Weegie Thompson

Last updated

Weegie Thompson
No. 87
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1961-03-21) March 21, 1961 (age 64)
Pensacola, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school: Midlothian
(Midlothian, Virginia)
College: Florida St.
NFL draft: 1984: 4th round, 108th pick
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:79
Receiving yards:1,377
Touchdowns:11
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Willis Hope "Weegie" Thompson (born March 21, 1961) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played high school football for Midlothian High School in Richmond, Virginia. He was recruited by Florida State University as a quarterback.

Contents

College statistics

  • 1981: 2 catches for 73 yards. [1]
  • 1982: 8 catches for 136 yards and 2 TD.
  • 1983: 31 catches for 502 yards and 3 TD.
    • Second-team All-South Independent (1983)

Professional career

Thompson was selected in the fourth round of the 1984 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. [2] Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott gushes when he talks about Thompson. In Thompson's rookie season, 1984, the Steelers were the only team to beat the 49ers. One reason they did was by assigning Thompson to block Lott on every play. "He blocked my butt all day -- and fair," Lott remembered. "Every play, he came after me. And I respect the hell out of Weegie Thompson to this day. He's one of the toughest guys I ever played against." [3]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
1984 PIT 1671729117.1593
1985 PIT 160813817.3421
1986 PIT 1641719111.2205
1987 PIT 1231731318.4631
1988 PIT 16111637023.1501
1989 PIT 16047418.5280
9225791,37717.46311

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
1984 PIT 2011515.0150
1989 PIT 2112323.0230
4123819.0230

Personal

Thompson is called Weegie because his Father, Willis Sr., was nicknamed Weegie when his younger brother couldn't pronounce Willis. It came out Weegie. So, Weegie is Weegie Jr. (Willis). [4]

After his playing days, Thompson took a position with Chambers Development before moving on to work as a salesman with Waste Management in Midlothian, Virginia.

References

  1. "Weegie Thompson College Stats".
  2. "1984 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  3. Miller, Ira (July 26, 2000). "No. 1: The Vicious Gentleman". SFGate. Retrieved November 17, 2008.
  4. Emert, Rich (September 9, 2003). "Where are they now? Weegie Thompson". PostGazette.com. Retrieved January 18, 2011.