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Deonte Thompson
Deonte Thompson
from Wikipedia

Deonte Thompson (born February 14, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators and was a member of their 2009 BCS National Championship team. Thompson was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

Key Information

Early life

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Thompson was born in the small agricultural town of Belle Glade, Florida. He attended Glades Central High School in Belle Glade, where he played for the Glades Central Raiders high school football team. As a senior in 2006, he helped lead the Raiders to a Class 3A state football championship with 30 receptions for 504 yards and eight touchdowns, despite missing five games with a foot injury. In the state championship game, he rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns.[1]

Thompson also ran in the 100-meter and 200-meter events for the Glades Central track and field team. He won the 100 meters at the 2007 Western Conference Meet, with a career-best time of 10.47 seconds.[2] In the finals of the 2007 FHSAA 2A Region 4, he earned first place in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters.[3] He ran a career-best time of 21.29 seconds in the 200 meters as a senior.

College career

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Thompson with the Florida Gators in 2008

Thompson accepted a football scholarship to attend the University of Florida, to play under head coach Urban Meyer and coach Will Muschamp's Florida Gators football teams from 2008 to 2011. After red-shirting for the 2007 season, he played in every game in 2008 – a season which culminated in the Gators winning the BCS National Championship.

In 2010, his most productive year, he had 38 receptions, 570 receiving yards, and a touchdown as a junior.[4] As a senior in 2011, he compiled 21 receptions, 264 receiving yards and a touchdown.[4] In four seasons, he totaled 101 catches for 1,446 yards and nine touchdowns.[4]

He was also a member of the Gators track and field team. He placed fifth in the 60-meter dash at the 2009 Tyson Invitational with a time of 6.80 seconds.[5]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+34 in
(1.82 m)
198 lb
(90 kg)
31+12 in
(0.80 m)
9+14 in
(0.23 m)
4.31 s 1.50 s 2.51 s 4.40 s 6.96 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)
10 ft 5 in
(3.18 m)
20 reps
All values from Central Florida Pro Day[6][7]
Thompson (right) and Tommy Streeter at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in 2012.

Baltimore Ravens

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Thompson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens after the 2012 NFL draft.[8]

He made the team and caught five passes in the regular season, and handled kick return duties for the first five games. Thompson had his best game as a wide receiver in Week 4 of the 2013 season when he caught four passes for 50 yards.

Buffalo Bills (first stint)

[edit]

On December 8, 2014, Thompson was signed by the Buffalo Bills. On September 4, 2015, he was waived-injured by the Bills.[9] On September 11, 2015, Thompson was released by the Bills with an injury settlement.[10]

Chicago Bears

[edit]

On September 22, 2015, Thompson was signed by the Chicago Bears to the practice squad.[11] On November 10, Thompson was promoted to the active roster.[12]

Thompson re-signed with the Bears on a one-year contract on March 24, 2016.[13] On November 27, Thompson caught five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.[14] He recorded his first career touchdown, which was a 6-yard reception from Matt Barkley in the fourth quarter.[15][16] On December 18, Thompson caught eight passes for a career-high 110 yards against the Green Bay Packers.[17] He recorded his first 100-yard game of his career.[18]

On March 21, 2017, Thompson re-signed with the Bears.[19] In Week 2 of the 2017 season, Thompson recorded four receptions for 57 yards and his first touchdown of the 2017 season in the 29–7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[20] Thompson was released by the Bears on October 11.[21]

Buffalo Bills (second stint)

[edit]

On October 17, 2017, Thompson signed with the Bills.[22] In his regular season debut with the Bills against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 22, he caught four passes for 107 yards, including a crucial 44 yard pass in the fourth quarter that set up the game-tying touchdown.[23] He also caught a 34-yard pass during a blizzard game against the Indianapolis Colts to set up LeSean McCoy's game-winning touchdown in overtime.[24] Thompson finished the season with career highs in receptions, targets, and receiving yards, also helping Buffalo make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.[25]

Dallas Cowboys

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On March 22, 2018, Thompson signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, receiving a $1,000,000 signing bonus and reuniting with new wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal, who had him with the Bills in 2015.[26] He was limited with an Achilles strain from the start of training camp and worked back into practice for the last 2 preseason games. He was waived on September 1, in order to protect wide receiver Noah Brown from waivers. Thompson was re-signed after Brown was placed on the injured reserve list on September 3.[27] Thompson was expected to be a starter as part of a wide-receiver-by-committee approach, that was put in place after the Cowboys released their main wide receiver Dez Bryant on April 13.

