Following a successful first stint with the Buffalo Bills, former Washington Huskies star linebacker Shaq Thompson is back in Upstate New York.
Thompson, a first-round pick (No. 25 overall) by the Carolina Panthers in the 2015 NFL draft, started six games and made 12 appearances for the Bills in 2025 in his 11th season in the NFL. The 6-foot, 230-pound Sacramento, California native made a significant impact for the AFC North organization with 56 tackles, 6 tackles for loss—the most in a season since 2022—a sack, and his first forced fumble since 2020, which came in a 23-20 defeat to the New England Patriots in early October.
The former five-star Grant High School product turned 38-game starter for ex-UW coaches Steve Sarkisian and Chris Petersen
from 2012-14 is one of 17 players signed to the Bills' practice squad ahead of the 2026 NFL regular season.
The Bills have a deal in place to bring a familiar face back to the organization. According to a league source, the team is signing linebacker Shaq Thompson to the practice squad.
— Jay Skurski (@JaySkurski) August 31, 2026
Thompson made a key interception in Buffalo's 27-24 AFC Wild Card victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, picking off Jags quarterback Trevor Lawrence with under six minutes left in the first quarter, which turned into a field goal and an early 3-0 lead for the Bills.
Before his successful first season in Buffalo, Thompson suffered back-to-back season-ending injuries in 2023-24 that limited him to just six starts combined after starting 106 of his first 117 games since breaking into the league in 2015.
Over his first eight seasons in the NFL, the former No. 3 overall recruit made 709 tackles, 52 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and three interceptions for the Panthers.
This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Former Washington Football Star LB Returning For 12th NFL Season
