Former Baltimore Ravens safety Earl Thomas (29) has been thinking about making a comeback. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Veteran safety Earl Thomas eyeing return to NFL

 Earl Thomas, who last played in the NFL in 2019 and turns 33 next month, is hopeful he can to return to the gridiron next season. 

"I'm ready," Thomas said in a text to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

While Thomas found a lot of success on the field, he also created plenty of controversies. His nine-season run with the Seattle Seahawks, which included six Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl win, ended poorly and was capped off with him flipping off head coach Pete Carroll while being carted off the field with a broken leg. 

The Baltimore Ravens signed Thomas to a massive four-year, $55 million dollar deal the following offseason, but he only lasted one season due to reportedly butting heads with teammates and missing meetings. Baltimore released Thomas in August 2020 after he punched teammate Chuck Clark during the fourth practice of training camp. He later filed a grievance against the team for not paying him his guaranteed salary, but the Ravens declined to pay it on the grounds he violated his contract. As of February 2022, the grievance was still unresolved.

Thomas had a meeting with the Houston Texans in September 2020 and was supposed to work out for the team, but the workout was canceled

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Celtics dominate short-handed Cavaliers in blowout Game 1 win
Rangers special teams, goaltending help them take control against Hurricanes
Knicks share brutal injury news on Mitchell Robinson
Titans put Treylon Burks on notice with latest free-agent addition
Rudy Gobert's Defensive Player of the Year award redeems reputation of darkness retreats
LIV Golf scores major win ahead of PGA Championship
Astros GM makes revealing comments about team's trade-deadline strategy amid poor start
Watch: Overtime goal completes Avalanche's comeback in 4-3 win over Stars
Thunder’s three-point barrage takes down Mavericks in Game 1
Legendary Broncos DC Joe Collier dead at 91
Watch: Phillies' Bryce Harper stays hot with another grand slam
Cardinals' Willson Contreras suffers broken arm after being hit by swing
Nuggets star gets fined, but avoids suspension for ugly Game 2 actions
PSG superstar to potentially depart club with zero UEFA Champions League trophies
NFL has a reported date for the 2024 schedule release
Lions sign veteran defensive tackle
Sharks win 2024 NHL Draft Lottery, get No. 1 pick for first time
John Calipari recruiting another top player from Kentucky
Giants designate right-hander for assignment
Former All-Star shares concerns of potential Knicks burnout