Hall of Fame - Joe Thomas
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Joe Thomas’ Career by the numbers.
When it comes to evaluating offensive linemen, stats don't always paint the full picture — there are only so many numbers that can be used to efficiently explain how well a blocker did their assignment on each play, or how much value they truly brought to their team.
Joe Thomas, however, could be considered an exception.
Thomas has plenty of stats to showcase how special he was. With numerous Pro Bowls, All-Pro nominations and the longest snap streak believed to be achieved by any player in NFL history, Thomas has a resume few offensive linemen in the history of pro football have ever matched.
All of those numbers will be a key part of Thomas' case to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 as a first-ballot player.
Thomas, considered one of the greatest offensive linemen of all time, might not need much of a campaign for enshrinement, but we're starting one anyway with a statistical look at what made him so special and where he'd fit among some of HOF numbers.
10 - Pro Bowl selections from Thomas, who is the only offensive lineman in league history to be voted to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls to start a career. He holds the Browns record for the most Pro Bowls, surpassing Jim Brown (nine) and Lou Groza (nine), who are both in the Hall of Fame.
5 - Thomas was the fifth player in NFL history to be voted to 10 straight Pro Bowls in their first 10 seasons. The four others (Merlin Olsen, Mel Renfro, Barry Sanders, Lawrence Taylor) all made the Hall of Fame.
6 - First-team All-Pro selections from Thomas, who compiled them for three straight years from 2009-11 and another three consecutive years from 2013-15.
10,363 - Anyone who followed Thomas' career knows what this number is for. He played 10,363 consecutive snaps across 11 NFL seasons, a feat that will likely never be broken again. From his first snap, a 2-yard gain from Jamal Lewis against the Steelers on Sept. 9, 2007, to his final snap, a 3-yard gain by Duke Johnson against the Titans on Oct. 22, 2017, Thomas became one of the most durable players in the history of the sport.
167 - Games played with the Browns, which ranks 12th among all players in franchise history. Thomas never missed a snap in any of them until his final game, when he tore his triceps on Oct. 22, 2017.
.004 - Thomas allowed just 30 sacks in 6,680 pass-block snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. That means he allowed a sack in an incredibly small .004 percent of pass plays across his career.
95.9 - Thomas' career pass-block grade from PFF was 95.9, which is the best among any player from the PFF era.
48 - The amount of wins the Browns had in Thomas' career. Despite the hard luck and string of disappointing seasons, Thomas continued to dedicate himself to the franchise and carve a legendary career.
20 - The number of starting quarterbacks Thomas blocked for. It started with Charlie Frye (for one game) in 2007 and ended with Cody Kessler in 2017. The Browns always had constant change at the QB position, but Thomas was steadfast in keeping their blindsides clean. Only one other NFL offensive lineman blocked for that many QBs: Kevin Grogan, who also blocked for 20.
52 - Thomas would be the 52nd modern-era offensive linemen in NFL history to be enshrined in Canton.
13 - Thomas would become the 13th offensive lineman in NFL history to be inducted as a first-ballot enshrinee.
7 - Thomas would become the seventh player to have played the majority or all of their career at offensive tackle to be inducted as a first-ballot enshrinee. He would join Jackie Slater, Jim Parker, Forrest Gregg, Walter Jones, Anthony Muñoz and Jonathan Ogden. Only Muñoz and Ogden have more Pro Bowls (each have 11) than Thomas.
18 - Thomas would be the 18th player in Browns franchise history to be enshrined in Canton and first since Mac Speedie was enshrined in the class of 2020. He would also be the first Browns player from the expansion era of the franchise to be inducted after the Browns returned to Cleveland in 1999.
6 - Thomas would be the sixth Browns offensive linemen to be enshrined in Canton and first since Gene Hickerson (Class of 2007).
127 - Thomas would be the 127th first-round pick in NFL history to be enshrined in Canton. He was drafted third overall from Wisconsin in 2007.
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https://www.nfl.com/news/pro-football-hall-of-fame-class-of-2023-revealed-at-nfl-honors
Joe IS IN!!!!!!!
