Jack Thompson, nicknamed the “Throwin’ Samoan,” is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players to emerge from Washington state. At Evergreen High School, Thompson set all-time passing records, throwing for 2,905 yards over his career (1971–1973), including 1,378 yards in his senior season. He led Evergreen to the North Puget Sound League championship and guided the team to the state semifinals, the inaugural year of Washington high school football championships.

Thompson continued his record-breaking performance at Washington State University, where he completed 601 of 1,086 passes for 7,818 yards and 53 touchdowns. He earned All-American honors in 1978, became the first junior in NCAA history to surpass 5,000 passing yards, and had his jersey retired by WSU, one of only two players in school history to receive that honor.

Drafted third overall in the 1978 NFL Draft, Thompson enjoyed a professional career highlighted by a standout season with 249 completions for 2,906 yards and 18 touchdowns. His NCAA and Pac-10 records cemented his place among the elite quarterbacks in collegiate football history.

After his playing career, Thompson has remained deeply involved in youth development and community service. He currently serves as the quarterback coach at Ballard High School and works with the Salvation Army in Seattle, continuing to mentor and inspire the next generation of athletes.