15 Facts About Thom Darden

Thom Darden was an All-American defensive back playing college football for the Michigan Wolverines, and made one of the more memorable interceptions in college history.

Thom Darden played at the University of Michigan from 1969 to 1971 and had 218 tackles and 11 interceptions.

Thom Darden was an All American in 1971, and he was named All-Big Ten in 1970.

Thom Darden played on Big Ten champions in both 1969 and 1971.

In college, Thom Darden was a housemate of Reggie McKenzie, Glenn Doughty, Billy Taylor and Mike Taylor in a notable house known as the Den of the Mellow Men.

Thom Darden was drafted in the first round in the 1972 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.

Thom Darden started at strong safety in his rookie season of 1972 and played the remainder of his career at free safety until he retired after his tenth and final season, where he only started 10 games.

Thom Darden was selected as an All-Pro safety in 1976,1978, and 1979, and went to the Pro Bowl in 1978.

Thom Darden has explained that the 1977 Cleveland Browns did not respond to Gregg's coaching style, which contributed to his firing with one game remaining.

When Cleveland played its season finale against the 1980 Bengals and their former head coach Gregg in the annual rivalry game, Thom Darden used a forearm tackle to the face of Pat McInally.

Thom Darden was ranked 47th on the Cleveland Browns top 100 players list.

In 1985, government informant, David Rice, testified in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court that Thom Darden was listed as a suspected dealer of cocaine in a document that he had been given by the Federal Bureau of Investigation while he was being wired with a hidden microphone.

Thom Darden has served as a professional sports agent and represented Tony Boles.

Thom Darden was a supporter of Maurice Clarett's attempt to challenge the NFL Draft's eligibility rules.

In 1998, when the NFL reissued a franchise in Cleveland, Thom Darden was part of one of the six bidding groups.