Thomas Herrion Passes Away (49ERS)

t.t.luciano · Aug 21, 2005

DECEMBER 15,1981 - AUGUST 20,2005

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Offensive lineman Thomas Herrion collapsed in the locker room following the San Francisco 49ers game against the Denver Broncos. He was immediately treated by team physicians and paramedics. He was then transported to St. Anthony’s Central Hospital in Denver. We received word a short time later that he passed away.

This is a colossal tragedy for the 49ers and the entire NFL community. We still do not know all of the details; however, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Herrion family.

Thomas Herrion's Bio...

PRO: Signed by the 49ers as a free agent (1-3-05) and allocated to the Hamburg Sea Devils, serving as a sturdy post in the trenches during the 2005 NFL Europe season…Played and started in 10 games for the Sea Devils…Signed to the 49ers practice squad (12-04) and spent the rest of the season with the team…Originally signed by Dallas (5-19-04) as an undrafted rookie free agent before being released by the Cowboys (9-5-04)…Re-signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad (9-14-04) and was released (9-30-04).

COLLEGE: Started every game at left guard senior season after making the transition from tackle for the Utes…Named a team captain and was selected to the 2003 Utah Football Leadership Committee…Moved from the left side to the right tackle post as a junior…Played in 10 games and started the last three on the right side…Transferred from Kilgore (TX) Junior College after being named All-American honorable mention…Also named first-team All-Conference and received Kilgore’s Most Outstanding Lineman award…Helped the Rangers to a No. 2 national ranking in 2001 with a 12-0 record…Also part of Kilgore’s conference championship team in 2000 who captured the Red River Bowl title…Majored in sociology.

PERSONAL: Born Thomas Herrion (12-15-81) in Fort Worth, TX…Attended Polytechnic (TX) High School…Earned nicknames ‘Big T,’ Train,’ and ‘The Meal Ticket,’ in college…Aspires to pursue a career as a counselor after playing career concludes…Resides in Fort Worth, TX.

Derek12 · Aug 21, 2005

Rest in peace.

azg04 · Aug 21, 2005

Heart atack?, becoming familiar in hi performance athletes, it's a shame.

wavvy1 · Aug 22, 2005

Cocaine's a hell of a drug. Kidding....

WHALE · Aug 23, 2005

:sad3:

t.t.luciano · Aug 23, 2005

A Tribute to Thomas

For an offensive player, driving into the end zone with your fellow comrades for a touchdown is the ultimate football goal. The last play of Thomas Herrion’s football career was a touchdown; Thomas had celebrated the ultimate.

After plowing the way for the 49ers offense to march 91 yards in just over two minutes, he trotted over to the visiting sideline where his teammates greeted him with high fives and praise. It spread a wide grin across his face.

There were just 10 seconds remaining in the 49ers preseason game against the Denver Broncos when Thomas’ valuable contributions on the field helped give quarterback Cody Pickett an open alley to scamper 23 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown put the 49ers just five points behind the Broncos at Mile High Stadium.

And while there was little chance the team could engineer a last-second comeback win, the implications of the final scoring drive meant so much more.

Upon reaching the sideline after celebration, Thomas scanned the bench area for former 49ers offensive lineman, Guy McIntyre.

“Guy, how did I do?” Thomas joked.

The three-time 49ers Super Bowler and now Director of Player Development nodded his head in approval, smiled, and answered, “You did alright.”

Thomas was gratified, and proud to be part of the team’s final scoring effort of the night. He waved at a sprinkling of 49ers fans who had made their way down to the lower bowl, cheering on Thomas and the team as they made their way down the tunnel and into the visiting team’s locker room.

Thomas was doing what he loved. And when he took a knee with his teammates to recite the Lord’s Prayer after the conclusion of Head Coach Mike Nolan’s post-game locker room address, he was reciting the very words he lived by.

His final football play, his last spoken words, they described his life.

The team will commemorate his warm personality and his resolute approach on the field at a Memorial Service on Tuesday.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the Herrion family in this time of sadness,” Nolan said.

Thomas leaves his mother, two brothers, four sisters and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, close friends and many college and professional teammates and coaches whose lives and careers he touched through his enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to his endeavors.

“Right now it’s a day of mourning for the 49ers family,” Nolan said. “We lost a teammate and a very good friend as well.”

Thomas was a man of strong faith, and could be found many times as a youngster playing the drums at Upper Room Temple, the church pastured by his late father.

His faith continued to flourish into his adult life, as he was an active member of the 49ers Bible study group’s frequent gatherings.

Thomas grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and attended Polytechnic High School where he was a member of the football, basketball and track teams. He went on to attend Kilgore (TX) Junior College. As a student and player at Kilgore, he committed himself to bettering his academic and football performances, and was successful at doing both. He was named All-America honorable mention and received first-team All-Conference and Kilgore’s Most Outstanding Lineman accolades. During his first season, Thomas was a part of Kilgore’s conference championship team who captured the Red River Bowl title. His last season with the Rangers, in 2001, Thomas played an integral role in Kilgore’s No. 2 national ranking and undefeated 12-0 record.

He was loved by his Rangers’ teammates and coaches, who nicknamed him “Big T” and “Train.” While they were sad to see the spirited lineman leave, they were proud of his accomplishments and looked forward to watching him succeed at the next level – in Division I football.

When he transferred to Utah for his final two collegiate seasons, Thomas was more determined than ever to put his best efforts forward in the classroom and on the field. He earned a 3.2 GPA, a big achievement, especially since he didn’t take the SAT’s or ACT’s out of high school. He was also named captain of the Utes team during his senior year in 2003 – when 49ers quarterback, Alex Smith, was a sophomore. When he signed with San Francisco in January, Thomas was also reunited with another former Utah teammate, safety Arnold Parker.

Just recently, Thomas came to the rescue of his Utah friend, helping him belt out the lyrics of their mutual fight song.

“When Steve Young had come to speak just the other day, he was a few minutes late and we had a few minutes, and the team all asked Alex Smith to sing his fight song from Utah,” Nolan said. “As soon as he stood up to begin his song, Thomas jumped up right away and starting going with him. Everybody began to hoot and holler. At that time he came out of his shell. It was warming to see him like that. When you see a player like that, you go, ‘Oh that’s who that player is.’”

Thomas broke into the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in May, 2004. He spent some time on the Cowboys practice squad last season and moved to San Francisco in December, 2004, as a member of the 49ers practice squad.

He just recently had the opportunity to share his playing talents and experience a different part of the world in Europe, where he served as a sturdy anchor in the trenches for the Hamburg Sea Devils.

During training camp and in his two preseason contests with the 49ers, the 23-year-old impressed coaches and teammates with his ambitious play at the left guard position.

Thomas’ smile and appreciation for life was felt until the moment of his collapse, when he was surrounded by the camaraderie of his 49ers family and friends. It will be forever within those that knew and loved him.
:sad3: :sad3: