The path to the NFL was not an easy one for Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. His mother had him at 15 and was arrested for drug related charges when Thomas was a young child. With his father in the military, he leaned on other family and community members to help raise him.
Similarly, it has been a long road for Thomas’ mother, Katina Smith. She was recently released from prison and can finally watch her son play football in person.
Smith was able to watch her son in person for the first time in the 2016 AFC Divisional Round game between the Broncos and Steelers. Peyton Manning gave Thomas the game ball at the end of the game to give to his mother to mark the occasion.
Class move 4 Peyton 2 give ball 2 Demaryious Thomas. He can give it 2 his mother who was watching son’s first game after being incarcerated
Here’s what you need to know about Demaryius Thomas mother, Katina Smith:
1. Demaryius Was 11 Years Old When His Mother Was Arrested
It was a challenging childhood for Thomas. He grew up watching his mother and friends use drugs.
According to The Washington Post, Thomas was only eleven years old when both his mother and grandmother were arrested. They were arrested in 1999 for running a Georgia cocaine ring. His mother was sentenced to over 20 years in prison.
As the above photo shows, Thomas’ father was in the military so it was not an option for him to live with him. He went to live with his aunt and uncle after his mother was arrested.
2. Katina Had Never Seen Her Son Play Football in Person
Thomas had not started playing football when his mother was arrested. Though his mother was released in November 2015, she had travel restrictions that prevented her from seeing her son in person despite no longer being in prison.
She hoped the Broncos made the playoffs and made a deep run since her travel restrictions would be finished by then.
3. President Obama Reduced Her Sentence
According to The Washington Post, Smith was one of 46 drug offenders that Obama pardoned. Obama noted that the offenses were non-violent and the people deserved a second chance:
These men and women were not hardened criminals, but the overwhelming majority had been sentenced to at least 20 years. I believe that at its heart, America is a nation of second chances. And I believe these folks deserve their second chance.”
Thomas was thrilled upon hearing the news. After it was announced he posted this comment on his Facebook page: “God is good.. Great news today, My Best lady come home November 10.. Godbless..”
4. She Is Expected to See Demaryius Play for the First Time in the 2016 Playoffs
Thomas had not started playing football when his mother was arrested. He explained the situation in an article he penned for The Player’s Tribune:
For 15 years, my mamma was gone. She was in prison before I ever started playing football. She never got to see me take the field. Never got to see me graduate high school. Never got to see how I blocked my butt off at Georgia Tech running the triple-option and never complained, never quit.”
5. Demaryius Was at Home When His Mother Was Arrested
One morning before school, police came into the house and arrested Smith. She begged the police to walk the children to school one last time and the police allowed her to do so. As Smith walked Thomas to the bus stop, the kids on the bus saw the police. Thomas detailed the experience in The Player’s Tribune article:
The loudest sound I ever heard. I was sleeping by the door when the men busted in. It was seven in the morning, right before school. The first thing I saw were the guns pointing at me. Big guns. Like in a movie. I didn’t know they were police. I just saw guns and red dots flashing. They told me to get down.
I laid on the floor and they went into my mom and stepdad’s room. They brought them out in handcuffs.
As they were walking my mamma to the police car, she said, ‘Can I please just take my kids to the school bus one last time?’ ”
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Katina Smith, Demaryius Thomas Mother: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know