# Thomas Rawls
**Thomas Rawls** (born 1993) is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) running back who played in the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) from 2015 to 2018, chiefly for the [Seattle Seahawks](https://www.edgepedia.org/seattle-seahawks), and who rushed for 830 yards at 5.6 yards per carry as an undrafted rookie in 2015 before ankle and other injuries curtailed his career.[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/thomas-rawls/stats/career) • [2](https://mgoblue.com/documents/download/2013/8/2/fbl-guide-full-2013.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993[2](https://mgoblue.com/documents/download/2013/8/2/fbl-guide-full-2013.pdf) |
| College | Michigan and Central Michigan; 283 carries, 1,436 yards, 5.1 average, 15 rushing touchdowns in 28 games[3](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/thomas-rawls-1.html) |
| Entry to the NFL | Undrafted in 2015; signed by Seattle, where coach Pete Carroll pushed for him as the draft's seventh round closed[4](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-really-fired-up-about-rookie-rb-thomas-rawls-133941) |
| Best season | 2015: 13 games, 147 carries, 830 yards, 5.6 average, 4 touchdowns[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/thomas-rawls/stats/career) |
| Signature game | 209 rushing yards against San Francisco in 2015, a franchise rookie record[5](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seattle-seahawks-running-back-thomas-rawls-suffers-season-ending-ankle-in-144151) |
| Career NFL totals | 35 games, 314 carries, 1,336 yards, 4.3 average, 7 rushing touchdowns; 31 receptions, 266 yards, 1 receiving touchdown[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/thomas-rawls/stats/career) |
| Final season | One game with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018, with no recorded statistics[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/thomas-rawls/stats/career) |
## College career
Rawls played college football at Michigan and Central Michigan. Across 28 games for the two schools he carried 283 times for 1,436 yards, a 5.1-yard average, and 15 rushing touchdowns, and caught 11 passes for 99 yards.[3](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/thomas-rawls-1.html)
## 2015 breakout season
The Seahawks did not select Rawls in the 2015 draft, but as the seventh and final round ended, [Pete Carroll](https://www.edgepedia.org/pete-carroll) told Seattle's front office that the Central Michigan running back needed to end up in Seattle, and the team signed him as an undrafted rookie.[4](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-really-fired-up-about-rookie-rb-thomas-rawls-133941)
His first start came by accident. After [Marshawn Lynch](https://www.edgepedia.org/marshawn-lynch) exited a contest with a strained hamstring, Rawls stepped into the featured back duties, carrying 16 times for 104 yards and becoming the first Seahawks ballcarrier of 2015 to top 100 rushing yards in a single game.[4](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-really-fired-up-about-rookie-rb-thomas-rawls-133941) He went on to account for three of the Seahawks' four 100-plus-yard rushing efforts that season, including a 169-yard game.[6](https://www.seahawks.com/news/rookie-running-back-thomas-rawls-carries-the-torch-for-seattle-seahawks-i-140896) • [7](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-rb-thomas-rawls-is-ready-for-his-opportunity-141531) By late November he led the team with 604 rushing yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry.[7](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-rb-thomas-rawls-is-ready-for-his-opportunity-141531)
His peak came against San Francisco, where he rushed for 209 yards, a franchise rookie record.[5](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seattle-seahawks-running-back-thomas-rawls-suffers-season-ending-ankle-in-144151) For the season he finished with 830 yards and four touchdowns on 147 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, with four 100-plus-yard games starting in place of the injured Lynch.[5](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seattle-seahawks-running-back-thomas-rawls-suffers-season-ending-ankle-in-144151) • [8](https://www.nfl.com/news/pete-carroll-seahawks-won-t-rush-thomas-rawls-back-0ap3000000695673)
