Orlando Thomas Passes on..ALS

Pack93z
Select Member Topic Starter

15 years ago

I remember hearing he was diagnoised with the disease, but then he kind of faded away into the background.

Class act from what I remember, I do remember an interview in which he used that "Everyday is a holiday"...

RIP.

Orlando Thomas loses battle with ALS
Posted by Mike Florio on October 28, 2009 6:40 PM ET
Former Minnesota Vikings safety Orlando Thomas, who in the mid-1990s was regarded as one of the best young safeties in the NFL, died Wednesday from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

He was 37.

Thomas began exhibiting symptoms in 2004, and his condition was revealed publicly in 2007.

Thomas, a second-round pick in 1995, spent seven seasons with the Vikings. He was a member of the 1998 team that went 15-1 and lost in overtime of the NFC Championship.

"He was always the guy joking around in the locker room, he had a big laugh," said tight end Jim Kleinsasser, the only current member of the team who played with Thomas. "There wasn't a guy on the team that didn't love him and there wasn't a guy on the team that he didn't love. O.T. had a big heart and he was a great character to have on the team. . . .

"Every day is a holiday," Kleinsasser said. "Orlando always used to say that. It was his way of saying how blessed we were to do what we were doing. He felt like it was a true honor to play for the Vikings and be a member of the NFL."

In seven seasons, Thomas started 87 regular-season games and four playoff games.

"PFtalk" wrote:

Added subtitle to reflect latest information. -- NSD

"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"

Wanna join the discussion?! Login to your PACKERSHOME forum account or Register a new forum account

gbguy20
Veteran Member

15 years ago

wow i never heard about this...rip

BAD EMAIL because the address couldn ot be found, or is unable to receive mail.

Formo
Veteran Member

15 years ago

I knew he had ALS, and then he fell completely off my radar. Until I saw that Jake Reed still visited and held a strong relationship with him in an interview Reed did.

This is very sad, as he was my favorite Viking DB. He had the heart and the integrity of a real champion, and I can only pray that the current members of the Vikings view playing for the Vikings the same way OT did.

RIP OT.. My prayers go to your family.

Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!

longtimefan
Registered

15 years ago

Jake Reed is disputing this on his twitter

Formo
Veteran Member

15 years ago

Jake Reed is disputing this on his twitter

"longtimefan" wrote:

I've noticed this as well. Wonder what the deal is.

Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!

porky88
Veteran Member

15 years ago

I never knew he was battling this. RIP. He was a great player, he and Robert Griffen formed a nice duo.

http://www.row12.com/

Formo
Veteran Member

15 years ago

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4603562

Everything in my post still stands, though.

Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!

Nonstopdrivel
Preferred Member

15 years ago

It would really be nice if reporters confirmed stories before jumping on a scoop these days.

porky88
Veteran Member

15 years ago

^ No doubt

Glad to see he's still fighting and hopefully he's winning.

http://www.row12.com/

Formo
Veteran Member

15 years ago

#10

^ No doubt

Glad to see he's still fighting and hopefully he's winning.

"porky88" wrote:

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like he's doing much winning. Apparently he can no longer talk.

Still a huge Viking fan, though!

Thanks to TheViking88 for the sig!!

Important Information:

The PACKERSHOME uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. More Details Close

Fan Shout

wpr (30m) : CBS has GB @ NYG Week 11 Nov 16 and they will face MN in week 18 but don't say where. I think away

Zero2Cool (1h) : W15: Packers at Broncos

Zero2Cool (1h) : Ben Sirmans on MarShawn Lloyd: “Everything’s full go for him.”

