A memorial service was held for Demaryius Thomas, the former receiver for the Denver Broncos, in Atlanta on Monday.
A number of Thomas’ former teammates made the trip, and emotional speeches were given by Champ Bailey and Eric Decker.
Demaryius Thomas (left) and Eric Decker in 2010 Getty ImagesDecker fought off tears as he paid tribute to Thomas, who died at 33 in his home earlier this month.
“These past 10 days have been filled with a lot of emotions,” Decker said. “Sadness, regret, disbelief, happiness, laughter. There’s so many memories that we can all reflect on.
“He was the brother I always wanted, Demaryius was one of the great ones. He made his mark on this world. He obviously made a mark on each and every one of our lives. His smile will forever carry on.”
Demaryius Thomas in 2017 Getty Images“D.T. learned a lot from me, I learned a lot from him,” Bailey said. “We went at each other. We talked about everything. I’m gonna miss that guy. I love him to death. I was one of those people that he stopped and paid attention to. I don’t know why he came into my life but I’m sure glad he did.”
Thomas was a four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver. After spending eight-plus seasons with the Broncos, he finished his career with stints on the Texans, Patriots and Jets.
The Broncos organization also put together a six-minute tribute video, including Thomas’ exploits on the field for the team, plus meeting President Obama at the White House after Denver won Super Bowl 50 in 2016.



