Solomon Thomas has always brought intensity to the football field - but it’s what he’s doing off the field that’s leaving an even deeper impact.
The Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman was this year’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, a recognition that honors players who excel in community service as much as they do between the lines. And for Thomas, that mission is deeply personal. Through his foundation, The Defensive Line, Thomas is working to break down the stigma around mental health and provide life-saving resources - especially for young people of color.
The foundation was born out of heartbreak. In 2018, Thomas lost his sister, Ella, to suicide at just 24 years old. Since then, he’s made it his mission to ensure other families don’t have to endure the same kind of pain.
“He’s saving lives,” said Martha Thomas, Solomon’s mother, who spoke about her son’s journey and the work he’s doing through The Defensive Line. “By him speaking out, by us doing work with leaders of young people, we’re normalizing the conversation. That’s how we start saving lives.”
It’s a conversation that’s urgently needed. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 34 in the U.S.
And the numbers are even more alarming for Black adolescents - the suicide rate in that group rose 144% between 2007 and 2020. That’s not just a statistic.
That’s a crisis.
The reasons behind the disparity are layered and systemic: unequal access to mental health care, unconscious bias in treatment, and a deep-rooted mistrust of the healthcare system - all of which make it harder for young people of color to get the help they need. The Defensive Line is working to change that by focusing on underserved communities and making sure resources are not just available, but accessible.
“Yeah, we try to reach underserved communities,” Martha said. “The suicide rates for young people of color are rising dramatically.
But there are resources out there. That’s the good news.
And so if we get the resources to everyone, then there’s a better chance of saving more lives.”
Solomon’s passion for this work isn’t just about advocacy - it’s about action. The foundation partners with schools, youth organizations, and community leaders to create safe spaces where young people can talk openly about mental health.
The goal? To make sure no one feels alone in their struggle.
That kind of empathy has always been part of who Solomon is. According to his mom, he was a ball of energy as a kid - “a hot mess,” she says with a laugh - but also someone with a big heart.
“We lived overseas, in Australia,” Martha recalled. “You could put him on a plane from Sydney to Chicago - a 17-hour flight - and that child might not sleep. He had so much energy.”
These days, that energy is channeled into both his NFL career and his foundation. And if you caught him on Hard Knocks during his time with the Jets, you might remember another side of him: the Broadway-loving drama nerd.
“He took half the team to Broadway,” Martha said. “Oh my gosh, several times!”
That artistic side is just one more layer to a player who’s never been afraid to show his full self - and that openness is part of what makes his advocacy so powerful. He’s not just talking about mental health from a distance.
He’s lived it. He’s grieved.
And now, he’s turning that pain into purpose.
Thomas also shares a unique bond with teammate Dak Prescott. Both men have lost siblings to suicide, and that shared experience has brought them closer - not just as teammates, but as people.
“They both have the sweetest heart,” Martha said. “And they need that support from each other.”
When asked what she’s most proud of in her son, Martha didn’t hesitate.
“His resiliency,” she said. “The love that he is willing to take and shower on other people.”
This year, the Walter Payton Man of the Year award went to Bobby Wagner of the Washington Commanders - a deserving winner in a field full of difference-makers. But make no mistake: being nominated is a tremendous honor in itself, and one that speaks volumes about the kind of man Solomon Thomas is.
“To be recognized amongst so many players who do so much good is humbling,” Martha said. “This was his first year in Dallas, and he was nominated.
This is his fourth nomination. I couldn’t be prouder.
I’m so grateful to the Dallas Cowboys for their support. But really, really happy to be able to support him and to love on him.”
In a league full of stars, Solomon Thomas is shining in a different way - not just with tackles and sacks, but with compassion, leadership, and a relentless drive to make a difference.