AT HOME — Danny Abramowicz relaxes at his home in Mandeville, La. (Contributed)

Fifty years ago, Danny Abramowicz was Michael Thomas.

OK, so maybe his paycheck wasn’t as big.

And nobody referred to him as “Can’t Guard Danny,” although the name would have been fitting.

Abramowicz then, like Thomas now, was the man.

He was the New Orleans Saints’ go-to receiver in 1969, reeling in passes at a league-leading rate from Billy Kilmer the same way Thomas has done with Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater during this record-shattering season.

So Abramowicz, a native of Steubenville and a graduate of Catholic Central High School, has a deep appreciation for Thomas’ jaw-dropping numbers and highlight-reel catches like that one-handed grab Dec. 16 against the Indianapolis Colts.

“It’s pretty incredible,” Abramowicz said. “The fans see the obvious things. I see different things. You can look at him and see he’s a big man, a strong man. But you can’t look at a man’s heart and determination and preparation and that’s what he has. I see a guy who is fearless, a guy who goes over the middle, a guy who is going to get open. He knows his team needs him and he’s going to work at it. That just doesn’t happen.”

On Sunday, Thomas put his name in the NFL record book by breaking a mark that’s been around since he was 9 years old. Thomas, who played his college football at Ohio State, had 12 catches for 136 yards in the Saints’ 38-28 win over the Titans in Nashville, Tenn. That gave him 145 receptions this season, eclipsing the single-season record of 143 set by former Colts star Marvin Harrison in 2002.

This will be Thomas’ second straight season leading the league in receptions. The only other player to wear a fleur-de-lis on the side of his helmet and finish tops in that category was Abramowicz a half a century ago. The NFL wasn’t as pass happy back then, but Abramowicz led the league with 73 receptions.

Thomas needed just eight games to get to that mark. Abramowicz didn’t wrap up the receptions title that season until the final game, edging out Charley Taylor (Washington Redskins) and Roy Jefferson (Pittsburgh Steelers) who were all in a three-way tie entering the final week of the season. Thomas pretty much locked his receptions title up weeks ago.

Words like “tough” and “physical” describe them both. But the similarities don’t stop there.

“God gave him the God-given talent to catch the ball, just like the Lord gave me,” Abramowicz said.

“I had to work on other things like making sure I’m in shape and my preparation. He’s the same way. I bet his preparation with Drew Brees is off the charts. They are like brothers and I see that. They put in the work after practice because you just can’t get that done in practice.”

Thomas’ work habits are often talked about by his teammates. He treats every rep in practice as if a Super Bowl was on the line. And on those rare occasions when he drops a pass in practice, he’s upset about it as if it cost his team a playoff game.

Much like Abramowicz, Thomas proved to be better than most would have ever imagined.

Abramowicz wasn’t drafted until the 17th round.

He led the Saints in receptions and yards receiving each of his first five seasons. Thomas was picked in the second round, but since has made those five teams that drafted receivers before him look about as silly as he often does opposing defensive backs. The 133 receptions Thomas has just this season are more than the career receptions of three of the receivers (Corey Coleman, Josh Doctson, Laquon Treadwell) drafted before him. Will Fuller and Sterling Shepard were the other two receivers chosen before Thomas in 2016.

“When they drafted me in the 17th round, they tested my speed and all that other stuff,” Abramowicz said. “But they couldn’t look at my heart. Same with Michael Thomas. The thing that sets him apart is his heart.”

But it’s not just Thomas’ heart and those gaudy numbers that fascinate Abramowicz.

It’s also that ability to make the big play when needed.

“In critical situations, he wants the ball,” Abramowicz said. “A lot of guys are fearful to put the pressure on their shoulders. ‘Man, don’t put that pressure on me.’ But Michael is the kind that says ‘I’ll get open. Give it to me.'”

He describes that 1969 season when he led the league in receptions as being “beyond his wildest dreams.”

Abramowicz, who lives in Mandeville, La., is 74 now. His hair isn’t as long as it used to be. It’s more gray and bald now. But that doesn’t mean the Who Dats have forgotten him and what he did in his seven seasons with the Saints catching passes from Kilmer and Archie Manning.

“It’s amazing how these people remember me,” he said. “A lot of times you ride off into the sunset and it’s over and they move on to a Michael Thomas, and when he’s gone there it’s someone following him.”

Thomas, of course, will be a tough act to follow. His numbers will likely be etched in the Saints’ record book for years to come.

And, he’s hit a mark that could very well stay in the NFL record book for years to come.

It’s a season to remember, 50 years after another Saint was the league’s best in receptions.

“Everyone thinks the world of Michael,” Abramowicz said. “His accomplishments are amazing. It’s just a matter of how he handles that. If you handle it with humility, you’ll never be forgotten.”

Fifty years later, Abramowicz is still remembered. And 50 years from now, Thomas surely will be too.

(Walker is a sports writer with the New Orleans Advocate and Times-Picayune. This column appeared in Saturday’s edition, and has been updated to reflect that Thomas set the reception record in Sunday’s game. It is used by permission of the newspaper.)