CLEVELAND — He did it!
Cleveland Browns legend Joe Thomas has been selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
Joining the class of 2023 as the 17th player from the Browns to be enshrined, this is also the first year Thomas has been eligible for the NFL honor.
After his selection was confirmed Thursday night, Thomas gave Cleveland fans a special shout on social media.
“Hey, what’s up Browns fans? It’s Joe Thomas here, and I just got inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame class for the NFL," he said in a video posted to Twitter overnight. "And I just wanted to say a big thank you. Could not have done it without you guys. Eleven beautiful years in Cleveland. Not always full of a lot of wins, but always a lot of pride in the city, in the team and you guys were a huge part of that journey. Absolutely could not have done it without you. Thank you.”
You can watch his shout out in the video below:
Here are some of the stats from Thomas and his career 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).
Who else made the cut for induction in 2023?
- DB Rondé Barber - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Coach Don Coryell - St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Chargers
- LB Chuck Howley - Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys
- DL Joe Klecko - New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts
- CB Darrelle Revis - New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs
- CB Ken Riley - Cincinnati Bengals
- LB Zach Thomas - Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys
- DE/LB DeMarcus Ware - Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos
The 2023 enshrinement ceremony will be held this August in Canton.