A consummate pro, leader and veteran of12 NFL seasons, James Thrash hasexcelled as a wide receiver and special teamsplayer for the Redskins. He ranks eighth in clubhistory in all-time kickoff return yards (1,903).His career numbers include 289 receptions for3,642 yards (12.6 avg.) and 22 touchdowns; 123 kickoff returns for 2,809 yards (22.8 avg.);43 punt returns for 418 yards (9.9 avg.), and131 special teams tackles.
NFL Acquisition: Originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles on April 25, 1997, but was released by Philadelphia on July 8, 1997. He was claimed off waivers by the Redskins on July 9, 1997, and played four seasons in Washington before re-signing with Philadelphia as an unrestricted free agent on March 12, 2001
How Acquired:Acquired by the Redskins from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick on March 31, 2004
Pro:
Has appeared in 165 career games (71 starts) with the Washington Redskins (1997-2000, 2004-08) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2001-03)
Has played in 10 career postseason games with eight starts
Ranks eighth among all-time Redskins in kickoff return yards (1,903)
Owns 289 career receptions for 3,642 yards (12.6 avg.) and 22 touchdowns
Hauled in 20 career postseason receptions for 274 yards (13.7 avg.) and one touchdown
Has returned 123 kickoffs for 2,809 yards (22.8 avg.) and one touchdown, and 42 punts for 418 yards (9.9 avg.)
Tallied 131 career special teams tackles
Earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors at Detroit (11/7/04) after recording two kickoff returns for 46 yards, including a career-best 43 yards, two punt returns for 46 yards, four special teams tackles, and downing a punt at the Lions’ 1-yard line and two punts inside the Lions’ 5-yard line
2008 Season (WAS):
Played in 16 regular season games with five starts
Posted nine receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown
Added one kickoff return for 17 yards
Caught a 3-yard TD pass from Jason Campbell against Dallas (9/28) and finished with two catches for eight yards
Caught a season-high 29-yard pass against Detroit (10/26) to help set up Shaun Suisham’s 47-yard field goal
Tallied 22 special teams tackles, second most on the team
2007 Season (WAS):
Played in 12 regular season games with four starts (inactive at Dallas (11/18), at Tampa Bay (11/25), vs. Buffalo (12/2) and vs. Chicago (12/6) with an ankle injury)
Had nine receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns
Tied his career-high with two touchdown receptions (four and 12 yards from Jason Campbell) against Philadelphia (11/11)
Had a career-best 62-yard punt return against the Detroit Lions (10/7)
Tallied 12 special teams tackles
2006 Season (WAS):
Appeared in all 16 regular season games and recorded 11 receptions for 147 yards and one touchdown
Recorded 26 special teams tackles, which ranked second on the team
2005 Season (WAS):
Played in 12 regular season games with two starts (inactive vs. San Diego (11/27), at St. Louis (12/4), at Arizona (12/11) and vs. Dallas (12/18) with a hamstring injury)
Also played and started in one postseason game (at Tampa Bay, 1/7)
Had 14 catches for 194 yards
Totaled 12 special teams tackles
Also returned seven kickoffs for 170 yards (24.2 avg.) and 10 punts for 77 yards (7.7 avg.)
2004 Season (WAS):
Appeared in all 16 regular season games with four starts
Totaled 17 receptions for 203 yards (11.9 avg.)
Returned nine kickoffs for 186 yards (20.7 avg.) and 19 punts for 162 yards (8.5 avg.)
