ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have announced the signing of linebacker Shaq Thompson to a one-year deal, giving the seasoned player a chance to reinvigorate his career after struggling with injuries over the past two seasons.
Shaq Thompson, who is 31 years old, was not re-signed by the Carolina Panthers this past March, closing the chapter on his decade-long stint with the team. His move to Buffalo reunites him with familiar faces, including head coach Sean McDermott, who served as the defensive coordinator during Thompson’s early career in Carolina after he was drafted in the first round in 2015. Furthermore, Thompson has worked alongside Bills linebackers coach Al Holcomb and the team’s General Manager, Brandon Beane, both of whom have longstanding connections to him from their Carolina days.
Reflecting on the evolution of his professional journey, Thompson remarked, “I was a young pup back in the day, now 11 years, seasoned vet, so time is coming around. You never thought it would happen to yourself, but everything is a blessing. Everything happens in God’s hands and fortunately I came here and I’m happy here.”
Thompson was a standout from the onset of his career with the Panthers, starting each year and surpassing 100 tackles consecutively from 2019 to 2022, before injuries disrupted his playing time. In the last two years, a broken ankle in 2023 and an Achilles tendon tear in the fourth week of the following year limited him to just six appearances on the field.
While Thompson didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice, he expressed confidence in his readiness for the upcoming training camp, slated to start next month. He brushed off concerns about his physical condition wearing thin, stating, “Only me and myself know my body and my mindset. And one thing about me I would never end my career on an injury.” Throughout his 123 games with Carolina, Thompson’s resilience has been a hallmark of his career.
In Buffalo, Thompson is expected to provide seasoned depth to a defense operating under a two-linebacker setup, complementing established starters Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano.