CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns are set to honor former left tackle Joe Thomas, one of their most beloved players of the expansion era, during Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers at FirstEnergy Stadium.
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft out of the University of Wisconsin, Thomas will be honored when “10,363” is enshrined in the Browns’ Ring of Honor to recognize his consecutive snaps streak over 11 years with the franchise. Thomas will join the Browns’ 16 Hall of Fame players in the Ring of Honor.
“I am extremely humbled by this honor,” Thomas said in a release from the team. “The snap streak was not something I set out to accomplish. All I ever wanted to do was to be there for my teammates and always do everything I possibly could to help this team win.
“It was important to always get back up and get in the huddle, even when it wasn’t easy. For that number -- 10,363 -- to be forever on display in FirstEnergy Stadium among the likes of all-time greats like Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Lou Groza is something I take great pride in.”
The Browns will be giving out 10,363 limited edition Joe Thomas bobbleheads on a first-come, first-served basis, starting when gates open at 11 a.m.
In December of 2016, Thomas was selected to his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl, and went 10 for 10 in all-star game nods over his first decade with the Browns. With that selection, Thomas became the first Browns player ever selected to participate in 10 Pro Bowls.
Thomas joined an elite group of athletes with the 10th straight selection, as defensive tackle Merlin Olsen (Los Angeles Rams), defensive back/running back Mel Renfro (Dallas Cowboys), running back Barry Sanders (Detroit Lions) and linebacker Lawrence Taylor (New York Giants) are the only other players who went 10 for 10 in Pro Bowl appearances over their first decade in the NFL.
Olsen, Renfro, Sanders and Taylor are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After entering the league, Thomas played 10,363 consecutive snaps, which is believed to be the longest such streak in NFL history.
Thomas’ last game and final year with the Browns came to a premature end when he suffered a season-ending arm injury in a 12-9 setback against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 22, 2017.
In addition to his on-field accomplishments, Thomas is being recognized for his efforts to help in the community.
Thomas remains the only player in Browns history to be the organization’s Walter Payton Man of the Year on multiple occasions. Thomas was honored with the award in 2010, 2012 and 2016, and was a finalist for the 2012 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Also, Thomas is the only player in Browns history to be selected for the PFWA (Pro Football Writers’ Association) Dino Lucarelli Good Guy Award multiple times and was a two-time Browns Player of the Year choice by the local chapter of the PFWA.
Thomas received the Browns’ Salute to Service Award in both 2016 and 2017, created a program to give game tickets to members of the USO of Northern Ohio, and once made a 10,000-mile, week-long trip to military installations in the Middle East to visit with troops as part of the NFL/USO Tour.
Thomas and his wife, Annie, have given support to numerous charitable organizations in Northeast Ohio, including the Cleveland Kids in Need Resource Center, Providence House, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL).
Since his retirement, Thomas has made regular appearances on the Browns’ network of radio and television programs.
“I am stoked to be a part of Browns’ programing,” Thomas said. “When I announced my retirement back in March, I said that I would always be a Cleveland Brown. This organization means so much to me, and I am thrilled that I can still remain extremely close with the team.”
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