# Tom Gilson (American football)

Thomas Gilson, Jr (born November 6, 1988) is an American former professional football wide receiver. He played college football at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was a member of the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks, Cleveland Gladiators, Los Angeles Kiss, Portland Steel, Washington Valor, Cleveland Gladiators, and Jacksonville Sharks.

## Early life

Gilson played high school football at Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Massachusetts. He lettered two years each at quarterback and wide receiver. He led the team to the state championship in 2003 and 2004 with a 25–0 record at quarterback. Gilson helped the team win league titles in 2005 and 2006 with a 19–2 overall record. He earned Sun Chronicle All-Star honors his junior and senior seasons. He also garnered Hockomock League All-Star recognition his senior year and was named a Brockton Enterprise All-Star as a junior. Gilson played in the Shriner's All-Star Game. He accumulated 54 receptions for 1,154 yards and a school-record 15 touchdowns in his two years as a wide receiver. He was a team captain for the basketball team his senior year. Gilson was also a state qualifier in the triple jump and 4 × 100 metres relay in track and field.

## College career

Gilson played for the UMass Minutemen from 2008 to 2011. He was redshirted in 2007. He won the team's Outstanding Offensive Scout Team Player award in 2008. Gilson caught 39 passes for 446 yards as a senior in 2011. He graduated from UMass with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.

## Professional career

Gilson played for the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) in 2013. He was named the PIFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after recording 93 receptions for 946 yards and 19 touchdowns during the regular season. He caught six passes for 91 yards and three touchdowns against the Richmond Raiders in the first round of the playoffs. Gilson also earned Second Team All-PIFL honors.
Gilson was assigned to the AFL's Cleveland Gladiators on July 25, 2013. He recorded three receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown in five games for the Gladiators during the 2014 regular season. He caught three passes for 25 yards and a touchdown in the Gladiators' 56–46 win over the Orlando Predators in the American Conference Championship game on August 10, 2014. Gilson then played in ArenaBowl XXVII, a 72–32 loss to the Arizona Rattlers.
Gilson was assigned to the Los Angeles Kiss of the AFL on October 28, 2014. He recorded 53 receptions for 549 yards and seven touchdowns in seventeen games for the Kiss in 2015.
Gilson was assigned to the Portland Thunder of the AFL on February 9, 2016. On February 24, 2016, the franchise changed its name from Thunder to Steel. He caught 132 passes for 1,303 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2016.
Gilson was assigned to the Washington Valor on February 20, 2017. On March 31, 2017, Gilson was placed on recallable reassignment.
On May 26, 2017, Gilson was assigned to the Cleveland Gladiators. On May 27, he refused to report. On June 1, he was activated. Gilson played in 5 games, starting 4, in 2017, catching 18 passes for 200 yards and 1 touchdown.
Gilson played in 13 games for the Jacksonville Sharks of the National Arena League in 2018, recording 67 receptions for 875 yards and 18 touchdowns.

## Coaching career

Gilson has spent time as a wide receivers coach at both Santa Ana College and Mount Ida College, an assistant coach at Xaverian Brothers High School, a strength and conditioning intern at the University of South Carolina, a strength and conditioning graduate assistant at the University of the Incarnate Word, an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Utah State University, and an assistant athletic performance coach at the University of California, Los Angeles.