Dylan Thompson (born October 24, 1991) is an American professional football former quarterback who is the senior director of team support and advancement for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Thompson was a member of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams before becoming a character coach in 2017, working with the Charleston Southern Buccaneers men's basketball team and the NFL's Detroit Lions and Houston Texans.
 Thompson with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 | |
| Washington Commanders | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Senior director of team support and advancement |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 25, 1991 Boiling Springs, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Boiling Springs (Boiling Springs) |
| College: | South Carolina (2010–2014) |
| Undrafted: | 2015 |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| As an executive: | |
| |
Early life
editThompson was born on October 24, 1991, in Boiling Springs, South Carolina. He attended Boiling Springs High School, earning scholarship offers in both football and basketball.[1] He signed with South Carolina on June 15, 2009.[2]
College career
editAfter redshirting during the 2010 season, Thompson's first significant amount of play time would come during the 2012 season. He earned his first career start on September 8, 2012, after Connor Shaw was injured during the season opener at Vanderbilt. Thompson would use that opportunity to lead the Gamecocks to a 48-10 route of East Carolina.[3] He finished the season with 66 completions on 127 passing attempts, netting 1,027 passing yards and 11 touchdowns (1 rushing).[4]
In 2013, Thompson again performed backup duties. He played in 10 of the Gamecocks' 13 games, earning a start at conference foe Missouri.[5] Thompson finished the season with 52 completions on 89 passing attempts, netting 783 passing yards and 5 touchdowns (1 rushing).[4]
Prior to the 2014 season, Thompson was named the starting quarterback.[6] Thompson started all 13 games for the Gamecocks. Despite his record-breaking offensive performance,[7] he led the team to a comparatively lackluster season, largely due to poor defensive play.[8] He would end the season (and his college career) with a 24–21 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the 2014 Independence Bowl and as the SEC leader in several passing statistics.[4]
Professional career
editSan Francisco 49ers
editAfter going undrafted in the 2015 NFL draft, Thompson signed with the San Francisco 49ers on May 5, 2015.[9] He joined former Gamecock teammates Bruce Ellington and Mike Davis on the 49ers.[10] Thompson was released by the 49ers on September 5, 2015, due to roster cuts.[11]
Thompson was signed to the 49ers' practice squad on September 6, 2015.[12] He was promoted to the active roster on November 21, 2015, as backup to Blaine Gabbert after Colin Kaepernick was placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season.[13] On May 6, 2016, Thompson was released by the 49ers.[14]
Los Angeles Rams
editOn June 7, 2016, Thompson was signed by the Los Angeles Rams. On August 30, 2016, he was released by the Rams.[15]
On May 30, 2017, Thompson was re-signed by the Rams.[16] He was waived by the Rams on June 15, 2017.[17]
Character coaching
editCharleston Southern
editIn September 2017, Thompson was hired as director of player development for the Charleston Southern Buccaneers men's basketball team.[18]
Detroit Lions
editIn 2018, Thompson was hired by the Detroit Lions as a character coach.[19] While he assisted with many programs his main duties were to help players with the NFL transition and to help with support off of the field.
Houston Texans
editOn February 11, 2021, Thompson was hired as the director of team development for the Houston Texans.[20]
Washington Commanders
editOn June 25, 2024, Thompson was named the senior director of team support and advancement of the Washington Commanders.[21][22]
References
edit- ^ "Dylan Thompson Bio". University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site. Archived from the original on December 3, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ "Dylan Thompson, Boiling Springs , Pro-Style Quarterback". 247Sports. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
- ^ "East Carolina vs. South Carolina - Game Recap - September 8, 2012 - ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ a b c "Dylan Thompson Stats | College Football at". Sports-reference.com. May 17, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ "Dylan Thompson to start for South Carolina against undefeated Missouri". Wrdw.com. October 22, 2013. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ Taylor, John (January 18, 2014). "Spurrier: Dylan Thompson 'without question' Gamecocks' starting QB". CollegeFootballTalk. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ "Elliott Fry Bio University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site". www.gamecocksonline.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ "South Carolina Football: It was a very forgettable year". isportsweb. January 10, 2015. Archived from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
- ^ "49ers announce undrafted free agent signings". 49ers.com. May 5, 2015. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ^ "Full List of 49ers Offseason Roster Moves". www.49ers.com. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ "49ers Release 14 Players, Set 53-man Roster". www.49ers.com. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ "San Francisco 49ers Sign 9 Players to the Practice Squad". www.49ers.com. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ "49ers Place Colin Kaepernick on Injured Reserve; Promote Dylan Thompson to Active Roster". www.49ers.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ "49ers Announce Roster Moves". www.49ers.com. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
- ^ Bain, Nate (August 30, 2016). "Rams Announce First Round of Roster Cuts". TheRams.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017.
- ^ Langer, Travis (May 30, 2017). "Rams Sign QB Dylan Thompson". TheRams.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
- ^ "Rams Waive Dylan Thompson". TheRams.com. June 15, 2017. Archived from the original on June 18, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2017.
- ^ Gillespie, Mike (September 26, 2017). "Former Gamecock QB Dylan Thompson transitioning to basketball role at CSU". ABC Columbia. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Detroit Lions hire former QB Dylan Thompson as character coach". ESPN.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
- ^ Smith, Michael David (February 11, 2021). "Texans hire Jack Easterby ally Dylan Thompson as character coach". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Commanders name Dylan Thompson Senior Director of Team Support and Advancement" (Press release). June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
- ^ Manning, Bryan. "Commanders to hire former NFL quarterback as director of player development". Commanders Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 25, 2024.