Thomas, 33, will be honored by the Broncos during their home opener on Sept.
was the complete package as a wide receiver, growing into one of the very best at his position,” Broncos president of football operations John Elway said in a statement announcing the news.
In the Broncos’ record-setting season in 2013 — Manning set NFL records for passing yards as the Broncos scored a league-record 606 points that year — Thomas finished with a career-best 14 touchdowns.
When Manning’s children would come to practices, Thomas was routinely the first player they would run to as the players had become close friends.
Thomas caught Manning’s 509th career touchdown pass, which gave Manning the career record at the time.
“For as humble and soft-spoken as Demaryius was during his nine years with our organization, you would have never known he was such a dominant player in our league,” Broncos CEO Joe Ellis is the statement.
Thomas’ teammates, coaches and friends have often referred to all he had overcome to reach first Georgia Tech and then the NFL.