EAGAN, Minn. — After nabbing his first NFL interception, Vikings safety Jacob Thomas tossed the ball to his parents in the MetLife Stadium stands.

He can't imagine it going to anyone other than his mom and dad, who have played an integral role in Thomas' road to the NFL. And though the preseason pick won't count toward official stats, the pigskin will be well-treasured.

Thomas reflected on playing his first two seasons at James Madison as a walk-on, noting his parents worked hard to help pay tuition.

"It was the biggest reward getting on scholarship, just to make sure they didn't have to work as much anymore," Thomas said this week. "They've been such a big help, teaching me life lessons and telling me to keep going. They're my biggest supporters and will never miss a game of mine, which is crazy."

That attendance record includes Thomas' games at Stone Bridge High School (Virginia), where he teamed for two seasons with Tai Felton.

Could they ever have imagined one day reuniting in an NFL locker room?

"It's definitely crazy," Felton laughed. "I remember when Jacob came in his freshman year, we were always playing basketball, playing football together. But it's crazy, I never thought this moment would happen. It's definitely a small world, and I'm excited for him. I can tell how much he's grown as a player.

"He's always been a ball player, though, whether basketball or football," Felton added. "He's always been in there flying around making plays. That interception he caught? I expect that from him. I've been seeing that my whole life."

Thomas, who joined the Vikings this spring as an undrafted free agent, acknowledged pregame nerves ahead of Minnesota's preseason game against the Giants — but said once he got three or four plays "and that first hit" under his belt, "it's just football."

"The crowd goes away, and you're just out there, your 11 guys, playing football," he said.

Thomas' fourth-quarter interception against the Giants occurred one play after his tackle of Xavier Gipson forced a third-and-6. He described the turnover postgame — "I got a good break on it and saw the ball up in the air and I was like, 'Holy [crap], I can go get this" — and described the ensuing celebration with teammates "the best feeling in the world."

He wasn't just hyped up by fellow rookies, either. Vikings veterans who had completed their game action for the day whooped and hollered on the sideline, pumping fists into the air and rushing to congratulate Thomas on the takeaway.

It's been "awesome," Thomas said, to receive such guidance and mentorship from vets that include Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson, Tavierre Thomas, Jay Ward and others outside of the safeties group.

"They're so willing to help you out," he said. "Me and Jakobe [Thomas] coming in, it's a hard defense to learn, and safeties have a lot of responsibility. So we're asking them questions all the time, just trying to pick their brain, but they're so willing. They're trying to help us every single day and giving us little pointers, details and information.

"They've been amazing, and they're some of the guys in the league we've looked up to for some time now," Thomas added.

He's grateful to have signed with a team that emphasizes team culture and investing in younger players, explaining he has friends with other NFL teams and understands that isn't always necessarily the case.

"To be here in this environment, for [the vets] to want to leave the place better than they found it, it's been awesome," Thomas said. "I can't speak for other organizations, but for this one, it's been amazing so far."

As the Vikings prepare for their second of three preseason games, Thomas is excited to play at U.S. Bank Stadium, a venue he's still only seen from the outside, and to welcome his parents to Minnesota today for the weekend.

He breaks into an easy smile when talking about the importance of family — a word joined by an infinity symbol tattooed on the inside of his right bicep. Thomas' parents have tattoos that match his, a bonding experience for the trio during his senior year of high school.

"They agreed to it, which, I was very surprised," Thomas quipped. "But yeah, now it's a story I can tell, and I'm really glad I have it with them."

He carries additional connections through tattoos dedicated to his late grandparents, as well as brightly colored silicone wristbands from his father's latest work travels; he currently is wearing two engraved with I ❤️ London and will later swap them out for the next destination.

Thomas would love to nab another interception tomorrow, of course — he might keep the next one — but is remaining focused on simply improving each day. This week, that looked like practicing against the Ravens ahead of the teams' preseason game.

"I feel good. Very comfortable with the playbook," he said. "Obviously there's still levels to it that you've got to master, get down, but through this camp, it's been trying to stack positive days, trying to get 1% better and lean on the veterans in the group. Asking them questions, trying to learn and add stuff into my game. But I feel like it's been a pretty good camp so far."

What they're saying:

"Jacob's a very smart player. … To come in and get the defense down like that, especially because he's kind of everywhere, too; he's kind of one of those guys playing multiple positions. To see him come in every single day, just knowing what to do, he's always in the right spot."

— Byron Murphy, Jr.

Fun fact people might not know:

"I'm one of the best pickleball players in, probably, the country. If I wanted to go pro, I probably could." (Laughs) "No, I'm kidding, but I just love doing outdoor things — pickleball, golf, sand volleyball, doing things with my parents. That's probably the only [fun fact] about me. I don't do much other than football."

5 Faves

Meal: Shrimp, broccoli, brown rice

Color: Pink

Salty snack: Salt & vinegar chips

Childhood movie: Cars 3

NFL Legend: LaDainian Tomlinson

View the Vikings 2026 Schedule.

See future opponents for the Vikings.

Buy single game tickets.

Download the official Vikings App.

See more about the 2028 NFL Draft in Minnesota.