This is the end of the line for Joe Thomas. After a league source told Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com that the Browns’ stalwart left tackle is more than likely retiring, the 33-year-old Thomas confirmed it himself.
He will not return for a 12th season.
“This was an extremely difficult decision, but the right one for me and my family,” Thomas said. “Playing in the NFL has taken a toll on my body and I can no longer physically compete at the level I need to.”
He will leave the game as one of the best players of his era and will be a near-lock for the Hall of Fame five years from now.
“From the moment I was drafted, the city embraced me in a way that I could never fully describe,” Thomas said. “I am proud to call Cleveland home. The loyalty and passion of the fans is unmatched and it was an honor to play in front of them from the past 11 years. I would like to thank all of the coaches, teammates, staff, fans and everyone who has shown me support throughout my career. Even though I will be hanging up my cleats, I will always be a Cleveland Brown.”
He will end his career as one of the best offensive linemen of his era and one of the greatest players in Browns history. Thomas’ run of 10 straight Pro Bowls from 2007-16 doubles as the only time in NFL history an offensive lineman has accomplished that in his first 10 seasons. Only Otto Graham and Jim Brown ended their careers with more first-team All-Pro honors than Thomas’ six, the last of which coming in 2015. From 2009-15, only once did the 6-foot-7 blocker not finish as an All-Pro.
A constant trade candidate in his 30s, Thomas continued to insist he wanted to stay in Cleveland rather than go try and win elsewhere as so many veterans before him did. And neither Ray Farmer nor Sashi Brown pulled the trigger on dealing him. Although, the Browns and Broncos came close to striking a deal in 2015 — months before a Denver team with a need at tackle celebrated a Super Bowl championship.
Perhaps most known for his ironman streak that spanned from his rookie year until midway through last season, Thomas never appeared in a playoff game but established an immense legacy in northeast Ohio.
The Wisconsin product started in 167 straight games (10,363 straight snaps), protecting 20 different quarterbacks and being the team’s cornerstone player through many rebuilding missions. The closest the Browns came to the postseason was in Thomas’ rookie year, when Derek Anderson piloted the team to a 10-6 record. They have not had a winning season since and have won more than five games just one other time in that span.
Thomas has spoken glowingly about the Browns’ prospects, but he is opting to step aside.
“I think the future is really bright,” he said recently. “Obviously, John Dorsey came here for a reason because there was a ton of cap space, a ton of money that you can spend under the salary cap on new players, and obviously the draft picks that we have are pretty impressive, really unprecedented to have the first, the fourth [overall selections] and a couple early picks in the second round. So although the talent hasn’t been there for the team the last few years, the cupboards are not bare because of what we have coming down the pike in the next few years. For me as a player and for you guys as fans, it’s a great time to be a Cleveland Brown.”
Earlier this week, Thomas indicated that the Browns’ moves over the past week won’t impact his decision. Those moves, of course, include the acquisitions of wide receiver Jarvis Landry, quarterback Tyrod Taylor, and cornerbacks Terrance Mitchell and Damarious Randall. They also added a pair of new offensive linemen Chris Hubbard and Donald Stephenson. The Browns were interested in Nate Solder as a Thomas replacement, but the Giants agreed to sign him.
Thomas has been an active member of the community in Cleveland, having been the only player to earn the Walter Payton Man of the Year award multiple times (2010, 2012 and 2016), and has launched the ThomaHawk Show, a podcast with former Browns and Bengals wide receiver Andrew Hawkins.
Noooooo
He’ll be a “special advisor” in no time
Man why retire now? I couldn’t ever fathom going out on a winless team and an injury, right when the terrible franchise I’ve been with looks to be turning around
You still have oh for Jackson, until he’s gone you will never turn around
If this is true… this is the biggest waste of hall of fame talent by an organization that I’ve ever seen. The government should claim eminent domain on FirstEngery Stadium. How many inept ownerships do they need? The Patriots won more games in 1 season than they have in the last 4 seasons combined. Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders at least played in the playoffs.
