Keir Thomas

Keir Thomas's Biography

Keir S. Thomas, an all-rounded American professional football linebacker, was born in Miami, Florida, on January 25, 1998. Known for his remarkable skills on the field, he currently plays for the Los Angeles Rams, a prestigious team in the National Football League (NFL).

During his formative years, Thomas attended Miami Central Senior High School, playing a multitude of positions—nose guard, defensive end, defensive tackle, and linebacker—gaining a multifaceted understanding of the game. His distinguished contributions to the team caught the notice of critics and fans alike, earning him a PrepStar All-American title. His dominant presence was palpable, racking up impressive stats: 71 tackles and 18 sacks as a junior, and 22 sacks and 83 tackles as a senior. His performance awarded him a first-team Class 6A all-state player title as well as the Miami Herald 8A-6A defensive player of the year.

Rivals.com, appreciating Keir’s talent early on, ranked him the 49th-best player in Florida and the 23rd-best strongside defensive end nationally. Recognizing his potential, the University of South Carolina welcomed his commitment, enrolling him in January 2016.

As a freshman at the University of South Carolina, Thomas immediately left his mark, appearing in all 13 games and starting two. He recorded an impressive 24 tackles and two sacks. His performance followed suit during his sophomore year, seeing him start 11 out of 13 games—with the commendable credit of 38 tackles and two sacks. His versatile position as a valuable player in the interior of the line and at the defensive end earned him the invaluable title from his coach.

In his junior year, Thomas stretched his capabilities, playing both as a defensive tackle and a defensive end. He started 12 games, effectively recording another 44 tackles and 1.5 sacks. However, his senior year saw hardships as an ankle injury, resulting in an infection, compelled him to the sideline for most of the season. He appeared in merely two games, but his determination led him to finish the season as a recipient of the Dr. Harris Pastides Outstanding Student-Athlete Award.

Fully recovered and ready to hit the ground running, Thomas showcased his finesse as one of the Gamecocks’ top defensive linemen in the 2020 season. Despite lingering injuries, he successfully pulled off 32 tackles and three sacks. Transferring to Florida State in January 2021, Thomas continued to elevate his game, leading him to start all 12 games, recording 42 tackles, 12 for-loss, 6.5 sacks, and 15 quarterback hurries. His exemplary skills earned him a captainship for the team and third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honours.

The path to NFL was not as smooth as others for Thomas. He did not receive an invitation to the NFL Combine and went undrafted in the 2022 NFL draft. Nonetheless, his undeterred spirit bore fruit when the Los Angeles Rams signed him on May 1, 2022, as an undrafted free agent. Thomas displayed great potential during training camp, standing out among the rest. His performance in the final preseason game led him to be one of three undrafted rookies who made it to the Rams’ final roster. Eventually, he made his NFL debut in week one of the regular season, playing one defensive snap and 11 special teams snaps in the Rams’ 31–10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Thomas’ journey with the Rams saw a rollercoaster ride of waivers and reinstatements in subsequent years. From getting waived and re-signed to the practice squad on multiple occasions, Thomas was eventually signed to the active roster on November 14. However, he was once again waived by the Rams on August 27, 2024, only to be re-signed to the practice squad. Despite these challenges, Keir Thomas demonstrated great resilience and a relentless pursuit of success in his professional career. With his indomitable spirit and dedication to the game of football, Keir S. Thomas is a testament to the saying ‘Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.’