CLEVELAND — Joe Thomas' road from the fishing boat on Draft Day 2007 to football immortality is complete. On Thursday evening, the Cleveland Browns legendary offensive tackle was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023.
The announcement came during the annual NFL Honors awards show ahead of the upcoming Super Bowl. The 38-year-old Thomas was elected in his first year of eligibility, giving him the additional distinction of being a first-ballot selection.
Thomas established himself as one of the best left tackles in football history during his 11 seasons with the Browns. During his time in Cleveland, Thomas 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 ended his 2017 season — and ultimately his career.
“We are so proud Joe Thomas will be recognized, appropriately, as a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement following the announcement. “Joe epitomized the standard of excellence in everything he did for the Cleveland Browns organization and for our community."
Here's a look at reaction to Joe Thomas' election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on social media, starting with No. 73 himself.