Destroyers Linebacker Leroy ThompsonTo Retire

Published on June 11, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - Columbus Destroyers linebacker Leroy Thompson announced his retirement from the Arena Football League effective at the end of the 2008 regular season. The 13-year veteran is one of only six players who have rushed for over 1,000 career yards in the 21-plus year history of the League.

"I've seen Leroy grow as a man and as a player," Destroyers head coach Doug Kay said. "I'm proud to say that he excels in both areas."

Thompson (6-2, 270, Delaware State) played his first nine seasons with the Albany/Indiana Firebirds franchise, spent one season with the New Orleans VooDoo and his final three seasons with the Destroyers. He has rushed 383 times for 1,103 yards and 68 touchdowns, while adding 36 receptions for 307 yards and five touchdowns during his career. He has added 160.5 tackles (123UT-75AT) with 15.5 sacks, 21 tackles for a loss, six forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, 27 pass deflections and one blocked kick on the defensive side of the ball in 152 career games. He was a member of the 1999 ArenaBowl XIII champion Albany Firebirds and the 2007 National Conference champion Destroyers.

"I want to thank the people that got me into this game; Mike Daley (current Colorado Crush head coach and former Albany/Indiana Firebirds head coach, 1997-2003) and Mike Hohensee (current Chicago Rush head coach and former Albany Firebirds head coach, 1996)," Thompson said. "I'm very grateful to have played in two ArenaBowls and been named champion once. I've been very fortunate to make very good friends through the years. I'd like to thank all of the fans that have come out and supported the game. And above all, I'm thankful to end my career playing for a coach like Doug Kay."

Thompson led his team in rushing in six of his 13 seasons while finishing in the Top 10 in the AFL in rushing in five of those seasons. He finished third in 2000, fourth in 2001 and 2003, sixth in 2002 and was 10th in 1999. He also was named the AFL's 2002 "Built Ford Tough" Man of the Year in 2002. His best offensive season came during the 2000 campaign, when he rushed 59 times for 190 yards and 14 touchdowns.

On Jan. 29, 2006, in his first game with the Destroyers against the Grand Rapids Rampage at Nationwide Arena, Thompson eclipsed the 1,000 rushing yards mark on his very first carry. He will finish his career ranked in the top-five in every AFL career-rushing category.

LEROY THOMPSON, Linebacker

6-2, 270, Delaware State; 13 seasons; Born: Jan. 23, 1971

OFFENSE

Year Team GP RUSH YDS TD LONG REC YDS TD LONG

1996 Albany 5 5 11 2 7 1 9 0 9

1997 Albany 9 3 6 1 4 4 37 0 17

1998 Albany 6 2 1 0 1 2 21 0 12

1999 Albany 13 25 124 2 12 5 44 1 16

2000 Albany 11 59 190 14 16 4 32 0 14

2001 Indiana 14 59 157 10 14 2 9 1 7

2002 Indiana 14 37 117 10 14 0 0 0 0

2003 Indiana 16 53 167 12 19 3 8 1 11

2004 Indiana 13 54 131 3 13 8 113 0 20

2005 New Orleans 12 37 86 8 16 2 8 0 6

2006 Columbus 14 49 113 6 15 3 22 0 13

2007 Columbus 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2008 Columbus 11 0 0 0 0 2 4 2 3

CAREER TOTALS 152 383 1103 68 19 36 307 5 20

DEFENSE

Year Team GP UT AT TOTAL TFL SACKS FF FR INT PD BLK

1996 Albany 5 9 3 10.5 0.0 1.0 0 0 0 0 0

1997 Albany 9 9 5 11.5 0.0 1.0 0 0 0 2 0

1998 Albany 6 5 2 6.0 1.0 1.0 1 1 0 1 0

1999 Albany 13 9 8 13.0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0

2000 Albany 11 5 5 7.5 1.0 1.0 1 1 0 0 1

2001 Indiana 14 9 7 12.5 1.0 1.5 0 1 0 0 0

2002 Indiana 14 21 6 24.0 7.5 5.0 1 0 0 3 0

2003 Indiana 16 11 7 14.5 0.5 1.5 1 0 0 3 0

2004 Indiana 13 8 9 12.5 2.0 0.0 0 4 0 2 0

2005 New Orleans 12 11 5 13.5 3.0 2.0 1 1 0 8 0

2006 Columbus 14 9 5 11.5 1.0 0.0 1 2 0 7 0

2007 Columbus 14 13 7 16.5 2.0 0.5 1 1 0 0 0

2008 Columbus 11 4 6 7.0 2.0 1.0 0 0 0 1 0

CAREER TOTALS 152 123 75 160.5 21.0 15.5 7 11 0 27 1

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 11, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central