Cowboy Football Mourns the Loss of Leonard Thompson

(This story was co-written by Robert Allen and Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations.)

STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State football program mourns the loss of former Cowboy Leonard Thompson, who died this week at the age of 69. Former Cowboy defensive lineman Calvin Miller told Pokes Report that Thompson had recently had heart surgery and never fully recovered from his cardiac issues. 

Thompson, who played running back at OSU, was born in Oklahoma City and played his high school football at Pueblo High School in Tucson, Arizona. From there, he played two years at Arizona Western College in Yuma before transferring to Oklahoma State for his junior and senior seasons in 1973 and 1974.

In his two years as a Cowboy, Thompson was an integral part of the OSU offense as he was the third-leading rusher on the team each season. He carried the ball 90 times for 518 yards and six touchdowns as a junior, and his senior numbers included 77 carries for 323 yards and four touchdowns while adding five catches for 114 yards and a score. Thompson was part of some record performances on the Oklahoma State offense, which ran the wishbone in those days with Brent Blackman at quarterback. Thompson was part of some backfields that included Alfred Nelms and Kenny Walker as a fellow halfbacks and fullbacks George Palmer and in 1974 Terry Miller. 

The 1973 team rushed for 3,198-yards with an average of 290.7-yards per game. During that season they rushed for 467-yards against Texas-Arlington and 435-yards in a 70-7 win over Southern Illinois with seven of 10 touchdowns scored on the ground. In the 1974 season that group rushed for 528-yards against Wichita State.

Thompson produced a career highlight in his final moments wearing the orange and black, throwing a 40-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Bain on a halfback pass with 1:14 remaining in OSU's 1974 Fiesta Bowl win over No. 17 BYU.

The Cowboys finished with winning records in both seasons of Thompson's career, going 12-9-2 during the first two years of the Jim Stanley era.

After his time in Stillwater, Thompson was drafted by Detroit in the 1975 NFL Draft and played 12 seasons with the Lions from 1975-1986. He moved from running back to wide receiver in 1978 and went on to have a career that is still highlighted in the Lions' record book.

USA TODAY Sports

Thompson congratulating Lions teammate Billy Simms.

In Lions history, Thompson is tied for 10th in career games played with 175 and is tied for fourth in career touchdown receptions with 35. He totaled 277 catches for 4,682 yards in his NFL career, adding 327 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns while also playing an important role on special teams.

In addition to his skill as a football player, Thompson was a talented sprinter who ran track and field for the Cowboys in 1974 and 1975. His track highlights included running the 60-yard dash at the NCAA indoor track and field championships and winning an individual conference title as part of the 440-yard relay team in his final season.

He was born July 28, 1952.