CANTON, Ohio — For Joe Thomas, the ultimate accolade is in sight, and only one last hurdle remains.
The legendary Browns left tackle on Wednesday was named one of 15 Modern-Era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2023. The committee must now go to work selecting no more than five names who will be enshrined in Canton later this summer.
Of the initial list of 129 nominees, Thomas is one of just three in this voting cycle to be a finalist in their first year of eligibility. The 38-year-old spent all 11 of his NFL seasons in Cleveland, becoming perhaps the greatest offensive lineman in the team's history.
Though the Browns went a disappointing 48-128 during his tenure, Thomas' place among the greats of his era was never in question, becoming the first offensive lineman in league history to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons while also being named to eight All-Pro teams. He also played a record 10,363 consecutive offensive snaps before a torn triceps wound up ending his career in 2017.
Joining Thomas on the list of 28 semifinalists were Summit County native and Kent State alum James Harrison as well as former Villa Angela-St. Joseph and John Carroll star London Fletcher, but neither made the latest round of cuts. The other 14 finalists are as follows:
- Jared Allen - DE
- Willie Anderson - OT
- Ronde Barber - DB
- Dwight Freeney - DE/OLB
- Devin Hester - PR/KR/WR
- Torry Holt - WR
- Andre Johnson - WR
- Albert Lewis - CB
- Darrelle Revis - CB
- Zach Thomas - LB
- DeMarcus Ware - LB/DE
- Reggie Wayne - WR
- Patrick Willis - LB
- Darren Woodson - S
All Modern-Era nominees have been retired for at least five seasons, and the committee's ultimate selections will be announced on Feb. 9 during the NFL Honors awards ceremony, the day prior to the Super Bowl. If Thomas is elected, he will be the first former Brown to do so via the Modern-Era committee since Joe DeLamielleure in 2003.
Along with the Modern-Era candidates, Don Coryell has been nominated in the Coach/Contributor category, while Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko, and Ken Riley were nominated by the Seniors Committee (for players retired for more than 20 years). All will have their cases put before the full committee and will be elected if they each receive at least 80% "yes" votes.