Anterio Thompson had barely started his NFL career when it ended. The Atlanta Falcons rookie defensive tackle says he was informed he would never play football again after being diagnosed with a genetic mutation in his spinal cord, a stunning turn for a player the team had selected in the sixth round of the 2026 draft just months earlier.
Thompson has been on the active/Non-Football Injury list since the start of training camp, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Falcons had placed both Thompson and defensive lineman Zach Harrison on that list as camp opened, per the team, which atlantafalcons.com noted is used when a player suffers an injury or illness outside of football. Thompson did not take part in rookie minicamp after the draft, nor in mandatory minicamp later that summer, the team's report said.
Thompson announced on social media that he had been told he would never play football again, according to the AJC's reporting. He said he had no prior knowledge of the spinal cord issue before being informed of the diagnosis.
From Draft Day Joy to a Devastating Diagnosis
The whiplash of the news hit Thompson hard. He said the moment made him feel like he had gone from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in a matter of seconds, per the AJC's account. A separate report from sports-now.com described Thompson revealing the diagnosis in a candid Instagram post, characterizing it as a jarring shift from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. The outlet also reported that medical professionals informed him he would no longer be able to participate in the sport.
Despite the grim prognosis, Thompson framed the moment through his faith. He said he believed the event was God protecting him and giving him a reason to become closer to God, according to the AJC.
A Winding Path That Led to Washington
Thompson's route to the NFL was anything but conventional. He played for the University of Washington football team after stints at Western Michigan, Iowa and Iowa Western Community College, according to gohuskies.com, which noted he suited up at three different colleges across the 2022-24 seasons. At Washington in 2025, he appeared in all 13 games and started three, per the same team site.
His production improved as his college career went on. Over his final two college seasons, Thompson combined for 64 tackles, four tackles for loss, four pass defenses and 2.5 sacks, the Falcons' official site reported. Back at Iowa Western in 2022, he posted 32 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and six sacks across 12 games, the team noted. During his final season at Washington, he lined up against Illinois in a college football game in Seattle on October 25, 2025, per the AJC.
What Comes Next
The Falcons took Thompson with the No. 208 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 draft, a selection the team's video coverage confirmed at the time he was chosen out of Washington. Now, rather than competing for a roster spot, he is navigating the abrupt end of a football career that never got the chance to begin in Atlanta.
