(Photo Credit: Google Images)
Adam Shefter of ESPN is reporting that former Minnesota Vikings safety Orlando Thomas, who led the NFL in interceptions during his rookie season in 1995 with nine interceptions, died Sunday night of ALS. Shefter writes:
“Thomas’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed the news. Thomas had been battling ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) in Crowley, Louisiana.
“Nobody’s ever fought a battle like Orlando fought, with so much dignity — I never saw anything like it,” Bartelstein said Monday morning. “It’s just incredible. He never had a sense of self pity, never felt sorry for himself, he was always worried about everyone else. He was just the most incredible person I’ve ever been around.”
Thomas weighed 225 pounds when he played for the NFL. When he died, he weighed just 70 pounds. Thomas is survived by his wife Demetra and five children. He was 42.
Read more at ESPN.
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