Pierre Thomas
The undrafted Illinois product who led the Saints in rushing three times and scored on a famous screen pass in Super Bowl XLIV.
Pierre Thomas is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the NFL. He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2007. Thomas developed into an all-around threat as a runner, pass catcher, blocker, and special teams player. He led the Saints in rushing yards in 2008, 2009, and 2013, when he also led all NFL running backs in receiving yards. He became known for his excellence in executing the screen pass; it was a screen pass on which he scored the Saints' first touchdown in their 31–17 win in Super Bowl XLIV.
- Role
- Running Back
- College
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Draft Year
- 2007 (Undrafted)
- Super Bowl Appearance
- XLIV
- Status
- Retired
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Thomas's most significant moment came in Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts. In the game, he executed a famous screen pass that resulted in the Saints' first touchdown of the match, helping secure a 31–17 victory and New Orleans' first championship in franchise history. Prior to this, during the 2009 NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thomas contributed 99 yards and two touchdowns in a narrow 31–28 overtime win that sent the team to the Super Bowl.
In Their Own Story
During Week 17 of his rookie season against the Chicago Bears, with stars like Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister out due to injury, Thomas took over. He touched the ball on 32 of the 83 offensive plays, finishing with 226 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. In the 2011 Monday Night Game against Atlanta, he placed a Christmas bow on a football during a touchdown run before giving it to a fan, drawing a penalty and a $7,500 fine.
Reader's Guide
Thomas joined the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2007 after being recruited by the University of Illinois. He led the team in rushing for three seasons (2008, 2009, 2013) and remained a key contributor through multiple contract extensions until his release on March 4, 2015. His career included stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins later that year. He finished as one of the most efficient players in NFL history regarding catch percentage.
Did You Know?
- Thomas set a high school record at Thornton Fractional South High School with 5,565 rushing yards and 88 touchdowns.
- He was not invited to the NFL Combine and went undrafted in 2007.
- In 2013, Thomas led all NFL running backs in receiving yards while also leading the Saints in rushing.
- As of the 2024 season, he holds the record for the highest career catch percentage (84%) since targets began being tracked in 1992.
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