Giants Terrell Thomas Announces Retirement

Giants Defensive Back Terrell Thomas has announced his retirement.

Thomas' retirement is best summed up by the Giants press release:

By Michael Eisen

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.  – – On Dec. 29, 2013, Terrell Thomas was the Giants’ starting nickel back in their season finale against the Washington Redskins. It was his seventh start in a season in which he played all 16 games. Thomas had five tackles and knocked down three passes in the Giants’ 20-6 victory.

As he walked off the field that afternoon, Thomas never imagined he had just played his last NFL game.

“I had no idea,” Thomas said today. “I thought I had two more years. I thought I was about to be a top free agent and continue my career for two more years and show God’s grace. But He had a different plan for me.”

That plan came into sharper focus today when Thomas announced his retirement, a bit more than a month past his 30^th birthday.

“Terrell was smart and tough and a very good player,” Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. “He quickly became a ‘pro’s pro’ during his time with the Giants.”

Thomas was forced from the game by his thrice-torn right anterior crucial ligament. He first suffered the injury at the University of Southern California and then twice more with the Giants, costing him the 2011 and 2012 seasons. When he played in 2013, Thomas joined Carolina Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis as the only NFL players believed to have returned to the field after three ACL reconstruction surgeries. Thomas hoped to play last year, but except for a brief training camp stint with the Seattle Seahawks – and his former college coach, Pete Carroll – he found no takers.

Sad story of an athlete with tremendous potential having his career cut short by injuries.