Our musical works to date http://www.arielsatticmusic.com/ -
Of the seasons of Browns football Dad and I watched - Joe Thomas made every single season a winning one. For all of us. Going fishing with his Dad during the NFL draft made him a super star in our book all those years. Congrats Joe ! THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES !
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This may be sacrilege to some. I believe Joe Thomas to be the greatest Cleveland Brown.
Joe is in the top 5, but I have to rank Otto Graham and certainly Jim Brown ahead of him.
JB racked up his 12,312 rushing yards in nine seasons when they were only playing 12 and 14 games FWIW. When he retired there wasn't another running back within 5,000 yards of him, that's how dominant he was. I strongly believe if Jim had gone the Jerry Rice route, and played until he couldn't play anymore, he'd still hold the all time rushing record.
But Hollywood called... Back then, the NFL didn't pay all that well. JB was the first player to break the $100,000 salary barrier. In case you're wondering, that's less than a million in 2022 dollars. (As an aside to that, the 46 retired jersey number I use belonged to DB Don Fleming- who was making so little NFL money he had to take a summer job with Cleveland Electric, and managed to get himself electrocuted.) Back then, a lot of other players had to do the same.
BTW I'm old enough that I can say I was able to see Jim Brown play in person. Ah, those were the days when the Browns could beat up on the expansion Cowboys 45-7.
Get your travel plans to Canton ready...
Joe is in the top 5, but I have to rank Otto Graham and certainly Jim Brown ahead of him.
JB racked up his 12,312 rushing yards in nine seasons when they were only playing 12 and 14 games FWIW. When he retired there wasn't another running back within 5,000 yards of him, that's how dominant he was. I strongly believe if Jim had gone the Jerry Rice route, and played until he couldn't play anymore, he'd still hold the all time rushing record.
But Hollywood called... Back then, the NFL didn't pay all that well. JB was the first player to break the $100,000 salary barrier. In case you're wondering, that's less than a million in 2022 dollars. (As an aside to that, the 46 retired jersey number I use belonged to DB Don Fleming- who was making so little NFL money he had to take a summer job with Cleveland Electric, and managed to get himself electrocuted.) Back then, a lot of other players had to do the same.
BTW I'm old enough that I can say I was able to see Jim Brown play in person. Ah, those were the days when the Browns could beat up on the expansion Cowboys 45-7.
I hope JB is with it enough mentally to realize they just named a major award after him... he's 86 now....
No.
I'll agree that Brown did more to advance professional football than Lombardi did, but Lombardi was the better head coach, and he won the first two Super Bowls.
Its fine how it is.
How about the NFL Coach of the Year being awarded the Paul Brown Award?
Ah, the "Super Bowl Era" excuse.... Lombardi was not the better coach, or the better innovator, sorry... Better motivator? Maybe... Notice they inducted Don Coryell tonight? PB never got the chance to face off with Lombardi for the championship thanks to one LOUSY owner who managed to fire not ONE but TWO HOF Coaches.. If you don't think Bill B. isn't eventually going to get there, you're smoking something.
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Get your travel plans to Canton ready...
Joe is in the top 5, but I have to rank Otto Graham and certainly Jim Brown ahead of him.
JB racked up his 12,312 rushing yards in nine seasons when they were only playing 12 and 14 games FWIW. When he retired there wasn't another running back within 5,000 yards of him, that's how dominant he was. I strongly believe if Jim had gone the Jerry Rice route, and played until he couldn't play anymore, he'd still hold the all time rushing record.
But Hollywood called... Back then, the NFL didn't pay all that well. JB was the first player to break the $100,000 salary barrier. In case you're wondering, that's less than a million in 2022 dollars. (As an aside to that, the 46 retired jersey number I use belonged to DB Don Fleming- who was making so little NFL money he had to take a summer job with Cleveland Electric, and managed to get himself electrocuted.) Back then, a lot of other players had to do the same.
BTW I'm old enough that I can say I was able to see Jim Brown play in person. Ah, those were the days when the Browns could beat up on the expansion Cowboys 45-7.
I hope JB is with it enough mentally to realize they just named a major award after him... he's 86 now....
No.
I'll agree that Brown did more to advance professional football than Lombardi did, but Lombardi was the better head coach, and he won the first two Super Bowls.