He was named a starter alongside Terrance Williams in the season opener against the Carolina Panthers, making 3 receptions for 27 yards. He repeated as a starter in the second game, tallying 4 receptions for 33 yards. He started in the fourth game but didn't have any receptions. He started in the fifth game and had 2 receptions for 19 yards. In the sixth game he returned to a reserve role, after being passed on the depth chart by rookie Michael Gallup. On October 22, the Cowboys traded a 2019 first round draft choice to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for Amari Cooper, to take over the number one receiver role, which also limited Thompson's targets moving forward. He was released on November 9.[28]

Buffalo Bills (third stint)

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Thompson was signed by the Bills on November 14, 2018.[29] He was declared inactive with a toe injury in the season finale against the Miami Dolphins.[30] He wasn't re-signed after the season.

New York Jets

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Thompson was signed by the New York Jets on May 21, 2019.[31] He was released on August 31, 2019.[32]

See also

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References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Deonte Thompson is a former American professional football who played seven seasons in the (), primarily as a depth player and special teams contributor, after going undrafted out of the . Born on February 14, 1989, in , Thompson attended in his hometown before enrolling at the , where he played for the Gators from 2007 to 2011. At Florida, he appeared in 51 games with 34 starts as a redshirt senior , amassing 101 receptions for 1,446 yards and 8 touchdowns over his career. Following the 2012 NFL Draft, Thompson signed with the as an undrafted free agent and quickly earned a spot on their before making the active roster. With the Ravens in 2012–2013, he contributed on special teams and appeared in 13 games, helping the team win against the . His NFL career spanned multiple teams, including stints with the (2014, 2017–2018), (2015–2017), and (2018), where he totaled 94 receptions for 1,193 yards and 4 touchdowns across 66 games. Thompson's most productive season came in , split between the Bears and Bills, when he recorded 38 receptions for 555 yards and 2 touchdowns, showcasing his speed and reliability as a rotational receiver. Standing at 6 feet 0 inches and weighing 204 pounds, he was known for his athleticism but often served in roles due to the competitive nature of depth charts. Thompson signed with the in May 2019 but was released before the season and has not played professional football since 2018, effectively retiring.

Early life

Upbringing in Belle Glade

Deonte Thompson was born on February 14, 1989, in , a small agricultural town situated on the shores of and renowned as "Muck City" for its fertile, muck-rich soil that supports farming. Growing up in this close-knit rural community, Thompson experienced a family-oriented environment where his mother provided unwavering support, attending his games and fostering his development as a self-described "momma's boy." The Belle Glade area, marked by economic challenges and tied to its agricultural economy, placed a strong emphasis on sports—particularly football—as a vital pathway for youth to pursue higher education and professional opportunities beyond the local fields. This cultural backdrop, shared with nearby Pahokee, has produced numerous talents, underscoring the region's deep-rooted football heritage. Thompson's early exposure to football began informally through backyard games before he joined organized youth leagues in third grade, playing for the Okeechobee Center Bulldogs and practicing near his home. In these settings, he demonstrated versatility across multiple positions, including offensive and defensive lines, linebacker, , receiver, , and , reflecting the pervasive football culture of the Pahokee-Belle Glade region. This foundation in local youth programs propelled his transition to organized high school athletics at .

High school career

Deonte Thompson attended in , graduating as part of the class of 2007 after enrolling in 2003. During his high school football career, Thompson emerged as a key for the Raiders. In his senior year of , he tallied 30 receptions for 504 yards and eight touchdowns, contributing significantly to the team's success despite missing time due to injury. These efforts helped Glades Central secure the Class 3A state championship with a 39–27 victory over Pensacola Pine Forest in the final at Dolphin Stadium. Thompson's performances earned him recognition as a top prospect in , rated as the third-best nationally by and named the South Florida Sun-Sentinel High School Athlete of the Year. In , Thompson specialized in sprint events for Glades Central, achieving personal bests of 10.49 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.29 seconds in the 200 meters. He won the 100 meters at the 2007 Western Conference Meet and claimed the Class 2A state championship in the event, earning all-conference honors as the South Florida Sun-Sentinel High School Athlete of the Year.

