The Cleveland Browns have seen a lot of change in the last few months, with new head coach Todd Monken coming in, Jim Schwartz leaving, Myles Garrett getting traded, and a new crop of young talent coming into the organization.
But Garrett isn’t the only player who has a strong shot at the Pro Football Hall of Fame who is departing the Browns. Longtime offensive lineman Joel Bitonio was also hitting free agency.
And, as Bitonio announced on June 9, he is retiring from the NFL after 12 incredible seasons with some strong accolades that should give him a chance at the Hall of Fame.
“… Wearing that orange helmet and being part of this franchise – from getting drafted to signing three contracts – I felt a loyalty to the Browns, and it gave me a sense of pride to represent a fan base who is consistently loyal to us,” Bitonio writes. “I started the job here, and once I got to a certain point, I knew I wanted to finish the job in Cleveland. Now that job is finished. After 12 seasons of wearing No. 75 in brown and orange, I have officially decided to retire.”
“… Wearing that orange helmet and being part of this franchise – from getting drafted to signing three contracts – I felt a loyalty to the Browns, and it gave me a sense of pride to represent a fan base who is consistently loyal to us,” Bitonio writes. “I started the job here, and once I got to a certain point, I knew I wanted to finish the job in Cleveland. Now that job is finished. After 12 seasons of wearing No. 75 in brown and orange, I have officially decided to retire.”
Bitonio is stepping away from the Browns organization and the NFL after 12 long seasons. The 34-year-old has a very impressive resume that warrants some serious Hall of Fame consideration.
He was a second-round pick, 35th overall, in 2014, playing in 12 seasons, making 178 starts, earning seven Pro Bowl honors, and five All-Pro awards, two of which were first-team All-Pros in 2021 and 2022.
Joe Thomas, who retired after the 2017 season, was a 10-time Pro Bowler and eight-time All-Pro, and he made the Hall of Fame in 2023.
He might have an uphill battle to earn a spot in Canton, but even if not, Bitonio was one of the best guards in the NFL for a very long time.
It was an incredible career for Bitonio, and he played all 12 seasons with the Browns, something that doesn’t happen often in the sports world in recent years.
His loyalty and talent make him one of the all-time best Browns players in franchise history, and he is someone who deserves, at the very least, consideration for the Hall of Fame five years from now in 2031 when he’s eligible.
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