led the league in interceptions in both 1969 and 1974, when he picked off a team record and career-high 12 passes.

Thomas began his coaching career in 1979 as defensive coordinator at Central Missouri State. He has coached for six NFL teams, including the Falcons since 2002, and served as defensive coordinator for the Eagles, Packers and Vikings.

Originaly from Source