Colts' Rodney Thomas pays tribute to high school teammate, friend Damar Hamlin following interception vs. Texans

Kevin Skiver

Colts' Rodney Thomas pays tribute to high school teammate, friend Damar Hamlin following interception vs. Texans image

The entire NFL is recognizing Damar Hamlin in Week 18, but for the players in the league who have known him longest, his collapse last Monday undoubtedly felt more personal.

That's clearly true of Colts safety Rodney Thomas, who spoke this week on Hamlin, whom he played with in high school. Following an interception against the Texans, Thomas ran to the 30-yard line -- which has been outlined throughout the league -- and pointed with purpose to pay tribute.

Hamlin saw the tribute, and reacted on social media. 

The two athletes went to Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

"Being able to just see him, and his people, it calmed me way down," Thomas said this week of visiting Hamlin, per Anthony Calhoun. "It made that trip home a lot easier, I could just go home and know that he's gonna be steady." 

MORE: Watch Nyheim Hines’ emotional kickoff return for TD as Bills’ first play

Hamlin was locked in on Bills vs. Patriots Sunday, but Thomas' gesture undoubtedly won't go unnoticed.

Hamlin said it best himself ahead of the game:

The outpouring of love and support is difficult to miss, and the entire league clearly has Hamlin on the brain, no matter the stakes of the games they're playing in.

 

Kevin Skiver

Kevin Skiver Photo

Kevin Skiver has been a content producer at Sporting News since 2021. He previously worked at CBS Sports as a trending topics writer, and now writes various pieces on MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and college sports. He enjoys hiking and eating, not necessarily in that order.