Its fine how it is.
How about the NFL Coach of the Year being awarded the Paul Brown Award?
Ah, the "Super Bowl Era" excuse.... Lombardi was not the better coach, or the better innovator, sorry... Better motivator? Maybe... Notice they inducted Don Coryell tonight? PB never got the chance to face off with Lombardi for the championship thanks to one LOUSY owner who managed to fire not ONE but TWO HOF Coaches.. If you don't think Bill B. isn't eventually going to get there, you're smoking something.
Get your travel plans to Canton ready...
I hope JB is with it enough mentally to realize they just named a major award after him... he's 86 now....
Ah, the "Super Bowl Era" excuse.... Lombardi was not the better coach, or the better innovator, sorry... Better motivator? Maybe... Notice they inducted Don Coryell tonight? PB never got the chance to face off with Lombardi for the championship thanks to one LOUSY owner who managed to fire not ONE but TWO HOF Coaches.. If you don't think Bill B. isn't eventually going to get there, you're smoking something.
Well you know how it is with these "Kids" Larry... Football did not exist until the SB era... Same with Stooler fans... Same difference...
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All I can say is fuck the HOF committee... Until they induct Clay Mathews #57... They have 0 credibility in my eyes...His numbers are comparable or better than Junior Se-ow!
P.S. I'm glad for JT don't get me wrong... Well deserved... But it just feels like a token "Let's feel sorry for the Browns fans" move...
Nickers...."There are no old running QB's in the NFL "~Sam Rutigliano~ -
a small FWIW..
My son-in-law & I made the trip to the Philly Draft (bless ya Tour for the hotel arrangements ? Garrett #1)
The morning of, we headed the walk to downtown Philly..
Our 1st visit was to the Sirius radio booth to meet Bruce Murray with a handshake.. Bruce graciously gave us the tour of the booth & his guest that day surprisingly was former browns GM Phil Savage.. Well.... dressed in Browns gear... that met ya got the man bro shake & side hug from Phil..
during meeting Phil, I personally wanted to thank him & his staff for drafting our now HOF'er Joe Thomas... mission accomplished.. Congrats Hall of Fame'r Joe Thomas..
I'll be on a SB weekend mission, to book a Amtrak to Canton, Ohio for Joe's induction.. Hope to see some of you Dawgs there !
It's finally Cleveland Browns Night in Canton O H- !
Browns & Buffett: Got to go fishin, Down to rock bottom again, with just a few Friends -
All I can say is fuck the HOF committee... Until they induct Clay Mathews #57... They have 0 credibility in my eyes...His numbers are comparable or better than Junior Se-ow!
P.S. I'm glad for JT don't get me wrong... Well deserved... But it just feels like a token "Let's feel sorry for the Browns fans" move...
All I can say is fuck the HOF committee... Until they induct Clay Mathews #57... They have 0 credibility in my eyes...His numbers are comparable or better than Junior Se-
Agree. I happen to think Hanford Dixon & Eric Metcalf deserve it as well.
HOF can be kind of controversial. Lynn Swan, meh. Jim Kelly (don't shoot me lol) was probably the 3rd or 4th best QB in the AFC during his time, I think he was 1st ballot.
Happy for #73, great news.
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a small FWIW..
My son-in-law & I made the trip to the Philly Draft (bless ya Tour for the hotel arrangements ? Garrett #1)
The morning of, we headed the walk to downtown Philly..
Our 1st visit was to the Sirius radio booth to meet Bruce Murray with a handshake.. Bruce graciously gave us the tour of the booth & his guest that day surprisingly was former browns GM Phil Savage.. Well.... dressed in Browns gear... that met ya got the man bro shake & side hug from Phil..
during meeting Phil, I personally wanted to thank him & his staff for drafting our now HOF'er Joe Thomas... mission accomplished.. Congrats Hall of Fame'r Joe Thomas..
I'll be on a SB weekend mission, to book a Amtrak to Canton, Ohio for Joe's induction.. Hope to see some of you Dawgs there !
It's finally Cleveland Browns Night in Canton O H- !
a small FWIW..
