NEW YORK GIANTS LEGEND DEAD AT 86

The New York Giants are mourning the loss of legendary tight end Aaron Thomas, who passed away this week at the age of 86.

"Aaron Thomas, who became one of the most prolific receiving tight ends in Giants history during a nine-year tenure with the team in the 1960s, passed away on April 26 at his home in Corvallis, Ore. after a long illness," the team said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

Thomas was a standout high school football player in northern California before taking his talents to Oregon State. While he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers, the Giants would eventually trade for the star tight end.

He played 116 regular season games for the Giants from 1962-70 and finished his career with 254 receptions, 4,253 yards, 35 touchdown catches. Thomas also had two receptions in the 1963 NFL Championship Game. 

"I ordered a highlight film from the NFL called, 'Aaron Thomas NFL.' It's on YouTube," said Robb Thomas, Aaron's son, who played 10 years in the league as a wide receiver. "I love watching that because it's so much fun to see all the old Giants players and be able to see some of the amazing things he did. He's almost like the early version of (Kansas City Chiefs tight end) Travis Kelce. He was a tight end and flanker, but he really ran good routes and had a good feel about getting into open space."

Our thoughts are with the Thomas family.

2024-05-03T19:59:25Z dg43tfdfdgfd