Chiefs Will Retire Derrick Thomas’ Number

The Kansas City Chiefs announced earlier today that, on December 6, they’ll retire the number of linebacker Derrick Thomas. Thomas will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in August, nearly a decade after his death. The elite pass rusher was paralyzed in an auto accident after finishing his eleventh NFL season. He died of a pulmonary embolism a couple of weeks later. The number 58 will be set aside permanently by the Chiefs at halftime of a home game against the Broncos, and his family will be given his Hall of Fame ring at the same time. The other numbers that have been retired by the Chiefs are: 3 (Jan Stenerud); 16 (Len Dawson); (18) Emmitt Thomas; 28 (Abner Haynes); 33 (Stone Johnson); 36 (Mack Lee Hill); 63 (Willie Lanier); 78 (Bobby Bell); and 86 (Buck Buchanan).