## The ankle injury
In a 35-6 win at Baltimore on December 13, 2015, Rawls gained 47 yards on his first five carries, all on Seattle's first possession, and was injured on his sixth carry, a 3-yard loss. He broke his ankle, and Carroll said the torn ligaments were the greater problem; the injury ended Rawls' season and required surgery.[5](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seattle-seahawks-running-back-thomas-rawls-suffers-season-ending-ankle-in-144151) • [9](https://www.seahawks.com/news/thomas-rawls-to-start-at-running-back-for-seahawks-167206)
## 2016 and 2017: return and decline
Rawls was far from a sure thing to be ready for the 2016 season opener, but after a brief appearance in Seattle's final preseason game he played in Week 1 against Miami in a limited role, with Christine Michael starting. Carroll named Rawls the starter for Week 2 at Los Angeles, and Rawls reported no pain in the surgically repaired ankle.[9](https://www.seahawks.com/news/thomas-rawls-to-start-at-running-back-for-seahawks-167206) He then missed time with a shoulder injury before returning in December, when a lopsided win over Carolina featured his first dominant performance since the injury; after his return the Seahawks ranked second in the league in rushing yards per game (173) and first in yards per carry (6.41).[10](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-biggest-problem-with-the-2016-seahawks-0ap3000000770612) • [11](https://www.nfl.com/news/pete-carroll-thomas-rawls-fully-back-for-seahawks-0ap3000000751827) He finished 2016 with 349 yards and 3 touchdowns on 109 carries in 9 games, averaging 3.2 yards per carry.[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/thomas-rawls/stats/career)
The 2017 season was his least productive in Seattle: 12 games, 58 carries, 157 yards, a 2.7-yard average, and no touchdowns, sharing the backfield with [Eddie Lacy](https://www.edgepedia.org/eddie-lacy).[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/thomas-rawls/stats/career) • [12](https://cdn6.creativecirclemedia.com/lafromboise/files/20201209-133139-2017-09-28.pdf)
## Final season and career totals
Rawls appeared in one game for the [Cincinnati Bengals](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati-bengals) in 2018 without recording a statistic, closing an NFL career of 35 games, 314 carries, 1,336 rushing yards, a 4.3-yard average, and 7 rushing touchdowns, plus 31 receptions for 266 yards and one receiving touchdown.[1](https://www.nfl.com/players/thomas-rawls/stats/career)
## References
1. [Thomas Rawls Career Stats, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/thomas-rawls/stats/career)
2. [2013 Michigan Football Media Guide, mgoblue.com](https://mgoblue.com/documents/download/2013/8/2/fbl-guide-full-2013.pdf)
3. [Thomas Rawls College Stats, Sports-Reference](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/thomas-rawls-1.html)
4. [Seahawks "Really Fired Up" about rookie RB Thomas Rawls, Seahawks.com](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-really-fired-up-about-rookie-rb-thomas-rawls-133941)
5. [Seattle Seahawks Running Back Thomas Rawls Suffers Season-Ending Ankle Injury in Win at Baltimore, Seahawks.com](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seattle-seahawks-running-back-thomas-rawls-suffers-season-ending-ankle-in-144151)
6. [Rookie Running Back Thomas Rawls Carries The Torch For Seattle Seahawks in 29-13 Win vs San Francisco 49ers, Seahawks.com](https://www.seahawks.com/news/rookie-running-back-thomas-rawls-carries-the-torch-for-seattle-seahawks-i-140896)
7. [Seahawks RB Thomas Rawls is Ready for his Opportunity, Seahawks.com](https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-rb-thomas-rawls-is-ready-for-his-opportunity-141531)
8. [Pete Carroll: Seahawks won't rush Thomas Rawls back, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/pete-carroll-seahawks-won-t-rush-thomas-rawls-back-0ap3000000695673)
9. [Thomas Rawls To Start At Running Back For Seahawks, Seahawks.com](https://www.seahawks.com/news/thomas-rawls-to-start-at-running-back-for-seahawks-167206)
10. [The biggest problem with the 2016 Seahawks, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-biggest-problem-with-the-2016-seahawks-0ap3000000770612)
11. [Pete Carroll: Thomas Rawls 'fully back' for Seahawks, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/pete-carroll-thomas-rawls-fully-back-for-seahawks-0ap3000000751827)
12. [Why Aren't Thomas Rawls and Eddie Lacy Running in the Seahawks' Offense?, chronline.com](https://cdn6.creativecirclemedia.com/lafromboise/files/20201209-133139-2017-09-28.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Running backs › Retired NFL running backs › NFL running backs of the 2010s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license