College career

Florida Gators football

Deonte Thompson committed to the as a recruit in the class of 2007. He redshirted during the 2007 season and did not see game action, preserving a year of eligibility while dressing for all 13 contests. Over his four playing seasons from 2008 to 2011, Thompson appeared in 51 games for the , recording 101 receptions for 1,446 yards and 9 touchdowns, averaging 14.3 yards per catch. His role evolved from a rotational player to a starter, though he often competed for targets amid a deep receiving corps and occasional struggles with concentration drops. Thompson's background, where he competed in sprints, contributed to his noted speed on the football field, allowing him to stretch defenses as a deep threat. As a redshirt freshman in 2008, Thompson played in all 14 games, primarily as a reserve, with 18 receptions for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns. His contributions helped the Gators to an undefeated regular season and a berth in the , where defeated 24-14 to claim the title; Thompson did not record a reception in the championship but was part of the roster that secured the program's second in three years. In 2009, he appeared in 12 games (including the ), catching 24 passes for 343 yards and 4 touchdowns, including a 7-yard scoring reception from in the Gators' 51-24 victory over . His production was solid but limited by the emergence of tight end and the team's run-heavy offense under . Thompson's most productive year came in , when he started 11 of 13 games and led the team with 38 receptions for 570 yards and 1 touchdown, averaging 15.0 yards per catch. He earned team offensive player of the week honors after standout performances, such as six catches for 83 yards against . Despite the Gators' 8-5 record, Thompson's reliability as John Brantley's primary target highlighted his growth into a consistent outside receiver. In his senior season of 2011, Thompson started 10 of 13 games but saw reduced opportunities due to increased competition from younger talents like in the slot and a shift toward a more balanced passing attack; he finished with 21 receptions for 264 yards and 1 . By midseason, he reached 1,000 career receiving yards, becoming the 27th Gator to achieve the milestone.

Florida Gators track and field

Deonte Thompson joined the men's team upon arriving on campus in 2008, participating through 2011 while balancing his primary role on the football roster, with a focus on sprint events such as the 60-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter dashes. His dual-sport schedule required careful management, as indoor and outdoor track seasons overlapped with football practices and games, yet Thompson's involvement underscored the Gators' tradition of athlete versatility under head coach , who oversaw the sprint group. In the indoor season, Thompson's standout performance came in 2009 at the Tyson Invitational, where he ran a personal-best 6.80 seconds in the 60-meter dash finals, placing fifth overall and earning an NCAA provisional qualifying standard. This time, achieved after a 6.81-second preliminary heat, helped qualify him for the (SEC) Indoor Championships later that year, where he also competed in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.14 seconds. Earlier, as a in 2008, he had posted a 6.87 seconds in the 60-meter dash preliminaries at the SEC Indoor Championships, demonstrating consistent competitiveness at the conference level. Outdoors, Thompson contributed to the Gators' relay efforts, running legs in the 4x100-meter alongside teammates like and , bolstering a sprint core that propelled to SEC team titles in 2008 and 2010. Although he did not secure individual national honors, his support and sprint under Holloway provided steady depth to the program, which dominated competitions during his tenure. Thompson's track regimen, emphasizing explosive starts and top-end velocity, directly enhanced his on-field football agility, allowing him to excel as a speedy .

Professional career

Baltimore Ravens

Thompson signed with the as an undrafted on May 11, 2012, shortly after the conclusion of the NFL Draft. Emerging from the , he earned a spot on the 53-man roster during , showcasing his speed and versatility as a and under head coach . In his 2012 , Thompson appeared in six games without starting, primarily contributing on special teams with 15 kickoff returns for 389 yards, averaging 25.9 yards per return. He also recorded five receptions for 51 yards as a depth receiver, helping to support ' passing attack led by quarterback . His role emphasized explosive plays in the return game, where his 4.23-second time provided a vertical threat. Thompson's contributions extended into the postseason, where he remained on the active roster for all four of the Ravens' , culminating in a victory over the , 34–31, on February 3, 2013. During the playoffs, he logged minimal offensive stats with two receptions for 23 yards across the games, focusing instead on special teams depth. This championship marked a highlight of his early professional tenure, as the Ravens defeated the in the Wild Card round, the in the Divisional round, and the in the AFC Championship before the triumph. The following year, in 2013, Thompson appeared in seven games for the Ravens, catching 10 passes for 96 yards while continuing to serve as a reserve and special teams contributor, including seven kickoff returns for 201 yards. His limited offensive role reflected the team's depth at the position, but he remained a valuable special teams asset under Harbaugh's scheme.

