CANTON, Ohio — It all comes down to tonight!
Will Cleveland Browns legend Joe Thomas be selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton? While it seems he’s a lock to join the 2023 class, confirmation comes at 9 p.m. when the inductees are officially revealed live on NBC during the NFL Honors broadcast.
In addition to the live announcement on TV, 3News will also have complete coverage with the outcome later this evening across all of our platforms.
“Up until just a few weeks ago, it didn’t feel quite real,” Thomas told 3News’ Jim Donovan in a recent interview, which you can watch in the video below. “As you do start thinking about possible plans, you start kind of reflecting on all the people that were such a part of getting you on the doorstep of being in the NFL Hall of Fame. Going down memory lane like that is a lot of fun.”
Editor's note: Video in the player at the top of this story was originally published in a previous article on Jan. 24, 2023.
This is the first year Thomas is eligible for induction. If selected, he would be the first player from the Browns to be enshrined in Canton since the team returned to the league in 1999.
Here are some of his stats as listed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
- Selected third overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns
- Started at left tackle all 16 games for the Browns his rookie season, finishing second in AP Offensive Rookie of the Year voting to Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson
- Known for his agility, strength and durability, he played an NFL record 10,363 consecutive snaps – a streak that ended Oct. 22, 2017, after suffering a triceps tear against the Tennessee Titans
- Allowed only 30 sacks in his remarkable career, despite facing several Hall of Fame sack specialists and many team’s top pass rushers
- Was the first offensive lineman in NFL history to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons
- First-team All-Pro honors six seasons (2009-2011, 2013-15) and second-team All-Pro twice (2008, 2012)
- Named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2010s
- Well-known for his involvement in the community, he was selected as the Cleveland Browns’ Walter Payton Man of the Year three times (2010, 2012, 2016).
So who are the 15 modern-era finalists being considered for this year’s class at the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Here’s the full list…
- Jared Allen, Defensive End – 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
- Willie Anderson, Offensive Tackle – 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
- Ronde Barber, Cornerback/Safety – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Dwight Freeney, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker – 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions
- Devin Hester, Punt Returner/Kick Returner/Wide Receiver – 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens
- Torry Holt, Wide Receiver – 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
- Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver – 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
- Albert Lewis, Cornerback – 1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-98 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
- Darrelle Revis, Cornerback – 2007-2012 New York Jets, 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 New York Jets, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs
- Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle – 2007-2017 Cleveland Browns
- Zach Thomas, Linebacker – 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
- DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker/Defensive End – 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-16 Denver Broncos
- Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver – 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
- Patrick Willis, Linebacker – 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
- Darren Woodson, Safety – 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
These finalists were determined by a vote of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s selection committee from a list of 129 nominees in September.
“The selection committee may elect up to five modern-era players for the class of 2023, each must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent for election,” the Pro Football Hall of Fame explains.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony will be held in Canton this August.