The Buffalo Bills will be retiring their third jersey number in franchise history this season, and frankly it seems long overdue.
Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas, who spent 12 seasons with the Bills from 1988-1999, is set to be honored prior to the team’s Oct. 29 game against the New England Patriots. His No. 34 jersey will join Jim Kelly’s No. 12 and Bruce Smith’s No. 78 as the only jerseys the Bills have retired.
Thurman Thomas' No. 34 jersey will become the third number retired in franchise history when the Bills take on the Patriots (Monday, Oct. 29).
More on the @buffalobills Hall of Fame running back: pic.twitter.com/VtRP1CMTbl
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) May 16, 2018
Thomas ranks 16th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 12,074 yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a five-time Pro Bowler who played in four Super Bowls with Buffalo, all four of which the team infamously lost.
Like many other retired players, Thomas has opened up in recent years about the long-term health effects playing football has had on him. He’s one of the most recognizable faces in Bills history and is certainly deserving of joining Kelly and Smith.
