Ambry Thomas (born September 9, 1999) is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Ambry Thomas
refer to caption
Thomas with Michigan in 2018
Personal information
Born: (1999-09-09) September 9, 1999 (age 25)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Martin Luther King (Detroit, Michigan)
College:Michigan (2017–2020)
Position:Cornerback
NFL draft:2021 / round: 3 / pick: 102
Career history
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:79
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:12
Interceptions:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Thomas attended Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, Michigan. He played wide receiver and cornerback. Thomas played in the 2017 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[1] He committed to the University of Michigan to play college football.[2][3]

College career

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Thomas spent his first two years at Michigan in 2017 and 2018 as a backup, recording 16 tackles and one interception during the two years. Prior to the 2019 season he spent a month in the hospital after being diagnosed with colitis.[4] After believing he'd have to sit out the year due to the condition, Thomas returned and he became a starter for the first time.[5] He started all 13 games and had 38 tackles and three interceptions that season. Thomas opted out of the 2020 season and entered the 2021 NFL draft.[6][7]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+78 in
(1.83 m)
191 lb
(87 kg)
32+14 in
(0.82 m)
8+58 in
(0.22 m)
4.40 s 1.58 s 2.57 s 38.0 in
(0.97 m)
10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)
15 reps
All values from Pro Day[8][9]

Thomas was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round, 102nd overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft.[10] He signed his four-year rookie contract with San Francisco on July 26, 2021.[11] On January 9, 2022, Thomas recorded his first career interception, picking off Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in the last game of the regular season in overtime with the 49ers leading 27–24. The win sent the 49ers to the 2021–22 NFL playoffs.[12]

In 2022, Thomas struggled during the 49ers preseason training camp and was in danger of missing the final 53–man roster due to injury and the rise to prominence of rookie cornerbacks Deommodore Lenoir and Samuel Womack.[13] Though he did make the final roster,[14] he played just 47 defensive snaps over the course of the season and did not participate in the playoffs due to an ankle injury.[15][16]

In 2023, Thomas recorded his first career forced fumble and fumble recovery in a Week 10, 34–3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.[17] Two weeks later, during a 31–13 win over the Seattle Seahawks, he recorded his second career interception.[18]

Thomas was placed on injured reserve on August 28, 2024.[19] He was released on December 17.[20]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack FF FR Yds INT Yds TD PD
2021 SF 12 5 23 17 6 1 5
2022 SF 15 0 13 9 4
2023 SF 15 6 43 35 8 1 1 26 1 2 6
Career 42 11 79 61 18 1 1 26 2 2 0 11

Postseason

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Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack FF FR Yds INT Yds TD PD
2021 SF 2 2 16 13 3 1
2022 SF Did not play due to injury
2023 SF 3 2 11 8 3
Career 2 2 16 13 3 1

References

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  1. ^ Farrell, Perry A. (September 22, 2016). "Detroit King star Ambry Thomas to play in Army All-American bowl". USA TODAY High School Sports. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  2. ^ Snyder, Mark (December 7, 2016). "Detroit King star DB Ambry Thomas commits to Michigan". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Lorenz, Steve (December 8, 2016). "King's Ambry Thomas wanted to accept Jim Harbaugh's challenge". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Sang, Orion (September 17, 2019). "Why Michigan football's Ambry Thomas thought he'd have to 'sit out this year'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  5. ^ Zuke, Ryan (September 16, 2019). "How Michigan's Ambry Thomas went from longshot to playing in 2019 to starting Week 1". mlive.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  6. ^ VanHaaren, Tom (August 21, 2020). "Wolverines CB Thomas declares for NFL draft". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  7. ^ McMann, Aaron (March 24, 2021). "Michigan's Ambry Thomas confident in NFL ability: 'I'm a top-5 cornerback'". mlive.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  8. ^ "Ambry Thomas Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "Ambry Thomas, Michigan, CB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  10. ^ Posey, Kyle (April 30, 2021). "Pick No. 102: 49ers select Michigan CB Ambry Thomas". Niners Nation. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  11. ^ "49ers Sign CB Ambry Thomas to a Four-Year Deal; Release DL". 49ers.com. July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  12. ^ McDonald, Briana (January 11, 2022). "Making Skeptics Believers: Ambry Thomas' Tough Road to Storybook Ending". 49ers.com. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  13. ^ Sanchez III, Luis Sanchez (August 23, 2022). "Ambry Thomas Making the 49ers Final 53–man Roster Looks Bleak". SI.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Pallares, Lindsey (August 30, 2023). "Position-by-Position Breakdown of the 49ers Initial 2022 53–Man Roster". 49ers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Branch, Eric (August 7, 2023). "49ers' Ambry Thomas, candid and humbled, takes blame for lost year". SFChronicle.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  16. ^ "2022 San Francisco 49ers Injuries". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  17. ^ "49ers dominate Jaguars 34–3 to end a 3–game skid and look like Super Bowl contenders again". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 12, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  18. ^ "Christian McCaffrey's big first half carries NFC West-leading 49ers to 31–13 victory over Seahawks". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 24, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "49ers Sign Three Players, Place Two Players on Injured Reserve and Other Moves". 49ers.com. August 28, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  20. ^ "49ers Sign an Offensive Lineman and Linebacker to the Practice Squad and Other Moves Ahead of Week 16". 49ers.com. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
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