Late Denver Broncos Wide Receiver Demaryius Thomas Was Raised by His Uncle and Aunt After His Mother and Grandmother Were Sentenced to Prison for a Cocaine Case
Thomas had earned Pro Bowl honors in five consecutive seasons.
October 19, 2026
This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on October 16, 2026
American football wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, who had a legendary career and lived for 33 years, had a difficult upbringing, with his mother and grandmother serving prison sentences during his childhood.
Demaryius Thomas was a notable wide receiver of the Denver Broncos, who are now preparing to induct him into their prestigious Ring of Fame posthumously.
The induction ceremony will take place during halftime of the Broncos’ Week 7 game against the New York Giants on October 19, 2026.
Going to be a special weekend. 🧡
Broncos to honor Ring of Famer Demaryius Thomas, SB50 anniversary during Alumni Weekend festivities vs. Giants »
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos)
The team announced that they will unveil a special pillar in his honor at Empower Field at Mile High.
His family will be presented with his Ring of Fame jacket and ring as part of the Alumni Weekend festivities.
Late NFL Star and Denver Broncos Legend Demaryius Thomas’ Mother and Grandmother Were Sentenced to Prison When He Was Just a Child
Demaryius Thomas was born in Montrose, Georgia, on December 25, 1987, to parents Bobby Thomas and Katina Smith.
When he was just a kid, police raided the house where his mother and grandmother lived.
Following the raid, both his mother and grandmother were arrested. His mother received a 20-year prison sentence, while his grandmother was sentenced to life.
Denver Broncos Legend Demaryius Thomas’ grandmother. (Source: )After the arrest, Thomas was raised by his uncle and aunt.
Catching up with his difficult upbringing, Thomas attended West Laurens High School in Dexter, Georgia, where he was a three-sport star in basketball, football, and track.
He played wide receiver for the Raiders football team under head coach John Madden.
While he was rising in his career, Thomas’ mother finally got the chance to see her son play for the first time on January 17, 2016.
On July 13, 2015, President Barack Obama commuted his mother’s sentence, and she was later released on November 11, 2015.
Demaryius Thomas' mother was in prison 6 months ago & had never seen her son play. Now, she celebrates a Super Bowl.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)
Following that, the president at the time also commuted the sentence of Thomas’ grandmother.
Having a tragic life from childhood, Thomas left the world early at the age of 33, on December 9, 2026, leaving behind a lasting impact on American football.
In Case You Don’t Know
- Thomas was an evangelical Christian.
- Demaryius played college football at Georgia Tech, where he earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2009.
- As a child, Demaryius’ uncle nicknamed him “Bay Bay” after the kids from the movie Bebe’s Kids.
- Check other Articles on
Nishan Dahal writes sports with a human touch, covering breaking news, athlete lives, and the stories that stats can't tell. Nishan believes every athlete has a story worth telling. With the goal of bringing those stories to life with honesty, heart, and a touch of curiosity, he shares his insights through PlayerBio.
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