Drake Thomas didn’t hear his name called on draft day, but he’s making sure it’s heard now.
The Seattle Seahawks linebacker has become one of the more compelling stories on a Super Bowl-bound roster full of surprises. And while many undrafted free agents owe their shot to the team that originally signed them, Thomas' path took a detour. After going undrafted in 2023, he was picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders-only to be waived during final cuts, a move that raised some eyebrows considering how well he performed in the preseason.
Seattle saw something others didn’t-or maybe just something others didn’t value enough. The Seahawks claimed Thomas off waivers, and while his rookie campaign was cut short by a knee injury, the organization clearly believed in his potential. When Mike Macdonald took over for Pete Carroll, Thomas remained in the fold-and now, he’s thriving.
Looking back, Thomas isn’t holding any grudges about how things started.
“I wasn’t really surprised with just the way things were over there,” he said, referring to his short stint with the Raiders. “But to be claimed by Pete Carroll and the Seahawks, that was a little bit unexpected, but it was super exciting.”
Thomas embraced his first year in Seattle, soaking up knowledge from veterans and learning under Carroll’s leadership. Now, with a new coaching staff and a bigger role, he’s proving he belongs.
Standing at 5-foot-11, Thomas has heard all the knocks-too small, not long enough, lacks elite measurables. But he doesn’t carry a chip on his shoulder.
He’s not out to settle scores. His focus is simple: be there for his teammates and execute the game plan.
“I don’t think I’m really looking to prove anybody wrong,” Thomas said. “I get the measurables thing and all that, but I just want to go out there and be there for my teammates and execute what my coaches put in front of me.”
That mindset has paid off. Since stepping into the starting weakside linebacker role, taking over for Tyrice Knight, Thomas has been a key piece in Macdonald’s aggressive, fast-flowing defense. He racked up 97 total tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks-numbers that speak to his instincts, closing speed, and relentless motor.
But it was one play in particular that etched his name into Seahawks lore.
In Week 18, with the NFC West title and the conference’s top seed on the line, Thomas came up with a game-changing interception off the hands of none other than Christian McCaffrey. It wasn’t a play you draw up-it was one you react to in the moment. And Thomas was ready.
“It happened really fast,” he recalled. “It was kind of surreal in the moment.
It really didn’t even process, like, the ball just ended up in my hands. A crazy moment, for sure.”
That moment helped propel Seattle to the top of the NFC, and it capped off a breakout season for a player who wasn’t even on the Seahawks’ radar until late last summer.
Thomas has also found chemistry with middle linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who earned second-team All-Pro honors this season. Together, they’ve become a formidable duo at the heart of the Seahawks’ defense-one bringing the heat off the edge, the other locking down the middle with elite anticipation and leadership.
“I feel like we really complement each other well,” Thomas said. “He’s a great person to play aside and just a great person to have in the room. I really appreciate what he brings to the table every single day.”
That mutual trust has translated on the field, where the two linebackers feed off each other’s energy and instincts. Thomas credits Jones for giving him the freedom to play his game, knowing the middle is in good hands.
“He allows me to play the way that I want to play and vice versa,” Thomas said. “He has a great feel for that linebacker spot playing in the middle of the field. It’s a blessing to have him next to me on the field.”
From undrafted afterthought to key contributor on a Super Bowl roster, Drake Thomas is living proof that the NFL rewards resilience, not just résumés. And if his play this season is any indication, he’s just getting started.