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FSU football: 15 greatest NFL careers ever by former Seminoles

By Joey Loose

Nov 16, 2013; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Former Florida State Seminoles head coach Bobby Bowden chats with former Seminoles player Derrick Brooks before the game against the Syracuse Orange at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2013; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Former Florida State Seminoles head coach Bobby Bowden chats with former Seminoles player Derrick Brooks before the game against the Syracuse Orange at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Tra Thomas (72)  Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Tra Thomas (72)  Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

FSU football greatest NFL career No.10: Tra Thomas

Quantifying the success of the offensive line is not the easiest thing to do, but Tra Thomas was an impressive athlete, playing on Florida State’s line in the mid-90s. The Florida native then headed to the Philadelphia Eagles, who took him with the 11th pick of the 1998 NFL Draft; he was the second offensive lineman selected.

Thomas would be the Eagles’ starting left tackle for the next eleven seasons, missing only 11 games during that time. His run in Philadelphia coincided with Donovan McNabb’s best days as an NFL quarterback, with Thomas protecting his blindside.

Left tackle is an important position to get right, and Thomas was there for the Eagles’ success in the 2000s. He started 17 playoff games for Philadelphia, including their loss in Super Bowl XXXIX to New England in 2004.

Thomas was an anchor on that line during that success and was named to three Pro Bowls in the early 2000s. After the 2008 season, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars but only played briefly with them and would not see time in the NFL again after that.

This former Florida State star really settled in with the Eagles and strengthened an offensive line that allowed that franchise that success. He protected McNabb, opened up the potential for running backs like Brian Westbrook, and remains an essential piece in the Eagles’ history all these years later.

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