Hidden Figures: Dre Thompson's path from 12th man at Texas A&M to multi-faceted QC role with Lions
Note: This is the first installment in a multi-part series that explores the background, responsibilities, and aspirations of the Detroit Lions’ lower-level assistant coaches, starting with defensive quality control coach Dre Thompson.
Allen Park — No one could ever question Dre Thompson’s love of football, but he admits he needed a break from the game after his college career came to an end in 2012. But understand they don’t hand out the No. 12 jersey to just anyone at Texas A&M.
There’s powerful symbolism with that number at the school, dating back more than a century. That’s when E. King Gill, a former player, was called out of the stands by coach Dana X. Bible to serve as an emergency substitute when injuries ravaged the Aggies’ lineup in the 1922 Dixie Classic.
Gill never entered the game, but the 12th man symbolism endures as a moniker for the school’s fan base, representing a willingness to serve when called upon. The number is also given each season to a special teams performer who embodies the program’s core values and is a selfless teammate.
Thompson earned that distinction, and his selflessness hasn’t been limited to the gridiron. After a graduate year at Memphis, he passed on an opportunity to immediately transition into a coaching role, opting to return home to Houston to help his mother, Angela McGary, who had recently undergone knee surgery.