CANTON, Ohio — In what is sure to be the first of many this weekend, Cleveland Browns great Joe Thomas received a hearty ovation on Thursday night.
The cheers came as Thomas -- and the rest of the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class -- were introduced at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium ahead of the annual Hall of Fame Game. With Thomas' former team taking on the New York Jets, there were plenty of Browns fans in attendance, who proceeded to greet the 10-time Pro Bowl selection with loud cheers -- and even some barks -- as he walked across the 50-yard line with both the Browns and Jets' rosters lined up across the field.
"#TheDawgPound never disappoints!!!" Thomas tweeted shortly after the ovation.
Cleveland's first Hall of Fame inductee since the franchise returned to the NFL in 1999, and the most recent active Browns player to be selected to the Hall of Fame since Ozzie Newsome, Thomas is the de facto headliner of this year's class. The complete 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class is as follows:
- Offensive tackle Joe Thomas
- Linebacker Zach Thomas
- Linebacker DeMarcus Ware
- Cornerback Darrelle Revis
- Cornerback Rondé Barber
- Coach Don Coryell
- Linebacker Chuck Howley
- Defensive lineman Joe Klecko
- Cornerback Ken Riley
Selected by the Browns out of Wisconsin with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Thomas established himself as one of the best left tackles in football history during his 11 seasons with the franchise. During his time in Cleveland, he was named to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls (2007-16) and earned six first-team and two second-team All-Pro selections, all while playing an NFL record 10,363 consecutive offensive snaps before a torn triceps injury ended his 2017 season — and ultimately his career.
For all the latest from Thursday's Hall of Fame Game in Canton, follow our live blog.