NASHVILLE – Time has flown by for Solomon Thomas, the third overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.
A part of Thomas can hardly believe he's now 30 years old, headed into Year 10.
This at a time when the other part of him is still trying to process the news of him being traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Tennessee Titans. The defensive lineman found out about the trade via text from his agent, while he was on a flight. He had to wait until he landed to start making phone calls.
"I am not naive to the nature of this business in any way, but it is still shocking sometimes," Thomas said. "There's a little grieving process, leaving teammates, leaving a city (like Dallas). But I am more filled with excitement and joy to be somewhere where I am wanted, and be in a great city like Nashville. And, I have another opportunity and another adventure of being my best self in another place."
The Titans acquired Thomas earlier this month in a seventh-round pick swap with the Cowboys in April's NFL Draft. The Titans now pick No. 225 in the seventh round, in exchange for pick No. 218.
Thomas, who has played with the 49ers (2017-2020), Raiders (2021), Jets (2022-24) and Cowboys (2025) in his career, is now ready to do his part with the Titans.
"I am grateful to be here, super happy to still have a job in the NFL," Thomas said. "Playing in the NFL has not been easy, but it's been a blessing. I have worked really hard for it, and it's something my whole life revolves around – how I eat, how I work out. Everything I do revolves around this game. So, to be here, and to be going into Year 10, it is a blessing.
"I am happy to be going into Year 10, but I am also hungry and feel like I have a lot more to prove and I feel like I have a lot more work to do. As far as what's next, I am just going to show up every day and be the best Solomon Thomas I can be. Be the best teammate, be the best run stopper, be the best rusher, be the best friend in the locker room I can be. And, make this place a better place and help win games here."
In Tennessee, Thomas will be reunited with head coach Robert Saleh for the third time in his career, first with the 49ers, and then with the Jets.
He'll also be reunited again with defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, his coach with the Jets, 49ers and Cowboys.
"Those are my guys," Solomon said. "It feels great just to be wanted, to have a team that wants you and brings you there. And these guys are like family to me, so I love them and want to play for them. I know how they coach, I know their standard and I know what they are trying to do, and what they are trying to build. I feel like coming in with my leadership, with my skillset, it's a great place for me and I am super excited to play for them, and to be in Nashville.
"Coach Saleh, his slogan with the Jets was "All Game, No Brakes" and he really does mean that. We practice hard, we play hard. It's about getting the little things right, running to the ball, receivers blocking. He is going to highlight all those things that fans and people may not see. … He is detail-oriented, very intense and a very high-effort scheme for everyone to do their 1/11 on the field. And with Whitecotton, he is going to demand greatness out of you. He is hard on us, and he yells at us. He may come off as crazy, but he is like that because he loves us. He is one of the best coaches I've played for, and you can look at his resume and see all the talent he has produced, and made better. He is an incredible football coach and I am happy to be back with him."
During his playing career, Thomas has played in 131 games, including 36 starts. He's tallied 239 tackles, 18.5 sacks, 53 quarterback hits, 36 tackles for a loss, three forces fumbles, two fumble recoveries and six passes defensed.
Thomas played in all 16 games, with two starts, for the Cowboys in 2025. He was credited with 27 tackles, three tackles for a loss, two quarterback hits and one pass defensed last season.
In addition to his work on the field, Thomas has been named a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee four times in his NFL career, including last year in Dallas. He has been recognized for his work in the community and initiatives to support youth and mental wellness as part of the work he does with his foundation, The Defensive Line.
His work will continue in Music City.
"It is a cool opportunity to go to a new team because it is an opportunity for the foundation to be implemented here, to grow some roots here and to impact (the community) here," Thomas said. "So, I am super excited to bring the foundation here, and to do a lot of the mental health work that I have been doing. It is something that won't stop."
