Thigpen was selected out of Coastal Carolina University by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL draft.

[3][5] Thigpen holds the single-season and career passing records in most major statistical categories at Coastal Carolina.

[7][8][9] Thigpen was born in Winnsboro, South Carolina, and he attended Fairfield Central High School, where he played on the football team.

[3] In addition to running back, Thigpen played wide receiver and punter in high school.

[3][5] From 2003 to 2006, the Chanticleers had a 34–11 record in Thigpen's four seasons with the team,[6] winning three Big South Conference championships.

[19] He led the Chanticleers to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs and a Big South Conference championship.

[3] Thigpen holds the single-season and career passing records in every major statistical category at Coastal Carolina.

[25] Kansas City Chiefs scout and vice president of player personnel Bill Kuharich attended the game at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

[25] Kuharich filed a scouting report following the game and told the rest of the Chiefs personnel to keep an eye on Thigpen if he were to be released after the preseason.

[3][12] Thigpen then competed with Brooks Bollinger, Tarvaris Jackson, and Drew Henson for a quarterback roster spot for the 2007 NFL season.

[3][28] Vikings head coach Brad Childress was reportedly upset when the Chiefs claimed Thigpen on waivers.

[25] Thigpen was seen as showing a lot of potential following a strong preseason, whereas the Vikings were otherwise thin on talent at the quarterback position.

[25] With the Chiefs, Thigpen made his regular season debut replacing an injured Damon Huard versus the San Diego Chargers on December 12, 2007, in the game's final minutes.

[5][29] Later in the week at practice, he tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL) and was placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

[36] However, Thigpen was again awarded the starting position after Croyle and Huard were placed on injured reserve, ending both of their seasons.

[7][38] Herman Edwards and Chan Gailey chose to implement the spread offense in order to prepare Thigpen for his second career start.

[38] By changing the gameplan, the Chiefs' offense began to find an identity after swapping their power running game for spread-type formations that best suited Thigpen.

[42] Thigpen also passed for 164 yards, a touchdown, no interceptions, and a 56.0% completion rate in the 30–27 loss against Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

[42] Thigpen continued his impressive play the following week in the Chiefs' 20–19 loss to the San Diego Chargers, completing 27-of-41 passes for 266 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

[47] Thigpen won his first game as the Chiefs' starter on November 30 against the Oakland Raiders, leading Kansas City to a 20–13 victory.

[50] Kansas City hosted the Miami Dolphins in the second-coldest game ever held at Arrowhead Stadium on December 21 with the game-time temperature at 10 °F.

[53] Though Thigpen had earned the right to compete for the starting job, the Chiefs were expected to add a high-end quarterback through free agency or the 2009 NFL draft.

[8][54] Despite impressing coaches in Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard's absence, Thigpen was not a lock for the starting job.

[9] Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez voiced his support for Thigpen to retain the position for the 2009 season.

[56][57][58][59] The Chiefs acquired quarterback Matt Cassel from the New England Patriots on February 28 for a second-round draft selection.

The Jacksonville Jaguars offering a fifth-round draft pick but Kansas City ultimately declined.

The move came just two days after Dolphins starting quarterback Chad Pennington suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

[68] In the Dolphins initial off-season depth chart, Thigpen was listed as the second quarterback, behind Chad Henne.