Led the team with 31 special teams tackles
Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week at Detroit (11/7) after recording two kickoff returns for 46 yards, including a career long of 43 yards, two punt returns for 46 yards, four special teams tackles, and downing a punt at the Lions’ 1-yard line and two punts inside the Lions’ 5-yard line
2003 Season (PHI):
Appeared in and started all 16 regular season games and two postseason contests (vs. Green Bay, 1/11; vs. Carolina, 1/18)
Led the Philadelphia receiving corps with 49 catches for 558 yards (11.4 avg.) and one touchdown
Logged 34 kickoff returns for 815 yards (24.0 avg.) and ranked third in the NFC and sixth in the NFL with a 24.0 yard average per return
Recorded a career-high 137 kickoff return yards vs. San Francisco (12/21)
2002 Season (PHI):
Started all 16 regular season games and two postseason contests (vs. Atlanta, 1/11; vs. Tampa Bay, 1/19)
Finished the season with 52 receptions for 635 yards (12.2 avg.) and six touchdowns
Had a career-high 18 carries for 126 rushing yards and two touchdowns, only two NFL wide receivers had more rushing yards (Steelers’ wide receivers Hines Ward (142) and Antwaan Randle El (134))
Hauled in first career postseason touchdown, a 35-yard strike from Donovan McNabb, vs. Atlanta (1/11)
2001 Season (PHI):
Started 15 regular season games and all three postseason contests (vs. Tampa Bay (1/12); at Chicago (1/19); and at St. Louis (1/27))
Posted career-high 63 catches for 833 yards (13.2 avg.) and eight touchdowns
Returned five kickoffs for 101 yards (20.2 avg.)
Added 11 receptions for 151 yards (13.7 avg.) in three postseason games
Earned All-NFL Interview Team honors for his communication with the media
2000 Season (WAS):
Appeared in 16 regular season games with eight starts
Recorded 50 receptions for 653 yards (13.1 avg.) and two touchdowns
Returned 45 kicks for 1,000 yards (22.2 avg.) with a long of 49
Finished 12th in the NFC in third down catches (19)
Tallied four special teams tackles
Was the Redskins’ Ed Block Courage Award recipient and the team’s Unsung Hero Award winner
1999 Season (WAS):
Appeared in all 16 regular season games and two postseason contests (vs. Detroit (1/8); at Tampa Bay (1/15))
Finished the season with three catches for 44 yards (14.7 avg.) and 14 kick off returns for 355 yards (25.4 avg.) and one touchdown
Returned a kickoff 95 yards at Detroit (12/5) for his first career touchdown return
1998 Season (WAS):
Played in 10 regular season games with one start (inactive vs. Denver (9/27), at Philadelphia (10/11) and at Minnesota (10/18))
Placed on injured reserve (12/9) with a broken clavicle and missed the final three games of the season
Started his first career game at Seattle (9/20)
1997 Season (WAS):
Appeared in four regular season games, inactive for 11 and did not play in one contest as a rookie
Finished the season with two receptions for 24 yards (12.0 avg.), six kickoff returns for 129 yards (21.5 avg.) and two special teams tackles
Earned first team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association honors at wide receiver as a senior at Missouri Southern.
Played in the Snow Bowl (NCAA Division II all-star game) after his senior season
Caught 79 career passes for 1,222 yards and seven touchdowns in his career
Earned All-America honors in the 200-meter dash and all-MIAA honors in track and field by finishing first in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash
Still holds the school record for the 100 meters (10.35) and the 200 meters (20.79)
Graduated from Missouri Southern in the spring of 2001 with a degree in criminal justice via online courses offered by the school and also participated in an internship with the Loudoun County (VA) Sheriff’s Department
Became a certified conditioning specialist during the 2003 off-season by the National Strength Professionals Association (NSPA) and worked a few hours a day at Gold’s Gym in Leesburg, Va.
Thrash and his wife, Amber, have a son, Jayden James (5/10/02), a daughter, Abriel Savanah (4/26/04), and another daughter, Tylie Rae (12/19/06) and reside in Sterling, VA
He met his wife while both were members of the Missouri Southern track team
Attended Wewoka High School where he starred in football and track, but was not a starter in football until his senior season
Was one of six members of the Player Advisory Council that helped advise NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on a variety of issues, including player conduct, during the 2007 season
Served as Redskins player representative for the NFL Players Association
Was one of 12 players personally selected by "The NFL Today" host James Brown to receive a JB Award in 2008. JB Award recipients were nominated by their teammates upon the end of the season for their commitment to achieve excellence off the field through building better communities and stronger families
Sits on the board of the Good Shepherd Alliance, which is a non-profit Christian organization that provides basic needs for emergency food, clothing and shelter along with assisting women or families in resolving their homeless situation, stabilizing their living situation in the community and empowering them to become self-sufficient