My son-in-law & I made the trip to the Philly Draft (bless ya Tour for the hotel arrangements ? Garrett #1)
The morning of, we headed the walk to downtown Philly..
Our 1st visit was to the Sirius radio booth to meet Bruce Murray with a handshake.. Bruce graciously gave us the tour of the booth & his guest that day surprisingly was former browns GM Phil Savage.. Well.... dressed in Browns gear... that met ya got the man bro shake & side hug from Phil..
during meeting Phil, I personally wanted to thank him & his staff for drafting our now HOF'er Joe Thomas... mission accomplished.. Congrats Hall of Fame'r Joe Thomas..
I'll be on a SB weekend mission, to book a Amtrak to Canton, Ohio for Joe's induction.. Hope to see some of you Dawgs there !
It's finally Cleveland Browns Night in Canton O H- !
Excellent story ! And the full circle ........
From the Cleveland BROWNS number 73 in his first season of eligibility with 10,343 consecutive snaps from center Mr Joe Thomas .
Now how sweet is that ?
GO BROWNS !
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the super bowl trophy should be named after Paul Brown he did more for the game than vince
No.
I'll agree that Brown did more to advance professional football than Lombardi did, but Lombardi was the better head coach, and he won the first two Super Bowls.
Its fine how it is.
How about the NFL Coach of the Year being awarded the Paul Brown Award?
No.
I'll agree that Brown did more to advance professional football than Lombardi did, but Lombardi was the better head coach, and he won the first two Super Bowls.
Its fine how it is.
How about the NFL Coach of the Year being awarded the Paul Brown Award?
I bring this up every year about this time
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Amazing numbers from Joe considering he protected trash QBs that held onto the ball too long. Sadly we could have had a Joe on each side (if that is even possible) and still not sniffed the playoffs and it is damn shame that he wasn’t on better teams.
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Great job Joe, you deserve it. Sorry we wasted your ENTIRE career with dumpster trash teams.
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Amazing numbers from Joe considering he protected trash QBs that held onto the ball too long. Sadly we could have had a Joe on each side (if that is even possible) and still not sniffed the playoffs and it is damn shame that he wasn’t on better teams.
Amazing numbers from Joe considering he protected trash QBs that held onto the ball too long. Sadly we could have had a Joe on each side (if that is even possible) and still not sniffed the playoffs and it is damn shame that he wasn’t on better teams.
Very sad. It didn't start that way though.
The only good team he played on was his rookie year when the Browns went 10-6; and they still couldn't make the playoffs. The Browns had a really good offensive line that year. They had Joe at LT, Eric Steinbach at LG, Hank Fraley at Center, Seth McKinney at RG and Kevin Shaffer at RT (who was far more effective at RT than LT for the Browns). That 2007 season seemed like the only year Braylon Edwards played to his expectations with 16 TD receptions and 1289 yards receiving from 53 receptions. KWII had 82 receptions for 1106 yards and 5 TD. Jamal Lewis had 1304 yards rushing and 9 TDs on 298 carries. DA threw 29 TD passes (but 19 INT) in the 3797 yards he threw for in the 15 games he played in. Phil Dawson had a great year. Joe had to be thinking, this was a great start with a lot of good things to come for this franchise.
I welcome the only Defensive Coordinator to earn a Superbowl Ring in New Orleans while understanding Revenge of the Nerds is a sequel. "Come get some!" -
I went back and looked at all the quarterbacks that played during Joe's tenure with the Browns from 2007-2017. All I could say is: "My god." It's like a who's who of draft busts, washed up QB's, and no-names.
2007 Derek Anderson (15) / Charlie Frye (1) 2008 Derek Anderson (9) / Brady Quinn (3) / Ken Dorsey (3) / Bruce Gradkowski (1) 2009 Brady Quinn (9) / Derek Anderson (7) 2010 Colt McCoy (8) / Jake Delhomme (4) / Seneca Wallace (4) 2011 Colt McCoy (13) / Seneca Wallace (3) 2012 Brandon Weeden (15) / Thad Lewis (1) 2013 Jason Campbell (8) / Brandon Weeden (5) / Brian Hoyer (3) 2014 Brian Hoyer (13) / Johnny Manziel (2) / Connor Shaw (1) 2015 Josh McCown (8) / Johnny Manziel (6) / Austin Davis (2) 2016 Cody Kessler (8) / Robert Griffin III (5) / Josh McCown (3) 2017 DeShone Kizer (15) / Kevin Hogan (1) -
Amazing numbers from Joe considering he protected trash QBs that held onto the ball too long. Sadly we could have had a Joe on each side (if that is even possible) and still not sniffed the playoffs and it is damn shame that he wasn’t on better teams.