Buffalo Bills (first stint)

After being released by the prior to the 2014 regular and subsequently joining their , Deonte Thompson signed with the ' active roster on December 8, 2014, to provide depth at and on special teams. This move came amid the Bills' push for a playoff berth in a season that ended with a 9–7 record. During the 2014 season, Thompson appeared in just one game for the Bills, the Week 17 finale against the on December 28, where he recorded no receptions, targets, or return yards while logging two offensive snaps and four special teams snaps. He remained inactive for the other 15 games despite the roster spot, primarily serving as depth behind the team's primary wideouts and return specialists as Buffalo focused on stabilizing its offense under quarterback . Thompson carried over into the 2015 training camp but suffered a foot injury that sidelined him for most of the preseason. On September 4, 2015, the Bills designated him as waived/injured, and the team reached an injury settlement with him a week later on September 11, ending his initial stint with Buffalo and opening the door to his next NFL opportunity.

Chicago Bears

Thompson signed with the ' practice squad on September 22, 2015, and was elevated to the active roster on November 10, 2015. In his first season with the team, he appeared in seven games, recording two receptions for 81 yards while contributing on special teams with 14 kick returns totaling 409 yards. Re-signed to a one-year on March 24, 2016, Thompson solidified his role during the 2016 season, playing all 16 games with six starts and posting career-best receiving numbers of 22 catches for 249 yards and two . His first came on a 6-yard pass from quarterback in a November 27 matchup against the . As an elite kick returner, he led the that year with 804 kick return yards on 35 attempts, averaging 23.0 yards per return, including a standout performance of eight receptions for 110 yards against the on December 18. Thompson re-signed with the Bears on a one-year deal on March 23, 2017. Through the first five games of the 2017 season, he recorded 11 receptions for 125 yards and one , alongside 11 kick returns for 229 yards. The Bears released him on October 11, 2017, after which he briefly reunited with the . Over his three seasons under head coach John Fox, Thompson developed into a key special teams asset and occasional offensive contributor for .

Buffalo Bills (second stint)

On October 17, 2017, following his release by the , Deonte Thompson signed with the , marking his return to the team for a second stint. The move addressed Buffalo's need for receiver depth amid injuries and underwhelming early-season production from the position group. Thompson made an immediate impact in his debut on October 22 against the , catching four passes for 107 yards, which stood as the Bills' single-game receiving high for the season. Over the final 11 regular-season games, Thompson emerged as a reliable target, recording 27 receptions for 430 yards and one while leading all Bills wide receivers in catches. His production provided a boost to an offense that ranked near the bottom of the league in passing earlier in the year, contributing to Buffalo's turnaround to a 9–7 record and their first playoff berth since 1999. Under first-year head coach , Thompson frequently rotated into the lineup alongside —acquired via trade on October 31—and , adding speed and veteran presence to stretch defenses and support quarterback . In the AFC wild card playoff game against the on January 7, , Thompson appeared in Buffalo's 10–3 loss, hauling in two receptions for 23 yards while also rushing once for nine yards. His efforts in the postseason capped a stint that solidified his value as a depth piece during the Bills' surprise contention push.

Dallas Cowboys

Thompson signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the on March 22, 2018, adding veteran depth to the position after spending the previous season split between the and . The deal included a $1 million , positioning him as a potential speed threat in the offense. However, a injury limited his participation during , leading to his release on September 1, 2018, as part of final roster cuts. He was quickly re-signed on September 3 after the team placed rookie Noah Brown on injured reserve, allowing Thompson to secure a spot on the 53-man roster. During the 2018 regular season, Thompson appeared in eight games for , starting four, and recorded 14 receptions for 124 receiving yards with no touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams with six kickoff returns for 147 yards. Thompson provided rotational depth at , stepping into starting roles in the first five weeks amid the team's need for additional options behind primary targets like and . His contributions helped support during a 10–6 regular season that earned them the title and a home playoff game. The Cowboys advanced to the divisional round but fell to the , 30–22. Thompson did not record statistics in the postseason. On November 9, 2018, following a Week 9 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Cowboys released Thompson to activate wide receivers Noah Brown and Lance Lenoir from injured reserve. He subsequently signed with the Buffalo Bills on November 14.

Buffalo Bills (third stint)

Following his release from the Dallas Cowboys on November 9, 2018, Thompson signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills on November 14, 2018, marking his third stint with the team. Thompson appeared in the final five games of the 2018 season, starting two, and recorded three receptions for 37 yards. He primarily contributed as a depth wide receiver and on special teams during Buffalo's late-season push, which included wins over the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions. The Bills finished the 2018 campaign with a 6–10 record, failing to qualify for the playoffs. Thompson's contract expired at the end of the season, and he was not retained by the team, concluding his active playing career in the NFL.