Sorry… in the last 5 seasons.
I agree, biggest waste of talent by an organization in all 4 major sports.
Why don’t you guys show some respect? This is a thread for that, not for what you’re doing.
Hell of a player. Lot of respect for Thomas.
Maybe he couldn’t take the buffoonery that is going on there… like signing Carlos Hyde and passing on Barkley.
You’ve made it very obvious that you’re not a Browns fan. If all you can do is criticize everything they do, then maybe it’s time for you to find something constructive and meaningful to do with your life.
I think Barkley is going to be great but there are several other backs who could compete with Hyde and Duke Johnson (like Guice or Michel) and not have the Browns pass up a QB and maybe a DB or the top G prospect. If Barkley is still there at 4 I think they would draft him whether Hyde is there or not, but I don’t think one RB is going to bring the team to the playoffs.
The draft hasn’t even happened yet, so how does Hyde’s signing prove they are passing on Barkley? Plenty of teams have added in free agency and then drafted a player with a high pick. The Bears took Trubisky despite signing Glennon. The Cowboys took Elliot despite having McFadden and adding Alfred Morris. You must have an inside scoop or work in the Cleveland front office to know what they are doing and thinking. Who needs Adam Schefter when you have Z-A.
Thank you Joe Thomas for a fabulous career. You are a HOF no doubt. First ballot all the way. You were the ultimate team player and the face of a terrible franchise for so long. As a 49er fan I wish you the best on your future endeavors and IF browns ever do win a SB they give you a ring. You paved the way LT are suppose to conduct themselves on and off the field for future years to come!!!
Thank you, Joe Thomas…….a first ballot HOFer!
Yep he was a STUD
Man, it’s hard being a browns fan, but Joe Thomas could do nothing more for the city or the fan base. He could probably play, but 1-31 would make a lot of ppl quit. Good luck Joe!
So, he calls out Richard Sherman and then abruptly quits the next day?
And invites Richard Sherman onto his show when Sherman answered him on Twitter. Respect on both sides. Try to keep up.
He will be a “near-lock” for the Hall of Fame? Just who would qualify as a “lock” for the Hall of Fame in your eyes? What a stupid thing to say.
I wondered about that, too.
You need to say “near-lock” because there are a lot of snobs on the voting committee who will sneer at his lack of a Super Bowl ring, playoff appearance, or a winning team and hold that against him.
So much for things looking up in Cleveland.
Add Joe to the list of Calvin and Barry of retiring too soon from playing with crappy teams
Such a shame a great player never had a quality team around him.
Congrats on a great career and wish him nothing but success in his next adventure
Nothing but tons of respect from me, but much more importantly there is undoubtedly nothing but tons of respect from every player he played with and against in his career. Let’s appreciate his career, not bemoan what the Browns could have done better to put a team around him.
Congratulations to Joe Thomas, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
Class act on and off the field. First balot Hall of Famer!
At 33 i find it hard to believe he cant still compete. He got hurt once and now he is retiring.
He’s got other options and would like to pursue them. I bet he can still compete, the thought was he would stick around one more year and hang em up. It’s his decision. And I think browns fans everywhere respect that decision and wish him nothing but the best. Good luck Joe! You will be missed. See you in the hall in 2022.
Some guys want to go out on their own terms instead of being forced out by injury or no team being interested. I know Joe Thomas said somewhere (ESPN had a sound recording of him speaking over the phone or on the radio about his retirement) that he’s hanging it up because he doesn’t feel like his body can handle another season. He’s also been injured plenty, he’s just played through it except for this recent injury. I’m sure he has a laundry list of injuries that go back to his HS and college days as well. If he’s suffered any concussions than I’m sure that played into it as well. Football is the most physical sport and some guys just want to be able to retire on their own terms without some injury affecting the way they have to live.