Drake Thomas Bio
Drake Thomas (born February 25, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the NC State Wolfpack and has also been a member of the Las Vegas Raiders. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and listed at 228 pounds, Thomas plays the inside linebacker position wearing jersey number 32.
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Thomas built his professional career through perseverance and special teams play, eventually becoming a regular contributor on defense. By 2025 he had established himself as a versatile defender capable of covering receivers, rushing the passer, and making plays in space, earning a place in the Seahawks’ defensive rotation.
Early Life and Background
Drake Thomas was born on February 25, 2000, and grew up in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He attended Heritage High School in his hometown, where he developed into one of the most productive defensive players in school history. Playing both linebacker and running back, Thomas set the Heritage High School record for career tackles with 393 stops, including 203 solo tackles.
His standout high school production drew national recruiting attention. He was ranked by 247Sports as the 22nd-best overall player in the state of North Carolina and the 19th-best inside linebacker nationally. Thomas ultimately committed to play college football at NC State, choosing to remain in his home state to continue his development.
Path to American Football
Thomas enrolled at North Carolina State University in 2019 and joined the NC State Wolfpack football program as a true freshman. He appeared in 12 games during his first season, starting three contests, and recorded 34 tackles along with one interception, an early signal of his instincts and ball skills at the linebacker position.
The following season, Thomas started 10 games and produced 58 total tackles, ranking 30th in the Atlantic Coast Conference in tackles per game while placing fifth on the Wolfpack roster. His steady production earned him a larger leadership role, and by his junior year he had become the defensive centerpiece of the NC State defense, drawing attention from NFL scouts evaluating the 2023 draft class.
Drake Thomas Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Thomas built his college resume across four seasons with the NC State Wolfpack. As a junior in 2021, he led the Wolfpack in tackles while starting 12 games, earning first-team all-conference honors and fourth-team All-American recognition. That season he compiled 100 total tackles, six sacks, and three interceptions, showcasing his range as a defender.
As a senior in 2022, Thomas was named a team captain and earned second-team All-ACC recognition. He posted 101 tackles and 7.5 sacks that year, finishing his collegiate career with 293 tackles, four interceptions, and 19.5 sacks across 47 games played. Despite his productive résumé, Thomas went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2023)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Drake Thomas was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2023. The Raiders saw potential in his college production and brought him into their linebacker room for offseason work and training camp.
Thomas’s time in Las Vegas was brief. He was waived by the Raiders on August 29, 2023, during final roster cuts. Although his Raiders tenure lasted only a few months, the experience allowed him to adjust to the speed and complexity of professional football.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2023–Present)
On August 30, 2023, Thomas was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks, giving him a path back onto an NFL roster. He was later placed on injured reserve on November 6, 2023, ending his rookie season early. The following offseason, on July 18, 2024, he was placed on the Active/PUP list before passing his physical and being removed on August 12.
Thomas played in all 17 games of the 2024 NFL season, contributing on 70 percent of the team’s special teams snaps while also taking a few dozen defensive snaps. In 2025 he earned an expanded defensive role, particularly while helping cover injured secondary players. Through Week 7 of the 2025 season, he had played 50 percent of defensive snaps, recording 32 combined tackles, 16 solo tackles, and two sacks, along with 99 special teams snaps. On January 3, 2026, Thomas intercepted Brock Purdy during a pivotal Week 18 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers to help Seattle win the division. He recorded six total tackles in Super Bowl LX, a 29–13 win over the New England Patriots. On March 11, 2026, Thomas re-signed with the Seahawks to a two-year, $8 million contract.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thomas is a high-motor linebacker whose strength lies in sideline-to-sideline pursuit, run defense, and pass coverage. His instincts and ball skills allow him to break on routes and create turnovers, while his special teams reliability has anchored his path to a larger defensive role. His continued development has made him a versatile chess piece for the Seattle defensive staff.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Thomas’s most memorable professional moments is his interception of Brock Purdy in the 2025 regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, a play that helped Seattle clinch the division. He followed that with a six-tackle performance in Super Bowl LX, contributing to a 29–13 victory over the New England Patriots and earning a Super Bowl championship in just his third professional season.
Drake Thomas Career Wins
Through the early stages of his NFL career, Drake Thomas has accumulated meaningful production as both a defender and a special teams contributor. His tackle totals, interception production, and postseason success highlight his growing impact with the Seattle Seahawks franchise.
Seattle Seahawks Highlights
Thomas joined the Seahawks in 2023 and developed into a reliable contributor on special teams before expanding his defensive role in 2024 and 2025. His most celebrated achievement came during the 2025 postseason, when he helped Seattle win the division and captured a Super Bowl LX championship with a victory over the New England Patriots.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Thomas earned first-team all-conference and fourth-team All-American honors in 2021, then second-team All-ACC recognition in 2022. He finished his NC State career ranked among the program’s most productive tacklers, and his résumé carried him into the NFL despite going undrafted.
Drake Thomas Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Drake Thomas comes from a family with a notable football background. He is the younger brother of Thayer Thomas, a wide receiver who has played for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL and who also played college football at NC State. The brothers shared the field together during their time in the Wolfpack program.
Personal Life
Off the field, Drake Thomas is a Christian. He is engaged to Haylie Beck. Thomas maintains an active presence on social media and continues to build his professional football career while balancing his personal commitments in the Seattle area.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season marked a breakthrough year for Drake Thomas. After spending 2024 primarily on special teams, he earned a larger defensive role in 2025 while helping the Seahawks cover injuries in the secondary. Through the first seven weeks of the season, he had logged 50 percent of defensive snaps, recording 32 combined tackles, 16 solo tackles, and two sacks, along with 99 special teams snaps.
Thomas closed the regular season with one of the defining plays of Seattle’s year, intercepting Brock Purdy in Week 18 against the San Francisco 49ers to help the Seahawks win the division. He then carried that momentum into the postseason, finishing Super Bowl LX with six total tackles as Seattle defeated the New England Patriots 29–13 to claim the championship.
Following the title run, Thomas re-signed with the Seahawks on March 11, 2026, agreeing to a two-year, $8 million contract that reflects his elevated role within the defense. The deal positions him as a core linebacker and special teams contributor for Seattle as the franchise builds around its championship roster.