New York Jets

On May 21, 2019, Deonte Thompson signed a one-year worth $930,000 with the as an unrestricted , entering the eighth year of his professional career with the aim of securing a spot on the 53-man roster as a and potential . Thompson participated in the Jets' training camp and appeared in all three preseason games during the 2019 exhibition schedule, including matchups against the , , and , where he contributed on offense and special teams but recorded no statistics. Despite his efforts, Thompson did not appear in any regular-season games for the Jets. The Jets released Thompson on August 31, 2019, as part of their final roster cuts to reach the 53-player limit, marking his last transaction in the . At age 30, following this release, Thompson made no further attempts to return to the league, effectively ending his playing career that had spanned multiple teams since 2012.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Deonte Thompson is married to (née Openbook), with their relationship beginning during his tenure with the . He is a father to at least three children, including a daughter from a previous relationship and two sons whom he references using the hashtags #GodSpeed and #ThompsonTough on . Following his retirement from the , Thompson relocated to the New York area, where he has emphasized family as a top priority in his posts (@deonte_dt15). As of 2025, the 36-year-old retired athlete presents himself as a dedicated family man, promoting the "ThompsonTough" mindset inspired by his roots in Muck City, .

Public incidents

In July 2016, Deonte Thompson became the subject of widespread media attention due to allegations of that surfaced on the day of his to Jourdan Neal at the Flagler Museum in . Dria Felton, who identified herself as Thompson's former partner and the mother of his child, posted on several hours before the ceremony, sharing intimate photos of the pair, screenshots of explicit text messages exchanged between them, and images of their daughter, all tagged with the couple's to maximize exposure. The revelations quickly spread across and drew coverage from outlets including , which described the exposure as occurring at "the worst possible time: his day." This scandal unfolded amid Thompson's first significant receiving season with the in 2016, during which he recorded 22 receptions for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns, yet the off-field drama had no discernible effect on his playing time or role within the team. The incident represented a rare public controversy for Thompson, who has since demonstrated resilience by avoiding further scandals or legal entanglements, maintaining a relatively private life post-retirement as of 2025.

Career statistics

Regular season

Deonte Thompson's career, spanning to , saw him appear in 66 games with 22 starts across multiple teams. He totaled 94 receptions for 1,193 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns, alongside 2 rushing attempts for -5 yards, and 88 kick returns for 2,179 yards at an average of 24.8 yards per return. The following table provides a year-by-year breakdown of his regular season statistics, drawn from official NFL records updated through 2019 (with no regular season appearances that year).
YearTeam(s)GP/GSReceiving (Rec/Yds/TD)Rushing (Att/Yds/TD)Kick Returns (No./Yds/Avg/Long/TD)
2012BAL6/05/51/00/0/015/389/25.9/49/0
2013BAL7/010/96/00/0/07/201/28.7/47/0
2014BUF1/00/0/00/0/00/0/--/0/0
2015CHI7/02/81/00/0/014/409/29.2/74/0
2016CHI16/622/249/20/0/035/804/23.0/64/0
2017CHI/BUF16/1038/555/22/-5/011/229/20.8/29/0
2018DAL/BUF13/617/161/00/0/06/147/24.5/35/0
Career-66/2294/1,193/42/-5/088/2,179/24.8/74/0
Thompson initially established himself as a from 2012 to 2016, accumulating 1,803 of his career return yards during that span, highlighted by his NFL-leading 804 kick return yards in 2016. His role transitioned toward duties in 2017, when he posted a career-best 555 receiving yards and 38 catches across the and . His statistical profile shows no notable penalties.

Postseason

Thompson's postseason contributions were limited, as he appeared in only one playoff game during his career. His career totals include 1 game played with 1 start, 2 receptions for 23 yards and 0 touchdowns, along with 1 rushing attempt for 9 yards and no return yards. During the 2012 season with the , Thompson was part of the team's 53-man active roster for all four playoff contests, including the AFC Wild Card victory over the , the Divisional Round win against the , the AFC Championship triumph over the , and , where the Ravens defeated the 34–31 to claim the championship. However, he did not record any statistics or in these games, serving primarily as a depth player and option. In his lone postseason appearance, Thompson started for the in the 2017 AFC Wild Card game against the on January 7, 2018, a 10–3 loss that marked Buffalo's first playoff berth since 1999 and ended an 18-year drought. He caught 2 passes for 23 yards on 6 targets and added a 9-yard rush on his only carry, playing 65 offensive snaps in the contest. Overall, while Thompson's statistical impact in the was minimal, his presence on the rosters of two postseason teams highlighted his role as a versatile depth receiver and special teams asset during key franchise moments for both and Bills.

References

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