jose c. portilla solomon thomas

Solomon Thomas has played in the NFL for six seasons as a Defensive Lineman and is Co-Founder and Board Chair of The Defensive Line. Drafted as the #3 overall player in the 2017 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers, he played 4 seasons for the Niners including Super Bowl LIV. His defensive skills have taken him to the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets where he was their nominee for the 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Off the field, Solomon has dedicated his life to sharing Ella’s story and has worked with a myriad of nonprofit organizations to raise awareness and secure funds for mental health and suicide prevention work. His courage to vulnerably share his experience through national media outlets like CNN, ESPN, The New York Times, and NFL Network have established him as a respected advocate in the field. His art submission is a collaboration piece with artist Kyndall Owens, a inspired by the sunflowers that bloom at Dorothea Dix park in Raleigh, NC.