A Family's Mission: Martha and Solomon Thomas Lead the Defensive Line Against Despair
*Trigger Warning: This article discusses suicide.*
This week, our remarkable founder, Lily Shimbashi, had the incredible opportunity to interview Martha Thomas, co-founder of the suicide prevention organization, The Defensive Line. Martha is the mother of Solomon Thomas, a player for the New York Jets. During the interview, Lily explored the beginning of Solomon's career and how it inspired the creation of The Defensive Line.
Martha shared that she never believed Solomon would end up playing football because, when he was young, he wasn't very interested in sports. Instead, he played soccer, excelled as a swimmer, and even tried his hand at basketball before ultimately choosing football. The rest, as they say, is history. Martha described his recruiting process as "movie-like," which led to him leaving Stanford early and becoming the 3rd overall draft pick in 2017.
The Thomas Family from left to right Ella, Chris, Martha, & Solomon
Tragically, on January 23, 2018, the Thomas family lost one of their own when Ella Thomas, Solomon's sister, committed suicide. Martha described her daughter as funny, loving, and caring, but her biggest flaw was that she didn't take good care of herself. Ella left behind her family and her dog, Mickey. She loved helping others, especially the homeless, and would always give them something—either from her wallet or her mom's. She also took the time to really talk to them.
The family was left devastated by Ella's loss. Her death severely impacted Solomon's career, bringing him close to not returning to the NFL after his second year. Concerned for her son, Martha reached out to Austin Moss, the VP of Player Personnel for the 49ers, seeking help for Solomon. The team went above and beyond, providing support not only for Solomon but also for Martha and her husband, Chris.
Over time, the family decided to leverage Solomon's platform to establish an anti-suicide prevention organization called The Defensive Line. The organization's mission is to create a world where no person of color dies by suicide. Martha pointed out that much of the existing suicide prevention work has primarily focused on well-served communities, which is why The Defensive Line aims to address the needs of underserved communities.
Because of his efforts, the New York Jets have nominated Solomon for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Martha believes her son is a strong candidate for this honor because he has used his experiences to help others despite all the adversity he has faced. He visits schools to give speeches about the organization and takes the time to answer questions from the kids, often engaging with them one-on-one, even when he doesn't have to. Furthermore, he is frequently approached in the locker room for advice on seeking help, whether it involves finding a therapist or simply someone to talk to. He has opened himself up to assist anyone experiencing feelings similar to those his sister had.
To hear more from Martha about The Defensive Line, click here!
And if you or any loved ones are struggling with any suicidal thoughts, you are not alone, and help is available. For resources, check out https://sprc.org or call/ text 988 (the suicide prevention hotline)