Former Vikings safety loses battle to ALS at the age of 42
Orlando Thomas was a second-round draft pick out of Southwestern Louisiana in 1995, that burst onto the scene as a rookie and led the NFL in interceptions that year. He played with the Minnesota Vikings for 6 years up until 2001. Well today Thomas who had been battling ALS, lost his battle to the disease. His agent confirmed the passing.
“Nobody’s ever fought a battle like Orlando fought, with so much dignity — I never saw anything like it,” Bartelstein said. “It’s just incredible. He never had a sense of self pity, never felt sorry for himself, he was always worried about everyone else. He was just the most incredible person I’ve ever been around.”
Thomas started 87 of 98 games for the Vikings, intercepting 22 passes, including the nine during his rookie season, before retiring following the 2001 season.
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