Julius Thomas

While at Portland State, Thomas was a First-team All-Big Sky Conference selection in football in 2010. He finished the season with 29 receptions for 453 yards and two touchdowns for Portland State's football team. Thomas had not played collegiate football prior to 2010.

Thomas was selected in the fourth round with the 129th overall pick by the Denver Broncos in the 2011 NFL Draft. He was the highest selected Portland State Viking since quarterback Neil Lomax was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980. His rookie contract was four years and $2,420,000 through the 2014 season. It included a $384,000 signing bonus.

Thomas did not record any statistics in the 2012 season. He only appeared in four games.

Thomas erupted onto the scene in the 2013 season. He scored his first and second career touchdowns in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5, 2013, having a five catch, 110-yard, two-touchdown breakout performance. Both of Thomas's touchdowns came from quarterback Peyton Manning. He followed up this performance in Week 2 with a six-catch, 47-yard performance that ended with a game-sealing touchdown against the New York Giants. In Week 3, he continued his scoring streak against the Oakland Raiders with three receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown. Thomas played his best game of the season in Week 5, catching nine passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns in a 51–48 shootout win against the Dallas Cowboys. On October 13, he had four receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On October 20, he had five receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts. On November 10, 2013, he had three receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers. In Week 16, in a win over the Houston Texans, Thomas caught a touchdown from Peyton Manning, which was his 51st touchdown pass of the season, which set a single season record.

Thomas and the Broncos made the playoffs in the 2014 season. They fell to the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional Round.

On March 10, 2015, Thomas signed a five-year, $46 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Thomas started his second season in Jacksonville with five receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers on September 11. On October 23, he had three receptions for 20 yards and a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders. On October 27, he had three receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans. On November 13, he had six receptions for 24 yards and a touchdowns against the Houston Texans. He was placed on injured reserve on December 10, 2016 after missing two games with a back injury.

In the 2016 season, Thomas played in nine games with six starts recording 30 receptions for 281 yards and four touchdowns.

On March 9, 2017, the Jaguars traded Thomas to the Miami Dolphins, where he signed a new two-year contract. He was placed on injured reserve on December 20, 2017. He played in 14 games with 12 starts, recording 41 catches for 388 yards for three touchdowns.

On March 14, 2018, Thomas was released by the Dolphins.

On August 24, 2018, Thomas announced his retirement from the NFL to pursue a doctorate in psychology. He would like to study CTE to help others.