Kiondre Thomas Bio
Kiondre Thomas (born February 7, 1998) is an American professional football cornerback for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Kansas State and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cleveland Browns after the 2021 NFL draft. Standing 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) and listed at 186 lb (84 kg), Thomas has built a journeyman career across multiple NFL practice squads, active rosters, and UFL rosters since entering the league in 2021.
A native of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Thomas attended Northside High School before beginning his college career at Minnesota and finishing at Kansas State. Across his professional journey he has worn jerseys for the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Houston Roughnecks, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and DC Defenders. In 2025 he was part of a UFL championship squad, marking the first major team title of his career.
Early Life and Background
Kiondre Thomas was born on February 7, 1998, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He grew up in the same city where he later attended Northside High School, a program that helped introduce him to organized football and shaped his early development as a defensive back. Coming out of high school he was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com, drawing attention from several college programs for his size and coverage potential.
On November 12, 2015, Thomas committed to the University of Minnesota, choosing the Golden Gophers over other suitors. He spent the formative years of his college career in the Big Ten, where he developed the technical foundation and physical profile that would later serve him in professional football. His time in Minnesota also helped him adjust to the speed and complexity of high-level college competition.
Path to American Football
Thomas played three seasons at Minnesota before deciding to transfer. On February 3, 2020, he announced his decision to leave the program, and he committed to Kansas State shortly thereafter, finishing his college career in the Big 12 conference. The move gave him a fresh start and an opportunity to play in a defensive scheme that suited his length and ball skills at cornerback.
At Kansas State, Thomas continued to grow as a defensive back, refining the press-coverage techniques and route-reading habits that have defined his professional profile. After his senior season he declared for the 2021 NFL draft. Because he was not selected, he signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2021, beginning a long and resilient path through professional football.
Kiondre Thomas Career
Early Career (2021)
Thomas began his professional career with the Cleveland Browns after the 2021 NFL draft. He was waived by the Browns with an injury designation on August 16, 2021, and placed on injured reserve. Four days later, on August 20, 2021, he was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement, ending his first NFL stop.
Quickly finding a new opportunity, Thomas signed with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad on September 6, 2021. The move gave him a chance to stay in the NFL environment, continue developing, and keep his professional resume active as he searched for a chance to reach an active roster.
Green Bay Packers (2022–2023)
On January 26, 2022, Thomas signed a reserve/future contract with the Green Bay Packers, positioning him to compete for a spot in the upcoming training camp. He was waived on August 30, 2022, and signed to the practice squad the next day, showing the Packers’ continued interest in his development as a cornerback prospect.
On October 1, 2022, Thomas was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad, giving him his first taste of regular-season game action at the NFL level. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 10, 2023, but was released on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad a day later. He was released again on October 17, 2023, ending his longest sustained NFL tenure with the Packers.
Houston Roughnecks and NFL Returns (2024)
On March 2, 2024, Thomas signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the United Football League, opening a new chapter in the spring football league. His stay was brief at first, as he left to pursue another NFL opportunity later in the summer.
On July 26, 2024, Thomas signed with the Carolina Panthers, but was waived a week later. On August 15, 2024, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, only to be waived on August 26. Returning to the UFL, he re-signed with the Houston Roughnecks on October 30, 2024, re-establishing himself in the spring league.
DC Defenders (2024–Present)
On November 6, 2024, Thomas was traded to the DC Defenders in exchange for quarterback Jalan McClendon, marking his second UFL team of the 2024 season. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to contribute as a cornerback in a competitive defensive backfield and to pursue a championship run.
Thomas was released on March 19, 2026, but the stint with the Defenders remains part of his professional journey and contributed to the team success that defined his UFL career. His time in Washington showcased the resilience that has defined his path through professional football.
Notable Events and Milestones
The standout milestone of Thomas’s career to date is his UFL championship in 2025 with the DC Defenders, the first major team title of his professional resume. He has appeared on multiple NFL active rosters and practice squads, including regular-season game action with the Green Bay Packers in 2022, where he recorded his first career statistics in the league. His ability to move between NFL and spring football rosters reflects both his perseverance and the demand for experienced defensive backs.
Kiondre Thomas Career Wins
Across his professional career, Kiondre Thomas has accumulated team success primarily through the United Football League, including a 2025 UFL championship with the DC Defenders. While individual statistics at the cornerback position are not always reflected in headline totals, his presence on championship-caliber rosters marks the clearest measure of verified team success.
UFL Highlights
Thomas reached his first major professional milestone in 2025 when the DC Defenders captured the UFL championship. His path to that title included two separate stints with the Houston Roughnecks in 2024, where he gained valuable in-game experience in the spring league before being traded to Washington in exchange for Jalan McClendon. The trade proved to be a turning point, as it placed him on a roster that ultimately won the league title.
Kiondre Thomas Family
Personal Life
Limited public information is available regarding Kiondre Thomas’s immediate family, parents, marital status, or children. He is originally from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and continues to share updates from his football career on social media, including his accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 UFL season represented the most successful chapter of Kiondre Thomas’s professional career. Joining the DC Defenders via trade in late 2024, he stepped into a cornerback role for a team built to contend for the league title. His versatility and coverage experience, sharpened by years of NFL practice-squad work, helped stabilize the Defenders’ secondary throughout the spring campaign.
The Defenders’ season ultimately culminated in a UFL championship in 2025, with Thomas listed among the team’s recognized players on the official roster and award documentation. The title run was the clearest demonstration of his value as a veteran defensive back capable of contributing in high-leverage moments.
Following the championship, Thomas was released by the Defenders on March 19, 2026, opening the next phase of his professional journey. Given his track record of moving between NFL and spring football rosters, he is expected to pursue another opportunity to continue his career at the professional level.