Zach Thomas was drafted No. 154 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1996 NFL Draft out of Texas Tech. 184 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 115 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #154
- Round
- 5
- Draft class
- 1996
- NFL games
- 184
- Years as starter
- 12
- Career AV
- 1151st at Texas Tech
- Pro Bowls
- 7
- All-Pro
- 5
The pick
How Zach Thomas came off the board in 1996.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
Texas Tech
Big 12 at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
184 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 115 career approximate value
- Games played
- 184
- Seasons as a starter
- 12
- Career approximate value
- 1151st among Texas Tech picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 11197% of career value
- Final season
- 200812 years after the draft
- Accolades
- Hall of Fame · 5× All-Pro · 7× Pro Bowl
Around pick 154
Who came off the board on either side of Zach Thomas.
Maryland · 1× All-Pro · 2× Pro Bowl
Arkansas
Colorado State
Texas Tech in the 1996 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from Texas Tech
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Zach Thomas in the 1996 NFL Draft
Zach Thomas is a Linebacker out of Texas Tech selected No. 154 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1996 NFL Draft. 184 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 115 career approximate value Texas Tech has produced 89 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Zach Thomas drafted?
Zach Thomas was selected No. 154 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1996 NFL Draft (Rd 5). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1996/zach-thomas.
What college did Zach Thomas play for?
Zach Thomas played college football at Texas Tech in the Big 12. See every Texas Tech draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/texas-tech-red-raiders.
How did Zach Thomas's NFL career turn out?
184 regular-season games · 12 seasons as a starter · 115 career approximate value Accolades: Hall of Fame · 5× All-Pro · 7× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1996/zach-thomas.