Thomas Howard

Thomas Howard is not your usual professional football player. You’re not going to find him exuding a larger-than-life persona, like some we’ve grown accustomed to – particularly here in Cincinnati. You don’t see him in pictures waving $100 bills at strip clubs or fighting bouncers at nightclubs. He gets it. He understands how blessed he is to be among the fraternity of professional athletes and, more importantly, that it won’t last forever. He knows that the paychecks will eventually stop and he’ll have to move on. And he’ll be ready when they do.

After learning a bit about Thomas before our interview, I discovered his affinity for eclectic foods and fine wine – two things we very much have in common. So I arranged for our interview to be conducted at my favorite place to eat in the Tri-state, Bouquet Restaurant and Wine Bar in Covington.

Thomas and I sat down on a quiet night in the quaint French bistro-styled establishment and joked briefly about his GPS troubles on the way. He’s a soft-spoken man, but one with an almost studious and authentic curiosity.  He certainly knows what he likes and what he doesn’t, yet he’s apt to be in a situation where he may learn something new. This was the first thing that struck me about him. At 6’3” 240 pounds and a year and a half from his 30th birthday, Thomas has a big presence. But once you start talking with him, he has a way of disarming you with his open mind and views about life.

Born in Lubbock, Texas, Howard moved with his mother to Seattle. His mother, a strong-willed disciplinarian, was the support structure he would need at a couple of pivotal points in his life. He eventually moved back to Texas, where he was brought up during  his high school years by his father, former NFL linebacker Thomas Howard, Jr. And as his father helped Thomas the boy transition into a man, it was his mother returning to Texas that again helped him with the structure he needed. The two parents gave the young man all the tools he needed to succeed, both on and off the field.

That’s really the special thing about Thomas Howard. You find a man vigilant of the task at hand (the week we spoke was the week leading up to the Bengals’ playoff game versus Houston) looking forward to his experiences and accomplishments off the field as well. He has done a fair amount of traveling, and is already looking forward to his trip to Africa with his girlfriend in the off-season. He continues to do philanthropy work as well, and not just here in Cincinnati. Howard was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft and would play five seasons in the bay before coming to the Bengals. In Oakland, he helped provide free after-school programming for underserved youth with the Bay Area After-School All Stars – and now is very involved in the community here in the Tri-state. He started the Thomas Howard Foundation and contributes to Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis’ foundation as well.

As he sifts through his newest discovery – a delicious spring vegetable quinoa prepared by chef Stephen Williams – Thomas describes how important it his for him to make an impact by giving back. He is the first one to tell you how he knows he has God-given ability, but was also blessed to have the structure he received from his parents – and that many kids don’t have that in their lives. He’ll tell you that it’s his mother’s example that set him on his path.

We sit and talk for a while. As we go through wines (he’s only tasting a little of the pairings set up for us, being that it is a game week – and an important one at that) that sponge-like quality shines through again. You can tell he knows quite a bit about different cultures, foods and wines, but he’s very interested in trying those that he’s never tasted before. The quinoa, for example. For a man that knows his food, that was a tougher sell. Our server, Jessica, and I had to do some talking before he was good with that dish. In fact, much of our time together – which lasted close to two hours – was spent on questions he had about things he had never seen or tasted. He’s not a guy that sits and accepts and forgets. He genuinely wants to know more, to be more. This is what makes Thomas, Thomas.

His college days were spent at Texas-El Paso. He was a walk-on, then a redshirt. Not exactly a big time star. He’ll admit he felt jilted out of high school, being overlooked by many programs. But boy, did he make the most out of his time at UTEP. He made the MAC all-freshmen team, and eventually second team all-MAC before being named pre-season defensive player of the year in the state of Texas. After that, his pro debut in Oakland was time well spent, too. Howard had over 100 tackles his rookie year. Then, in his second year, he led the NFL in linebacker interceptions with six, two of them returned for touchdowns. His numbers would decline slightly over the next couple of years, and Oakland essentially dumped him on the side of the road. So I ask him if he felt left for dead by the Raiders. He declines, in a very respectful, understanding manner.

He realizes he’s in a business and is thrilled with the opportunity to play with the Bengals’ defense. He knows his reputation among coaches around the league is good. He is totally comfortable with his situation.

It was funny how he brought up the NFL ultimately being a business, because he already has eyed his path of transition from player to businessman. He spoke with Merton Hanks in becoming an intern (yes, intern) in the NFL offices in New York in the off-season. Talk about a guy who’s got his ducks in a row. Howard idolizes players like Hanks, who became notorious not only for outstanding play at safety for the San Francisco 49ers in the mid to late 90s – but for his flailing-head chicken dance celebration after returning interceptions for touchdowns. He sees what they have made of their lives after football. He sees achievement away from the field and desires it as much as he does, presently, on the field. Hanks, in particular, is now a senior manager and assistant director of operations for the league.

As we were finishing up and walking towards the front of the restaurant, Thomas smiled and thanked Jessica and reminds her – after she tells him to come back – “first thing’s first, gotta take care of business in Houston.” Unfortunately for Thomas and the Bengals, their season ended that Saturday in Houston.

Despite the loss, Howard did take care of business this year. His 99 tackles (64 of them by himself) led the Bengals defensively – a group that was touted as and statistically among the best in the NFL. Thomas Howard is a curious man, who wants to succeed – and likely will continue to do so – both on and off the field.