Zero2Cool (2h) : Luke Butkus says training camp will allow plenty of time to implement new center Elgton Jenkins

Zero2Cool (4h) : wk 2 commanders at packers

Zero2Cool (4h) : Ugh. Packers thanksgiving detroit ...boring

Zero2Cool (5h) : Panthers at Green Bay in week 9, Nov 2nd

buckeyepackfan (6h) : Week 1

buckeyepackfan (6h) : Packers Host Detroit Week 1! ML finally gets a week home opener.

beast (20h) : I was kind of hoping Douglas might come back to the Pack

beast (20h) : My question is how much do we trust Jenkins? In bad weather, he seemed to struggle a bit with ball control snapping, though he started at OG

beast (20h) : Well Jenkins probably knows he's not getting that 2026 salary number without a new contact... so just trying to get the new contact early

Zero2Cool (13-May) : CB Rasul Douglas is visiting the #Seahawks today, per source.

dfosterf (13-May) : He's a switch and baiter. Its the same as a bait and switcher except he agreed to the switch first lol

dfosterf (13-May) : 6.8 mil raise next year. Those are existing contract numbers

dfosterf (13-May) : 12.8 plus 4.8 pro rata signing bonus is 17.6 mil. Top center in the league at 18

Zero2Cool (13-May) : Elgton Jenkins wants to rework contract ahead of position change to center

Zero2Cool (13-May) : 🏈Monday, Nov. 10: Eagles at Packers

buckeyepackfan (12-May) : Packers @ Bears week 16(Saturday Game)

Zero2Cool (12-May) : Clifford hasn't been the same since losing 8

dfosterf (12-May) : Sean Clifford would probably disagree

dfosterf (12-May) : Canuck Cannon. Got a very good feeling about this

Zero2Cool (12-May) : Tom Pelissero also reports what bboy stated

bboystyle (12-May) : The Green Bay Packers on Monday signed Taylor Elgersma, the Canadian-born quarterback who tried out at the team’s rookie camp last weekend

beast (12-May) : There were reports four days ago that the Packers were signing QB Taylor Elgersma, but no official action since

Zero2Cool (12-May) : And for Ian Rapoport to announce Saints send 1st and 2nd rounder to Packers for Malik Willis.

dfosterf (12-May) : *Elgersma*

dfosterf (12-May) : Today would be a good day to discover the Pack signed Taylor Engersma, the Canadian QB

Zero2Cool (11-May) : It wasn't. He simply wanted his money back. They refused. Cops came. They gave him his money in end.

dfosterf (11-May) : Fortunately it doesn't sound like a big deal

Zero2Cool (10-May) : Elgton Jenkins Involved In Strip Club Dispute ... Cops Called To Mitigate

Zero2Cool (10-May) : Derek Carr retires. Shoulder must be bad.

Zero2Cool (10-May) : Packers Pro Shop is not currently printing Golden #22 jerseys “until his number is confirmed after Training Camp.”

greengold (9-May) : My impression is he's a Peruvian soccer fan not a bares fan.

Martha Careful (9-May) : Favored Illinois Bishop?

beast (9-May) : Technically, the I in FIB stands for Italian now, Si?

dfosterf (8-May) : I never thought I'd live long enough to call a pope a FIB, but here we are

Martha Careful (8-May) : Chicago produces a pope before it produces a 4000 yard passing quarterback

wpr (8-May) : HAHAHA Mucky Comment of the day.

Mucky Tundra (8-May) : According to reports, Mel Kiper is furious that Sanders wasn't selected as the new Pope

Zero2Cool (8-May) : Time taken to get picked:

Zero2Cool (8-May) : New Pope: 2 days | Shedeur Sanders: 3 days

Zero2Cool (8-May) : Collin Whitchurch @cowhitchurch · 1h Chicago got a pope before it got a QB to throw for 4,000 yards in a season.

Mucky Tundra (8-May) : New Pope from Chicago; in other words, the city produced a Pope before a 4000 yard passer

beast (7-May) : My first name starts with R and my beer belly is quite voluptuous! Thank you for noticing 😏

Zero2Cool (7-May) : beast, you're just one R from being voluptuous.

Zero2Cool (7-May) : And now some Packers blogger is like Doubs to Steelers makes sense!!!!

Zero2Cool (7-May) : You saw me Tweet???

beast (7-May) : Supposedly Steelers will be trading WR George Pickens to the Cowboys for a 3rd and late round pick swap

Zero2Cool (5-May) : Ravens release Justin Tucker, err D. Watson Jr?

Please sign in to use Fan Shout

2025 Packers Schedule

Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM

EAGLES

Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM

Bears