Arthur William Thoms, Jr. (born October 20, 1946) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

Art Thoms
No. 80
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1946-10-20) October 20, 1946 (age 78)
Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
College:Syracuse
NFL draft:1969 / round: 1 / pick: 22
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Thoms played high school football at Brick Township High School in Brick Township, New Jersey, after transferring from Wayne Valley High School in Wayne, New Jersey, where he played for two seasons.[1][2] From there he spent one year in the Hargrave Military Academy, which is where Syracuse Football found him and offered him a full scholarship.

In the 1969 NFL draft, Thoms was selected in the first round out of Syracuse University, New York. He played eight seasons with the Oakland Raiders and was a member of the Super Bowl XI in the 1976. He then played one season with the Philadelphia Eagles before deciding to retire.

In 2002, Art was inducted to the Syracuse University "All Millennium" Football Team.

Personal life

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While still playing football, Art bought coin-operated laundromats. He continued to purchase laundromats after he retired and still owns two today.

He also started a sports memorabilia business, "Art's Sports Artifacts" which provides signed and unsigned memorabilia for charities or personal collectors.

Art has been married to his wife, Darlene for 44 years and they have been together 49 years. They have four children, three sons and one daughter. They currently have nine grandchildren.

After retiring from the NFL, Art coached all four of his children and several of his grandchildren in various sports (football, baseball, basketball, soccer).

Today, Art and his wife are semi-retired and spend their time with their children and grandchildren. They are now watching all their grandchildren play sports. They also spend time traveling.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Art Thoms player profile Archived 2007-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, database Football. Accessed August 11, 2007.
  2. ^ Art Thoms Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine, Oakland Raiders. Accessed August 11, 2007. "I started playing football in high school. It was the freshman team at Wayne High School in Wayne, N.J. I played two years there and then my family moved to Brickjohn [sic], NJ. I played the last two years of high school ball there."