Joe Thomas gets biggest win of career, celebrates Hall of Fame enshrinement with family, friends, former teammates, fans

CANTON — Joe Thomas choked up looking at his mom and dad at a table just below the stage, called wife Annie his "rock" and their four young children "such a blessing."He recalled feeling at home from Day 1 in Northeast Ohio, barked along with the Browns fans who stayed until the end of the nearly four-hour ceremony and pledged to be the "biggest" supporter when the team finds success soon.He joked about "what an honor" it was to block for an NFL-record 20 quarterbacks and finish his career on a "1-31 heater," the worst stretch in NFL history.Joe Thomas living his best life, can't wait to celebrate Hall of Fame induction with family, friends, teammates and fansThe kindness, compassion, loyalty and humor that made Thomas beloved by family, friends, coaches, teammates and fans came shining through during a 20-minute speech Saturday afternoon as he soaked up the biggest win of his career. The dominant left tackle wore the gold jacket and saw his bronze bust revealed as he was officially enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.He never made the playoffs and had only one winning season but experienced his personal Super Bowl."It's really impossible to describe the feeling standing up here in front of all of your childhood idols, many of whom hung from the walls on posters when you were a kid in your bedroom," Thomas said. "It's just an incredible feeling and I'm not sure if it will ever feel like we actually belong in this incredibly elite club of the greatest of all time football players."He certainly does. He did as much as a left tackle could.Need proof rookie tackle Dawand Jones has improved conditioning? He played entire Hall of Fame GameHe was a first-ballot selection into the Hall and joined Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas, Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware, Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber, Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley, Jets defensive lineman Joe Klecko, Bengals cornerback Ken Riley and former Chargers coach Don Coryell in the Class of 2023. Thomas is No. 369 of 371 total enshrinees.Thomas, 38, is the only offensive lineman in NFL history to make 10 straight Pro Bowls to start his career, joining Hall of Famers Merlin Olsen, Mel Renfro, Barry Sanders and Lawrence Taylor as the only players to accomplish the feat. He was a six-time first-team All-Pro.Falling in line with greatness: Fellow O-linemen relish their bond with Joe Thomas"His legacy is that he is consistent," Annie said in the video presentation introducing Thomas. "You can count on him no matter what. If you need him, he will be there and he will be perfect."Thomas has always taken the most pride in his streak of 10,363 snaps, which is believed to be the longest in NFL history. From the opener as a rookie in 2007 against the Steelers to his final game against the Titans in 2017 when his triceps tore, he was present and accountable for every play.He answered the bell despite back spasms that once lasted four weeks and a knee so wrecked he didn't practice and struggled to stand during the week in his final seasons."That number 10,363 is special to me in a lot of ways, and not just because it's an NFL record, but because it shows that I was there for my brothers 10,363 times in a row," Thomas said. "Being an offensive lineman is all about being a servant and showing up for everybody else. Loyalty, consistency, doing something bigger than yourself, showing up for the man next to you."Thomas was inspired by his dad, Eric, who went to work every day "no matter what.""When I was about knee-high to a grasshopper, I remember you strapping cross country skis on your feet and going to work in a blizzard in Milwaukee, Wisconsin," Thomas said. "Those were the values that I learned from you, buddy."Thomas' greatness reached well beyond durability and pain tolerance. He combined elite footwork, hand placement, strength and intelligence to become the ultimate tactician.No matter what quarterback stood in the pocket, his blind side was protected. The passers can thank Thomas' mom, Sally.She taught him to "strive for perfection," making him do homework and chores before playing outside and grounding him when he got a C-plus in seventh-grade algebra."I hated it then, but I love it now because that was just a little lesson that you taught me, but it was among a number of crumbs that you gave me growing up that led me to be a perfectionist on and off the field," Thomas said.Their four kids joined Annie in the video. Logan called her dad "amazing," Jack went with "nice," Camryn "compassionate and fun" and Resse "really strong.""Every word that you would love to be described as I would use for him," Annie said. "He has touched a lot of people's lives with just being a good friend, and I'm very honored that I get to call him mine."Best family photo yet! pic.twitter.com/f2wOiqJR7B— Joe Thomas (@joethomas73) August 5, 2023https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThomas' long list of thank-yous included family, friends, coaches, teammates, guidance counselors and the entire Browns organization. The connections he made during his decade-plus with the Browns covered Northeast Ohio and have grown stronger after retirement. Fans and former teammates were all over Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.At one point during the speeches that preceded Thomas', giant men who shared the offensive line with Thomas talked football and drank beer under one of the giant scoreboards — center Alex Mack, guards Joel Bitonio, John Greco and Jason Pinkston and tackles Mitchell Schwartz and Tony Pashos."Joe was the glue," Pashos said of the friendships forged in Berea."The misery that bonds offensive lineman as brothers for life, it's something that people who've never played the position can't really understand," Thomas said.Former line coach George Warhop — who wore a No. 73 hat — guard Eric Steinbach, tight end Aaron Shea, punter Dave Zastudil and long snapper Ryan Pontbriand were also among the 350 people Thomas invited to share the unforgettable weekend. Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam and former Browns left tackle and radio analyst Doug Dieken also had seats in the sun for the festivities."Joe is such a great teammate, a great person," Mack said. "I'm just so excited for this moment for him, for all the hard work he put in. There's just tons of people out here just really soaking it in for Joe, excited for him. A huge reunion."The fans wearing Browns jerseys — or a No. 17 Brian Sipe jersey, orange pants, striped socks and orange wig — were included in the party. Thomas wouldn't have it any other way."Even if we were losing, you guys were there on Sundays barking in the Dawg Pound and partying in the Muni Lot," he said. "You guys are the heartbeat of the Cleveland Browns, and it was truly my honor to be able to represent you on and off the field for 11 seasons."Despite his Wisconsin roots, he dropped anchor in Cleveland and became part of the community. He was welcomed with open arms."The fact of the matter is he's done so much for this city, too, giving back," Zastudil said. "It'll always be his home even if he lives in Wisconsin."Thomas proved his loyalty in 2015 when he declined to ask for a midseason trade to the Broncos despite Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning imploring him to force his way out of town."That really shows you he wanted to be a Clevelander through and through," Zastudil said."I'm fiercely proud to have spent my entire career in Cleveland," Thomas said.Zastudil grew up in Bay Village, Greco in Youngstown. Thomas is the first Browns player inducted from the expansion era that began in 1999, so it hits home even more."This is a day we always knew was going to happen and I can't believe it's here," Greco said. "It's so awesome and I'm so proud of him. I'm excited we're here celebrating. Growing up in Northeast Ohio, I've been to the Hall of Fame, but being here invited by a teammate, somebody that's being inducted and getting his bust unveiled today, I'm so excited."Before Thomas left the stage — the Zac Brown Band stood in his place hours later — he delighted the crowd one last time."It's the greatest honor of my career to be able to accept this lifetime award on behalf of all of Browns Nation," he said. "Cleveland, you could always count on me. Thank you so much for allowing me to count on you. Don't forget to keep showing up for each other."God bless the Cleveland Browns. God bless America and God bless football — the greatest game of all."The post Joe Thomas gets biggest win of career, celebrates Hall of Fame enshrinement with family, friends, former teammates, fans first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.