All-Time NFL Players From Acadiana: Keith Thibodeaux

A number of people have represented the Acadiana area in the National Football League.

All summer long, we’re going to spotlight the fantastic athletes from the area, people that were actually born in one of the Acadiana parishes, that went on to play football at the highest level, the NFL.

Yesterday, we profiled Lafayette native Sheldon Andrus.

Today, we spotlight Opelousas native Keith Thibodeaux.

Born on May, 16, 1974 in Opelousas, Thibodeaux attended Beau Chene High School.

Following his high school years, Thibodeaux went to college at Northwestern St., where he was a standout cornerback.

Thibodeaux was a three-year starter for the Demons, totaling 162 career tackles and 24 pass breakups, including 10 in his senior season. He was a two-time All-Southland Conference selection who also earned first-team All-Louisiana honors as a senior.

The 5-foot-10, 189-pound Thibodeaux was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 5th round of the 1987 NFL Draft.

Thibodeaux made his NFL debut with the Redskins in 1987, at the age of 23, playing in 15 games, mainly on special teams, compiling 11 tackles.

Missing the 1988 season, Thibodeaux split the 1989 campaign between the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings, playing in 11 games, prior to playing in all 16 games for the Vikings in 2000, when he intercepted his first pass.

Thibodeaux played in 12 games in 2001, splitting time between the Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, before his career came to an end.

In parts of four seasons in the NFL, Thibodeaux would appear in 54 games, including one start, all at defensive back, accumulating 52 tackles and two interceptions.

Today, Thibodeaux is 43-years old and works in health care in Lafayette.