ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Bo Nix was only 11 years old when Demaryius Thomas made the most memorable play of his career.
“I remember with [Tim] Tebow and ‘D.T.’ with that game-winner,” Nix said. “That’s one of the things I remember. My dad was just leaving Georgia Tech when ‘D.T.’ got there, so I’m pretty sure my dad was part of the regime that helped recruit him. Always thought he was a really good football player. Even playing in the triple option at Georgia Tech, he had found a way to be a good receiver. That’s impressive itself. Great receiver for this organization, a great guy, and I will never forget his walk-off touchdown. It was pretty cool in overtime.”
Thomas will enter the Denver Broncos’ Ring of Fame on Sunday, at halftime of the Broncos’ game against the New York Giants. Thomas finished his career second on the Broncos’ all-time receiving yards and touchdowns lists, and third in catches. He was also a key piece of the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 Champion team in 2015. Thomas died of a seizure in 2021.
While Nix was too young to cross paths with Thomas, some of his Broncos teammates played with Thomas in Denver.
“He was Uncle D.T. to my kid,” Garett Bolles said this week.
Thomas was in his eighth year with the Broncos when they chose Bolles in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Bolles spent two seasons with Thomas in Denver.
“He’s one of the greatest teammates that I ever played with,” Bolles said. “So loving, so kind, did so many amazing things in the community. He loved everyone. Not only was he a professional on the field, he was one off the field and he taught me so many things and it’s definitely an amazing time to be able to celebrate him.”
The Broncos are celebrating Thomas’ Ring of Fame induction with a ceremony outside the stadium before the game during which they will unveil his bust. Fans are invited to attend the ceremony just outside of the south entrance to the stadium at 11:30 a.m.
At halftime, the Broncos will hold a ceremony inside the stadium that will feature the unveiling of the placard with Thomas’ name inside the team’s Ring of Fame. The Broncos will also celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Super Bowl 50.
Wide receiver Courtlan Sutton thinks the Broncos’ defense will be fired up to play in front of the No Fly Zone.
“I know that defense was highly talked about, very talented and highly accoladed,” Sutton said. “They had a lot of success. It will be cool to watch our defense go out there and perform in front of them and then ultimately as a team, go out there and go chase a win. I’m looking forward to it at Empower Field at Mile High.”
Sutton joins Bolles as the only members of the current Broncos who played with Courtland Sutton. Sutton’s rookie season was Thomas’ final season in Denver.
“You guys know that ‘DT’ means the world to me.” Sutton said. “I have been waiting for this day of him getting his recognition from this organization because of all the things he has done for the Broncos organization. I know this guy loved Denver, he loved Broncos Country and he loved being able to call this place home for the eight seasons he was able to be here. The small amount of time I was able to spend with him was some of the most impactful time that I have had being a Denver Bronco.”
Sutton credits Thomas for much of what he learned early in his career about playing receiver in the NFL. But he learned about life off the football field, too.
Thomas used to buy donuts for the team every Saturday. When Sutton joined the team, Thomas passed on the responsibility.
“He said, ‘Hey, you’re going to go to this place, call this place and tell them that you want to get [this order]. They are going to know exactly what it is. Go pick them up, bring them up here and everyone will love it,’” Sutton said. “I said, ‘All right, cool.’”
When Thomas left Denver, Sutton continued to buy the donuts.
“I don’t think the guys even know where that came from,” Sutton said. “Everyone thinks, ‘The donuts are here,’ and they get so excited. They don’t really know where that originated from. It’s one of those things that for myself, and for the people who got to spend time with him and got to know where the donuts came from, it’s a reminder that he gets to still be here.”
Thomas’ presence has been felt this week. Head coach Sean Payton broke down Thomas’ career in front of the team earlier this week, as well as going game-by-game through the 2015 Broncos’ season. After one practice, Sutton spoke to the team about Thomas. On Saturday, some Broncos alumni will attend Denver’s walkthrough. Thomas’ family is expected to join them. They’ll see the “88” logo that has been on the Broncos’ practice field all week.
“I can sit here all day and talk about the man that he was,” Sutton said. “Beyond the football player, just the man that he was. He carried himself in such a way that you can only aspire to be able to be talked about in the likes that he is talked about as a person.”
