He played for the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1982 and in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions.
[1] Thompson enrolled at the University of Michigan and played football under head coach Bo Schembechler from 1979 to 1982.
[2][3][4][5] In the final game of the 1980 season, Thompson helped secure the Big Ten Conference championship with a key fourth-down sack of Ohio State quarterback Art Schlichter, as the Buckeyes were driving in Michigan territory with less than a minute left in the game.
He signed with the Oilers and participated in the pre-season games with the team, but he was released by Houston in the final roster cutdown to 49 players.
[12] In 1984, Thompson sustained two broken toes in the pre-season and began the regular season on injured reserve.