Demaryius Thomas’ most iconic touchdown in Broncos’ history is probably the January 2012 AFC Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers when Tim Tebow hit him on a slant the first play of overtime.
With a stiff arm to Ike Taylor and then a foot race to the end zone that was never really in question, DT’s 80-yard touchdown was instantly one of the most exciting victories in NFL history, let alone Denver’s.
Drafted 22nd overall in 2010 out of Georgia Tech, DT’s nine years with the Broncos were loaded
with highlights — from his rookie debut against the Seattle Seahawks where he recorded eight catches for 97 yards and a 21-yard touchdown to catching Peyton Manning’s record-setting 509th touchdown pass in 2014.
But it will be the Broncos’ lone touchdown in Super Bowl 48 — caught by DT — that will be featured Sunday morning on Sportscenter for ESPN’s year-long series, “I Scored a Touchdown.”
Only 240 players in Super Bowl history have scored a touchdown, and the series will highlight 61 of them leading up to Super Bowl LXI.
Sunday’s episode on Mother’s Day will appropriately spotlight DT’s mom, Katina Smith, who remained the most important person to Thomas throughout his short life, even though she spent a majority of it in prison.
Smith, who watched Super Bowl 48 while incarcerated, explains in the feature how despite the hardships and separation their relationship faced, the bond between the mother and son stayed strong.
Through the story of his Super Bowl touchdown, Smith showcases her son’s kindness, hard work, and success that continues to inspire his family, friends, teammates and fans.
DT died in 2021 of complications from a seizure, which he had been having for months following a major car crash the year before. A posthumous examination by Boston University researchers found that Thomas had Stage 2 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Sean Connell, ESPN managing producer for the series, said this episode is unique because unlike the other touchdown stories told by the players, DT’s is told by his mom.
“She tells the story very fondly and with a lot of pride for her son,” Connell said. “It’s great because we get to experience his touchdown through her eyes. It’s a very unique focus.”
Most in Broncos Country are familiar with DT’s backstory — growing up poor in rural Georgia and witnessing his mother and grandmother being arrested just before he left for school one morning in 1999. Smith and her mother, Minnie Pearle Thomas, were sentenced to 24 years in prison for their role operating a drug trafficking ring.
Smith was one of 46 nonviolent drug offenders whose sentences were reduced by President Barack Obama in July 2015. The first game she got to watch DT in person was the divisional playoff win against the Steelers in 2016 on the road to Super Bowl 50, where the Broncos beat the Panthers 24-10.
As good of a football player as No. 88 was — highlighted by his posthumous induction into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame last year — every teammate will say that the best part of DT was his infectious smile and caring attitude for everyone around him.
Especially his mom.
“What better way to tell his touchdown story than through his mom,” Connell added. “I don’t think anyone else could have done it.”
