Solomon Thomas only spent one season with the Dallas Cowboys before being traded to the Tennessee Titans, but he was a player who just about everybody seemed to love. In fact, NFL fans near and far have respected Thomas from his very first day in the league. He has played for a number of organizations, and he has made it a point to use his platform for good.
If you were unaware, Thomas and his family founded The Defensive Line after the loss of his sister, Ella. The organization has spent the last
five years trying to end youth suicide by transmitting life-saving mental health education to the adults who interact with youth daily. In 2025 alone the organization has impacted over 300,000 young people and trained thousands of individuals in suicide prevention. This event celebrates that milestone while raising critical funds for future school and community programming.
Thomas spoke on his story several times while with the Cowboys. This was one of the first times that he did.
Friday evening will celebrate all that The Defensive Line has accomplished in five years. You can read more about the event below.
On Friday, June 5 former Dallas Cowboy Solomon Thomas is hosting a 5-Year Anniversary Gala for his nonprofit, The Defensive Line (TDL), at the Communities Foundation of Texas. Founded by Solomon and his parents after losing his sister to suicide, the organization is dedicated to ending youth suicide by transforming how adults connect with youth. This comes at an especially timely moment during Men’s Mental Health Month (June).
The evening will bring together 100+ athletes, NFL legends, and community leaders for a fireside chat with the Thomas family, interactive wellness activations, and a celebration of community impact. The event will be catered by Café Momentum – an award-winning nonprofit restaurant that provides justice-involved youth ages 15–19 with a 12-month paid internship combining culinary training, life skills, mental health support, education, and career opportunities.
In 2025 alone, TDL delivered life-saving mental health education and suicide-prevention outreach to more than:
- 300K+ young people impacted by TDL trained adults in their daily lives
- 4K+ individuals trained in their DLINES Suicide Prevention method
- 80+ schools, businesses, and organizations have partnered with TDL
The event is set to take place at Communities Foundation of Texas (5500 Caruth Haven Ln, Dallas, TX 75225) on Friday from 6:30-9:30PM. Greg Ellis and Curtis Robinson are among the athletes scheduled to be there.
As noted, Thomas has moved on to the Tennessee Titans as far as his football journey is concerned, but we can certainly extend support to him even as he is no longer playing for the Cowboys.
