Jordan Thomas Bio
Jordan Malik Thomas (born August 2, 1996) is an American professional football tight end for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). Standing 6 ft 5 in and listed around 285 lb, he played college football at Mississippi State and was selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round, 211th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft. Across the NFL and spring leagues he has built a journeyman resume, winning a UFL championship with the Birmingham Stallions in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Jordan Malik Thomas was born on August 2, 1996, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He grew up in the same state where he would later develop into a professional, attending Sumrall High School in Sumrall, Mississippi. The tight end position suited his frame early, and his physical development through high school helped him attract attention from college programs in the Southeast.
Coming out of Sumrall, Thomas committed to Mississippi State, where he continued to add size and refine his route-running as a tight end. He played his college career under head coach Dan Mullen, working within a Bulldogs program that regularly produced NFL-caliber offensive players during that era. His time in Starkville gave him the platform to enter the professional ranks.
Path to Professional Football
Thomas spent his college years at Mississippi State, lining up at tight end and developing into a dependable target in the red zone. His size and catch radius made him a matchup problem for smaller defensive backs, and he showed enough consistency to earn an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine and subsequent pro day workouts.
His draft projection was boosted by his combination of length, blocking toughness, and special-teams value. When the 2018 NFL draft arrived, the Houston Texans selected him in the sixth round with the 211th overall pick, making him one of the late-round tight ends from the SEC to enter the league that year.
Jordan Thomas Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Thomas began his NFL career with the Houston Texans in 2018. He made his debut in the season opener against the New England Patriots, recording one reception for 27 yards in a 27–20 loss. His first multi-touchdown game came on October 25, 2018, in a Thursday Night Football win over the Miami Dolphins, when he caught four passes for 29 yards and two scores.
As a rookie, Thomas appeared in 16 games with 10 starts and finished with 20 receptions for 215 yards and four touchdowns. In 2019, he was placed on injured reserve on September 2, designated for return on November 11, and activated 10 days later. The Texans waived him on September 5, 2020, ending his original NFL tenure.
Journeyman Years (2020–2023)
Thomas bounced across the league over the next several seasons. On September 8, 2020, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, was elevated for a Week 2 game against Washington, and was promoted to the active roster on September 22 before being waived on November 7. Two days later, the New England Patriots claimed him off waivers, though a late-December stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list led to his release four days after activation.
He signed a reserve/future contract with the Indianapolis Colts on January 5, 2021, was waived/injured in late August, and was released shortly afterward. A similar pattern followed with the Detroit Lions, where he signed a reserve/future deal on January 18, 2022, and was released on March 23. The transition to spring football began on November 17, 2022, when the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL drafted him, though he was released on March 14, 2023.
Thomas was signed by the Orlando Guardians on March 27, 2023, and released on May 15. On May 16, 2023, he joined the Carolina Panthers, who listed him as a linebacker rather than a tight end. After being waived at final cuts, he spent time on the Panthers practice squad before being released on December 5.
Birmingham Stallions Era (2024–Present)
On January 19, 2024, Thomas signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the newly formed United Football League. He was part of the Stallions roster that won the 2024 UFL championship, a career highlight that added a league title to his resume. His contract was terminated on August 1, 2024, sending him back to the NFL.
Thomas signed with the Atlanta Falcons on August 1, 2024, but was released on August 25 during final roster cuts. He re-signed with the Birmingham Stallions on August 30, 2024, beginning a second stint with the organization. He has remained with the Stallions into the 2025 UFL season, wearing jersey No. 81 as an active tight end on the roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Thomas has built his reputation on red-zone reliability rather than volume receiving, using his 6 ft 5 in frame to box out defenders and finish in tight windows. He has been deployed both as an in-line blocker and as a detached receiver, and his willingness to take on special-teams and linebacker duties, including his 2023 role with Carolina, shows his willingness to expand his role.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first NFL touchdowns, two scores against the Miami Dolphins in October 2018, remain a signature early moment. Winning the 2024 UFL championship with the Birmingham Stallions is his most prominent team achievement, and his multi-team path through nine different professional organizations stands as one of the more unusual journeyman arcs among active tight ends.
Jordan Thomas Career Wins
Thomas has recorded 22 career NFL receptions for 226 yards and 5 receiving touchdowns, with 20 of those catches, 215 yards, and all four of his 2018 scores coming as a Texans rookie. His verified team title is the 2024 UFL championship with the Birmingham Stallions, and individual regular-season milestones center on his Dolphins breakout and his rookie-year workload.
Birmingham Stallions Highlights
Thomas signed with the Birmingham Stallions in January 2024 and helped the franchise capture the 2024 UFL title. After a brief NFL detour with the Atlanta Falcons, he returned to the Stallions on August 30, 2024, and remains an active tight end wearing No. 81. His most recent verified football action comes within the Stallions organization.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his 2024 UFL championship, Thomas’s career has been defined by roster survival and adaptability rather than additional titles. He appeared in 16 games with 10 starts as a Texans rookie, posted his first two NFL touchdowns against the Dolphins, and made a successful position switch to linebacker during his 2023 stint with the Carolina Panthers.
Jordan Thomas Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jordan Malik Thomas was born and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, attended Sumrall High School, and went on to Mississippi State, keeping his developmental years close to home. Publicly available verified information about his parents, siblings, or extended family background is limited, and details beyond his hometown and schooling are not consistently documented across available sources.
Personal Life
Thomas is an American citizen by birth and has spent his professional career based in the United States. Verified public details about a spouse, children, marital status, or current residence are not available in the provided sources, so those areas are intentionally left blank in keeping with the editorial standard for unconfirmed personal information.
2025 Season Performance
Thomas enters the 2025 UFL season as an active tight end on the Birmingham Stallions roster, listed at No. 81, and looking to build on his 2024 championship experience. After his brief August 2024 release from the Atlanta Falcons, his return to the Stallions on August 30, 2024, locked in his role as a veteran pass-catcher and blocker for the defending title holders.
His 2025 outlook centers on providing a reliable red-zone target, contributing as an in-line blocker, and helping the Stallions defend their UFL crown. Given his track record of moving between organizations, his continued place in Birmingham suggests a stabilizing period in a career that has already spanned nine professional teams.
