Derrick Thomas, Forever in Chiefs' Hearts, Forever a Hall of Famer

CANTON, Ohio -- Derrick Thomas' induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame may have taken longer than his family wanted. It took longer than the loyal Chiefs' Nation wanted. In the end, their perseverance paid off – even if Thomas is not alive to see it.

The Kansas City Chiefs' pass rushing legend, who was arguably the most feared defensive lineman of the 1990s, finally received his reward for an NFL-most 116 1/2 sacks on Saturday when his bust and legacy were enshrined posthumously in the Hall of Fame.

Thomas' NFL career spanned only 11 seasons, tragically cut short when he died on Feb. 8, 2000 at the age of 33 of complications from injuries sustained in a car accident.

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His son, Derrion, represented Thomas through the Enshrinement Week festivities in Canton, and longtime Chiefs president Carl Peterson did his best to speak for Thomas in a 26-minute speech that served a beloved Kansas City icon well.

"When Derrick Thomas passed from us in February 2000, I commented that the light had gone out in Kansas City," Peterson said. "Today, Derrick Thomas joins the company of the finest who have ever played the game of professional football. It's appropriate that he takes his place beside the two great Kansas City linebackers who are here, Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier.

Said Peterson, who drafted Thomas with the fourth overall pick in the 1989 draft out of Alabama, "For the next decade, he was the cornerstone of the success of the Chiefs' franchise."

Peterson noted how many quarterbacks became Thomas' targets on the field.

"All totaled, 46 different NFL quarterbacks became the victim of a Thomas sack, led by John Elway, who was taken down 17 times," Peterson said. "Appropriately, Derrick got his 100th career sack off of John, and a thrilling 24-22 win over the Broncos in 1997."

Thomas' death in 2000 may have dimmed the lights in Kansas City as Peterson said, but Saturday's emotional ceremony and honor changed all of that.

"For all Derrick Thomas fans, the light has gone back on," Peterson said, addressing an estimated 1,500 Chiefs' fans who traveled to Canton, "and it will now burn brightly in the community of Kansas City, in the middle of America. And it will also burn brightly in the shrine to pro football, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and it will burn forever."

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Legends Enshrined at Canton

Darrion Thomas, left, son of former Kansas City Chiefs player Derrick Thomas, and presenter Carl Peterson, right, unveil a bronze bust of Darrion's father during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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Legends Enshrined at Canton

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Randall McDaniel and presenter O.K. Fulton pose with McDaniel's bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randall McDaniel;O.K. Fulton

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson Jr. speaks to the crowd at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ralph Wilson Jr.

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson Jr. poses with his bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ralph Wilson Jr.

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson Jr. and presenter Chris Berman pose with Wilson's bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ralph Wilson Jr.;Chris Berman

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Randall McDaniel poses with his bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randall McDaniel

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Randall McDaniel speaks to the crowd at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randall McDaniel

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson Jr. poses with several former players and his bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ralph Wilson Jr.

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Rod Woodson speaks to the crowd at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rod Woodson

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach speaks about former teammate Bob Hayes Sr. at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Roger Staubach

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Bob Hayes Jr. poses with the bust of his late father Bob Sr. at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bob Hayes Jr.

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