Tavierre Thomas

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 11, 1996, Tavierre Thomas carved a unique path for himself in American professional football, currently serving as a star cornerback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Despite challenges and obstacles, Thomas’s journey from his hometown to the professional football field demonstrates the importance of perseverance, commitment, and a will to succeed.

Growing up in Detroit, Thomas spent many of his childhood years dreaming of playing on a professional football field. From the outset, Thomas showed both academic promise and athletic prowess, achieving a 3.8 GPA by his senior year at Detroit Allen Academy and garnering attention from NCAA Division I recruiters representing colleges such as Iowa, Central Michigan, and Eastern Michigan. However, a lower ACT score prevented Thomas from receiving scholarship offers from these programs.

Undeterred, Thomas opted to continue his journey at Ferris State University, accepting their offer of an academic scholarship. Originally planning to redshirt his freshman year and focus on his academics, a sudden injury to a main player on the team prompted Thomas to step up and play in the last five games of the season.

His sophomore year marked a defining moment in his career. He rose to the rank of a starting cornerback for the Ferris State Bulldogs and completed the season with 48 tackles and three interceptions, one of which led to a touchdown.

Thomas’s success continued into his junior year, led by his career-high six interceptions, and 15 deflected passes in 15 starts, which earned him first-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and first-team Division II All-America honors. He also achieved an Associated Press third-team Little All-America title.

In his senior year, Thomas further solidified his status as a key player, nabbing his second first-team all-GLIAC and Division II All-America recognition. He concluded this successful period with 60 tackles, four interceptions, and 18 passes defected, earning him the GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year honor.

Emerging as an undisputed leader in collegiate football, Thomas wrapped up his university career with noteworthy statistics – a total of 175 tackles, 14 interceptions, and 35 passes deflected.

Post-graduation, Thomas’s professional career took flight when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona Cardinals on April 30, 2018. After a brief stint there, Thomas moved to the Cleveland Browns. Here, Thomas recorded his NFL debut on September 9, 2018, during the Browns’ season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His first season with the Browns was noteworthy, playing in 13 games.

The 2019 season with the Browns offered him opportunities for further growth. He played in all 16 games, recording nine tackles and a critical fumble recovery. Thomas also returned ten kickoffs for 204 yards. A significant highlight of the season was when he successfully blocked a field goal attempt during a game against the San Francisco 49ers.

In the 2020 season, Thomas marked a significant career milestone, recording his first professional sack on Lamar Jackson during a game against the Baltimore Ravens. Moving forward onto his next NFL engagement, he signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans on March 22, 2021.

During his time with the Texans, he progressed rapidly, entering the 2021 season as fourth in their cornerback depth chart. It was during a game against the Chargers that Thomas accomplished arguably one of his career highlights – a game-sealing 48-yard pick-six that contributed considerably to the Texans’ 41-29 upset win. The performance won him the American Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week title.

Despite being placed on injured reserve on September 1, 2022, Thomas persevered, and he was activated on November 3, 2022. He re-signed with the Texans in March 2023, but by March 18, 2024, he had joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, firmly cementing his place in the National Football League as a reliable, energetic, and devoted cornerback.