Joy in the Journey: Jourdan Thomas Turns Pain Into Purpose
by Sarah Portanka
“The game ends for everybody at some point.”
But sometimes that ending is just the beginning.
When safety Jourdan Thomas suffered a season-ending knee injury in preseason camp in August of 2024, he was told he would never play football again.
Thomas tore his ACL, LCL and PCL in his knee, including a hamstring tendon tear off the bone and damage to the peroneal nerve in his leg. He endured a year of recovery, undergoing two separate surgeries over three months, two different kinds of rehab, and months of stillness with a brace around his leg, unable to move.
“I was in shock. Sometimes I’m still in shock. There were a lot of emotions at the beginning ... I couldn’t believe my career would be over.”Jourdan Thomas
But “over” wasn’t over. What was the end of Thomas’ playing career marked the beginning of a new chapter.
Over the summer, defensive coordinator Tim Banks approached Thomas about becoming a student assistant coach. A door that appeared seemingly closed had reopened, now with a slightly different path.
For Thomas, this opportunity was merely a re-route in God’s plan for him.
Maybe God is saying this is not for me, playing professionally. He didn’t say anything about coaching.
It was a role Thomas was thrilled to take on, but it isn’t always easy.
Being in the same building, among the same teammates and coaches with whom Thomas was once told he would have a breakout season, sometimes serves as a painful reminder of what could have been. Instead of letting it transpire into anger, Thomas has used it to reshape his mindset and approach to his new role.
“I feel like my career got cut short really soon, too soon,” Thomas said. “It still burns inside of me to get back out there, do every rep and play every play at an elite level. But I can’t anymore, so my mindset has shifted. Now, I’m about to pour into the players that I get. They’re going to be the elite legend I was supposed to be. I’m going to make them into legends on and off the field.”
That mindset has become easier for Thomas in knowing that his identity doesn’t lie in football alone.
“There are a lot of people who struggle with identity in this sport,” Thomas said. “You can get so tied up in it. It can become your everything. Once it's taken away from you, then you have to ask the questions: ‘Who are you? What drives you? What motivates you?’ For me, it has always been faith first.”
God was the first voice Thomas turned to following his injury and has continued to turn to for guidance throughout his new journey as a coach. The cross tattooed above his left ear serves as a reminder that God is always in his ear, speaking words of wisdom to him.
“It gave me another perspective on suffering,” Thomas said. “When suffering comes your way, it's not going to last … With God, He gives me hope that I have brighter days ahead. There's joy at the end of the tunnel. I can even have joy in my suffering now because of who He is to me and what he's promised in the midst of the suffering.”
Beyond his faith, Thomas continued to lean on his teammates, who drive his motivation to keep going.
“They’ve been a rock to me,” Thomas said. “I'm glad I'm still able to pour into them the way I am. Just being in this building gives me purpose. It makes me keep going.”
Fellow safety and teammate Andre Turrentine reflected on Thomas’ journey and the bond they have forged since he arrived on Rocky Top 2022. The duo pushes each other to pursue excellence in their final campaign as Volunteers.
“He’s my best friend on this team,” Turrentine said in October. “I’ve seen his mood change a lot. I see him some days when he's not feeling the best. … This game has been good to both of us, so being close with him within that has been great for me.”
Turrentine’s face is the first he sees nearly every morning, according to Thomas. Despite Thomas’ new title of coach, the meaning of teammate remains constant.
“I push him really hard to be the leader that he is,” Thomas said. “He's always been there for me. I'm proud of his success that he's had so far and his leadership. Seeing him grow day by day has been awesome.”
When transitioning from student-athlete to student-coach, the biggest surprise for Thomas was the time commitment and preparation required of his coaches. As a player, much of this took place behind the scenes, but as a member of the coaching staff, Thomas has gained a new perspective on the sacrifices it takes to lead a team.
“I truly have an appreciation,” Thomas said. “I never knew when I was playing, the time, commitment and preparation the coaches put in when they're up there all day. But I get to see it now … I see what they do day-in and day-out, their hard work, the dedication. I see the love too, because they don't have to do what they do, but they choose to at a high level. It's for us. It's for the players, because they want to put us in the best position to succeed … I've truly gained an appreciation for what they do.”
During the 2025 Orange and White game, Thomas was presented with the Inky Johnson Spirit of Courage award. Named after former Tennessee cornerback Inky Johnson, this honor is given to an individual who has overcome significant challenges with extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of adversity — be it physical, mental or emotional.
I find peace in knowing that my career is my career. Another guy's career is his career. We might end at different times. We have to hang the cleats up at different times. You may play longer than I do, and I may play shorter than you do. It's just how life works. It’s nothing to beat yourself up about. It’s just how life works.Jourdan Thomas
Life. Its timing is never ideal, like it was for Thomas. It’s less about how you handle the situation, but how you answer the call.
“The game ends for everybody at some point. It just came quicker for me, which I didn’t expect, but you have to accept it and keep moving on with your life.”