He was born January
1st 1967 in Miami Florida. After Derricks dad died in the air force his Mom and grandmother raised him.

On January 23 2000 Derrick Thomas was driving to the airport when he crashed his car he died a few weeks later.

He got pick 4th overall in the 1989 NFL Draft he won defensive rookie of the year and got a pro bowl spot.He also set the single game sack record

He had trouble in school so he started skipping school he went to dade marine institution for trouble kids. He attended the university of Alabama.