Thompson played his entire 11-year career with the Colts.
Donnell Thompson, a 1981 first-round choice who spent his entire 11-year career with the Colts, passed away yesterday. He was 65.
Thompson was selected by the Baltimore Colts with the 18th overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft and started right away, earning PFWA All-Rookie honors that season. Between 1981 and 1991, he started 143 of his 147 career games. Thompson had 41 sacks in his career and was a crucial member of the 1987 Colts, the first Colts squad to make the playoffs since the franchise moved to Indianapolis in 1984.
Thompson was born in Lumberton, North Carolina, and attended college at North Carolina, where he played with future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Lawrence Taylor.
Thompson’s playing career came to an end, but he went on to have a successful career in the fast food restaurant franchising industry. Thompson bought his first McDonald’s franchise after retiring, and he eventually went on to acquire nine Checker’s and Rally’s locations around the Southeast.
Sadly, I just learned that Donnell Thompson— our beloved DE from the '80s—has passed away. This man was successful in football, but even more so in the business world following his retirement. Smart, wise—a great mentor for young players. Rest in peace, Donnellđâ¤ď¸ pic.twitter.com/7tMyYjhPIN
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) September 17, 2024
Thompson emphasized the importance of community involvement at all of his franchise locations. During the COVID-19 epidemic, Thompson’s restaurants provided free lunch to children every day; his community contributions extended beyond the pandemic.
“We always get involved with the community because that’s who’s going to be purchasing our food,” Thompson told me. “… We sponsor the football team at my hometown high school. We frequently invite the football team and hold hamburger-eating contests to raise funds for them. After the game, the players can eat for free. We provide some before lunches because many of the local sports teams may not have enough funds to do what is proper for the kids. So, we’ll come in and fill that gap… for a lot of those kids who don’t have the money and struggle to participate in sports while also caring for their bodies.”