CLEVELAND — As the Cleveland Browns prepare for the postseason, two of their stars have been honored by the local chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).
On Thursday, the Browns announced that defensive end Myles Garrett has been voted the Joe Thomas Award winner, which is presented annually to the team's MVP.
In addition, left guard Joel Bitonio has been named the winner of the Dino Lucarelli "Good Guy Award," which is given annually to a player for his cooperation with the media and for the way the player carries himself in the community and with his teammates.
Bitonio has now won the award four times (2017, 2018, 2021 and 2023), becoming the second Browns player in team history to win the award more than once. Pro Football Hall of Fame OT Joe Thomas won the award in 2010 and 2013.
Garrett secured the Joe Thomas Award after having an outstanding regular season, leading the team with 14 sacks. Throughout the year, Garrett has been an anchor on a Browns defense that leads the NFL in several categories including total defense (266.6 yards per game) and passing defense (165.9 yards per game). The team’s 266.6 net yards allowed per game are the fewest allowed in the NFL since the 2009 Jets allowed 252.3.
Garrett is the first Browns player to win the Joe Thomas Award three times, having won it three of the past four years.
Below is a full list of previous winners:
Joe Thomas Award - Player of the Year Winners:
- 2001 LB Jamir Miller
- 2002 RB William Green
- 2003 LB Andra Davis
- 2004 SS Robert Griffith
- 2005 RB Reuben Droughns
- 2006 LB Kamerion Wimbley
- 2007 QB Derek Anderson
- 2008 DL Shaun Rogers
- 2009 KR Joshua Cribbs
- 2010 RB Peyton Hillis
- 2011 LB D’Qwell Jackson
- 2012 K Phil Dawson
- 2013 WR Josh Gordon
- 2014 OL Joe Thomas
- 2015 TE Gary Barnidge
- 2016 OL Joe Thomas
- 2017 RB Duke Johnson Jr.
- 2018 QB Baker Mayfield
- 2019 RB Nick Chubb
- 2020 DE Myles Garrett
- 2021 DE Myles Garrett
- 2022 OL Joel Bitonio
- 2023 DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns PFWA Dino Lucarelli -‘Good Guy Award’ Winners:
- 2001 QB Tim Couch
- 2002 DB Corey Fuller
- 2003 OL Shaun O’Hara
- 2004 DB Daylon McCutcheon
- 2005 OL Jeff Faine
- 2006 DB Brian Russell
- 2007 K Phil Dawson
- 2008 DB Brandon McDonald
- 2009 LB David Bowens
- 2010 OL Joe Thomas
- 2011 DB Mike Adams
- 2012 LB D’Qwell Jackson
- 2013 OL Joe Thomas
- 2014 QB Brian Hoyer
- 2015 QB Josh McCown
- 2016 LB Christian Kirksey
- 2017 OL Joel Bitonio
2018 OL Joel Bitonio - 2019 DL Sheldon Richardson
- 2020 DL Larry Ogunjobi
- 2021 OL Joel Bitonio and DE Myles Garrett
- 2022 QB Jacoby Brissett
- 2023 OL Joel Bitonio