Amazing numbers from Joe considering he protected trash QBs that held onto the ball too long. Sadly we could have had a Joe on each side (if that is even possible) and still not sniffed the playoffs and it is damn shame that he wasn’t on better teams.
It still is baffling to me that the Browns just died in 2008 after such a good 2007.
I think Crennel was a decent coach, maybe not a great motivator.
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Amazing numbers from Joe considering he protected trash QBs that held onto the ball too long. Sadly we could have had a Joe on each side (if that is even possible) and still not sniffed the playoffs and it is damn shame that he wasn’t on better teams.
Very sad. It didn't start that way though.
The only good team he played on was his rookie year when the Browns went 10-6; and they still couldn't make the playoffs. The Browns had a really good offensive line that year. They had Joe at LT, Eric Steinbach at LG, Hank Fraley at Center, Seth McKinney at RG and Kevin Shaffer at RT (who was far more effective at RT than LT for the Browns). That 2007 season seemed like the only year Braylon Edwards played to his expectations with 16 TD receptions and 1289 yards receiving from 53 receptions. KWII had 82 receptions for 1106 yards and 5 TD. Jamal Lewis had 1304 yards rushing and 9 TDs on 298 carries. DA threw 29 TD passes (but 19 INT) in the 3797 yards he threw for in the 15 games he played in. Phil Dawson had a great year. Joe had to be thinking, this was a great start with a lot of good things to come for this franchise.
Very sad. It didn't start that way though.
The only good team he played on was his rookie year when the Browns went 10-6; and they still couldn't make the playoffs. The Browns had a really good offensive line that year. They had Joe at LT, Eric Steinbach at LG, Hank Fraley at Center, Seth McKinney at RG and Kevin Shaffer at RT (who was far more effective at RT than LT for the Browns). That 2007 season seemed like the only year Braylon Edwards played to his expectations with 16 TD receptions and 1289 yards receiving from 53 receptions. KWII had 82 receptions for 1106 yards and 5 TD. Jamal Lewis had 1304 yards rushing and 9 TDs on 298 carries. DA threw 29 TD passes (but 19 INT) in the 3797 yards he threw for in the 15 games he played in. Phil Dawson had a great year. Joe had to be thinking, this was a great start with a lot of good things to come for this franchise.
Anderson had a good year but had a couple clunkers that really cost us that season. I remember Anderson smiling and laughing it up on the sideline after one of those clunkers that ultimately cost us a shot at the playoffs. And then who can forget last game of the season the Dominant Colts led by Manning turn to Jim Sorgi when we needed them the most and get beat by the titans and the 10-6 Browns sit at home for the playoffs.
And a Great line as you pointed out but a little later we had Schwartz, Mack and Thomas at one point protecting busts and journeyman and we went nowhere.
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Amazing numbers from Joe considering he protected trash QBs that held onto the ball too long. Sadly we could have had a Joe on each side (if that is even possible) and still not sniffed the playoffs and it is damn shame that he wasn’t on better teams.
It still is baffling to me that the Browns just died in 2008 after such a good 2007.
I think Crennel was a decent coach, maybe not a great motivator.
It still is baffling to me that the Browns just died in 2008 after such a good 2007.
I think Crennel was a decent coach, maybe not a great motivator.
Yes and No - the most important position on the field We had Quinn, McCoy and Weeden that followed on rosters that weren’t too shabby and given a line to protect them. We were rescued a bit when Lil Shanny gave us a little hope early in 2014.
You can’t repeatedly F up the QB position we are a prime example and case study of having an all world blind side protector and it means Jack when they are protecting crap.
Congrats JT !
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