Skylar Thompson

Skylar John Thompson was born on June 4, 1997 in Palmyra, Missouri. He is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). Before his career as a professional football player, he enjoyed a successful career playing college football for the Kansas State Wildcats.

Unfortunately, during Skylar’s early years, he had to bear the pain of losing his mother, Teresa Thompson, to breast cancer when he was just six years old. Additionally, he also lost his grandfather to pancreatic cancer a year prior. His father, Brad Thompson, provided him the needed emotional support during these tough times.

Skylar began showing his football prowess in high school. He was a four-year letterman at Fort Osage High School in Independence, Missouri and played as a starting quarterback, punter, and kicker. In his senior year, he successfully threw for 2,129 yards on 142 passes with 26 touchdowns on only three interceptions, leading the Fort Osage Indians to a 13-1 record and a state championship victory over Chaminade High School. By the end of his high school career, he had thrown for a total of 6,222 yards on 423 passes with a completion rate of 63%. It was not just his football skills that made him stand out, Thompson was also a three-star recruit in basketball, baseball, and soccer, earning Missouri All-State in both basketball and soccer at different points in his career.

His skills earned him a full-ride scholarship to play for the Kansas State Wildcats, an offer he chose over various other prestigious institutions. At first, Thompson redshirted as a freshman and was soon named Scout Team Player of the Year. Becoming a full-time starter as a sophomore, he retained his position until graduation. His achievements at Kansas State are remarkable, earning him a spot as one of the best quarterbacks in the history of Kansas State football.

However, Thompson’s college career wasn’t devoid of obstacles. He faced a variety of injuries throughout, including a broken rib, twisted ankle, and a severe upper-body injury which led to him being ruled out for a season.

Despite the setbacks, Thompson’s performance on the field remained commendable. Coming out of college, he had passed for over 7,134 yards with 42 touchdowns and had managed to run for 1,087 yards with 26 touchdowns. This achievement notwithstanding, Thompson was predicted to be an undrafted free agent in the eyes of NFL.com due to his history of injuries, his age, and inconsistent production as a passer.

Against the odds, Thompson was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft. He first took to the field in the NFL in Week 5 against the New York Jets, stepping in after Teddy Bridgewater suffered a concussion. He then became the Dolphins Week 6 starter against the Minnesota Vikings after both Tua Tagovailoa and Bridgewater were sidelined with concussions, but was eventually replaced due to a sustained thumb injury.

Despite these early hiccups, Thompson persevered and was announced as the starter for Week 18 game against the New York Jets. His performance in this game sealed the Dolphins’ first postseason appearance since 2016. Following this, he was given the responsibility to start in the Dolphins’ Wild Card Round game against the Buffalo Bills. Unfortunately, although Thompson put up a brave fight, the Dolphins succumbed to a narrow defeat.

With a professional career still in its early stages, the promising young quarterback proved his worth with his determination and resilience, revealing the potential for an impressive career ahead in the NFL.