Major Outlet Ranks Bengals Safety Among NFL's Top-10 Special Teams Players

Bengals veteran Michael Thomas has carved a nice NFL role on special teams and Sports Illustrated recognized it this week. Gilberto Manzano ranked Thomas as the eighth-best special teamer in the NFL.

"Thomas, 33, has had a standout NFL career, contributing in many facets of special teams," Manzano wrote. "He’s known for playing various roles on punt and kickoff coverage, and he rarely misses tackles while playing special teams. Thomas, a 2018 Pro Bowler, was also named to the league’s All-Decade Team for the ’10s. As a side note, Thomas and Slater were instrumental in getting the voices of special teams players heard as they spoke out against the NFL’s new kickoff rule."

Thomas earned a 72 overall special teams grade from PFF last season and has only graded below 72 overall once in his 10-year NFL carerer.

He has 77 career special teams tackles and 15 missed tackles across that run.