13. Derrick Thomas — Career ends at 32 in 2000

One of the greatest pass rushers of all time, edge rusher extraordinaire Derrick Thomas still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a game, when he recorded seven sacks in a 1990 game against the Seattle Seahawks. The 4th overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, Thomas had double-digit sacks with the Kansas City Chiefs in five of his first six seasons in the NFL, including an NFL-high 20 sacks in 1990.

Thomas made the Pro Bowl nine times between 1998 and 1997, and was named to the All-Pro team six times in that same span. But in January of 2000, Thomas’ was involved in a Carr accident in which he and another passenger were not wearing seatbelts, and were launched from the car as a result. Just over two weeks later, after suffering paralysis from the injury, Thomas eventually was no more.