NASHVILLE – Solomon Thomas will never forget January 23, 2018.
It was the worst day of his life.
Thomas, a 10-year veteran defensive tackle who is in his first year with the Titans, got a call from his father telling him some unthinkable news – his older sister, Ella, had committed suicide.
"I just dropped to the ground, crying," Thomas recalled. "Once I heard those words come out of my dad's mouth, and heard him crying, it was devastating. And as I cried, Ella's dog at the time began licking up my tears from the floor. It's a day I'll never forget."
In the eight years since, Thomas has made it a point to make sure the world doesn't forget his older sister.
Thomas has also made it his life's mission to be a mental health advocate, to honor Ella while raising awareness for suicide prevention as he continues an NFL journey that began in 2017, when he was the third overall pick of the San Francisco 49ers.
During his stops in San Francisco (2017-2020), Las Vegas (2021), the N.Y. Jets (2022-24) and Dallas (2025), Thomas has done everything he can to amplify the life his sister lived, while discussing the harsh reality of her death.
He plans to do the same in Tennessee, where he continues to combat his own feelings of grief, sadness and anxiety while playing a sport where players have been taught to not show weakness.
"It hasn't been easy work," Thomas said. "I didn't expect to be going around talking about my emotions, and my darkest feelings. But any time I do speak, or am tired of speaking, there is some kind of magical moment where someone tells me how much my story meant to them, or how much Ella's story meant to them, and how it saved them. It's just a reminder of how much it is needed, and to keep going. It keeps her name alive, and it keeps letting people get to know her even though she is not here."
Ella Thomas was 24 years old when she passed away, and Solomon was 22.
Ella played varsity basketball in high school, and Solomon said she was known for being loving, and feisty.
The siblings became extremely close. Solomon recalled a moment when he was in the eighth grade, and the brother of Ella's best friend died.
"She came to me crying," Thomas recalled, "basically saying, 'Let's not take anything for granted. Let's build our relationship as much as we can, and be best friends, and have no regrets'. And we did that."
But Ella struggled with anxiety and depression, and one day, took her own life.
Thomas honors her in many ways, from his work in the community, where he speaks to kids during school visits, or at football camps. He reminds his Instagram followers of her birthday with a post every year. His X/Twitter profile picture of a photo of Ella and Solomon hugging.
Thomas has a tattoo with Ella's handwriting on his left forearm, with the words, 'I love you." He has a heart, a sunflower and her favorite movie "Bad Boys for Life" inscribed in ink on his body.
Thomas said he regularly goes to therapy to help himself, and he and his parents co-founded The Defensive Line, an organization launched in 2021 to honor Ella and raise awareness for suicide prevention. Thomas has been recognized for his work by being a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee on four different occasions.
The effort to help others will never stop, Thomas said, as he continues to work on himself.
May is mental health awareness month, and Thomas is pleased to see advances made in discussing the topic.
Nissan Stadium will be lit green on Wednesday, from 4-11 p.m. in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Green is the international color for mental health awareness, symbolizing hope, strength, and renewal.
The city of Nashville will light the Korean Memorial Bridge green at the same time as we work together to promote and support mental health.
"I am in a way better place in my life now, being in consistent therapy for seven, eight years now," Thomas said. "It has changed my life, and I've gotten to a point where I know how to handle certain emotions to reset, regenerate and take care of myself. But there are definitely days that are harder than others. I've been doing this advocacy work for seven or eight years as well, and seven out of 10 times I'll be fine, and those other three times randomly, it will hurt me more than others. I just let it come as it comes, and I know I have my tools to handle the ups and downs of it, and I have a great support system around me. I am definitely in a better place in my life now, but I know I have to do my part to help others.
"It's been important for me to bring my knowledge, bring my story, everywhere I go to impact as many people as I can just to get people to start believing in the realness of mental health."
