Thomas played football at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Texas.

During his senior season (1968), he was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC), and he was selected to play in the annual all-star East-West Shrine Game.

He set a new Bengals record for receptions in a game with seven (for 177 yards) against the Denver Broncos.

In 1970, with the Bengals now in the NFL due to the NFL/AFL merger, he again played 14 games, including 13 as a starter at wide receiver.

After four years with the Bengals, on July 9, 1973, he was traded to the New Orleans Saints for rookie defensive tackle Jerry Ellison.