Retired Number #28 Derrick Thomas

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across the frozen turf of Arrowhead Stadium, carrying the roar of eighty thousand fans. On the sideline, a phantom figure in the classic red jersey, number 28, paced with an energy that seemed to defy gravity. He zeroed in on the offensive tackle's stance, then exploded off the line—a blur of red and gold tearing through the gap before the quarterback could even blink. The sack was inevitable. As the play ended, Thomas didn't just stand; he spun into his signature 'Thomas Touch,' a whirlwind celebration that ignited a deafening chant from the crowd, echoing through the decades like a ghost of greatness forever haunting the gridiron.

Did You Know?

• The first number officially retired by a team in a professional sport was that of ice hockey player Ace Bailey, whose number 6 was retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1934.
• Some teams in sports with eleven players per side have retired number 12 in honor of their fans, or the 'twelfth man'.
• On December 18, 2017, Kobe Bryant became the only player to have had two numbers (8, 24) retired by the same franchise, Los Angeles Lakers.