Chiefs LB Derrick Thomas has been selected as one of 17 finalists who will be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009. Thomas is in his fourth year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame after a stellar 11-year career with the Chiefs from ’89-99. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Board of Selectors will meet in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, January 31, 2009 to elect the Class of 2009.

At the 2009 election meeting, the selectors will thoroughly discuss the careers of each finalist before narrowing the field to seven candidates. To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent. At least four candidates must be elected, but the total class cannot number more than seven. The Class of 2009 will be announced at a press conference after the final vote on Saturday, January 31st at the Super Bowl Media Center.

One of the most dominant defensive players to ever play the game, Thomas spent 11 glorious seasons in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform. Known simply as “D.T.,” Thomas served as the heart and soul of the Chiefs franchise throughout his tenure donning the Red and Gold. His patented sack-and-strip maneuver produced a franchise-record 126.5 sacks and an NFL single-game record 7.0 sacks vs. Seattle (11/11/90). The nine-time Pro Bowl performer also holds Chiefs career records with 45 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries, four fumble return TDs and three safeties. Only two players in NFL history own more fumble return TDs and safeties than Thomas.

The Miami, Florida native was selected as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s NFL All-Decade team of the ’90s. Thanks to Thomas, Kansas City boasted the league’s best turnover differential (+128) and the most takeaways (365) during that decade. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 20.0 sacks in ’90 and registered 27 multi-sack games, including two of the top three games in NFL history. In addition to his 126.5 career sacks, Thomas ended his career with 728 tackles (558 solo), 34 passes defensed and 444 QB pressures. He was presented with the NFL Man of the Year Award in ’93 and was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in ’89.

Listed alphabetically are the 16 other finalists that for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009:

§ Cris Carter – WR – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins

§ Dermontti Dawson – C – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers

§ Richard Dent – DE– 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles

§ Russ Grimm – G – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins

§ Bob Hayes – WR – 1965-1974 Dallas Cowboys, 1975 San Francisco 49ers

§ Claude Humphrey – DE – 1968-1978 Atlanta Falcons, 1979-1981 Philadelphia Eagles

§ Cortez Kennedy – DT – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks

§ Bob Kuechenberg – G – 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins

§ Randall McDaniel – G – 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-01 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

§ John Randle – DT – 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks

§ Andre Reed – WR – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins

§ Shannon Sharpe – TE – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens

§ Bruce Smith – DE – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000-03 Washington Redskins

§ Paul Tagliabue – Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League

§ Ralph Wilson – Team Founder/Owner – 1960-Present Buffalo Bills

Rod Woodson – CB/S – 1987-1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-03 Oakland Raiders