Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Former Minnesota Vikings safety Orlando Thomas, who led the NFL in interceptions during his rookie year in 1995 with nine, died last night of ALS. He was 42.

Thomas’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, confirmed the news.

Thomas had been battling ALS in Crowley, Lousiana.

“Nobody’s ever fought a battle like Orlando fought, with so much dignity — I never saw anything like it,” Bartelstein said Monday morning. “It’s just incredible. He never had a sense of self pity, never felt sorry for himself, he was always worried about everyone else. He was just the most incredible person I’ve ever been around.”

When Thomas played for the Vikings from 1995 through 2001, he weighed 225 pounds. When Thomas passed away, Bartelstein said he was down almost 70 pounds.

Thomas started 87 of 98 games for the Vikings, intercepting 22 passes, including nine during his rookie season, before retiring following the 2001 season.

Thomas revealed in June 2007 that he was suffering from ALS.