The legacy of Joe Thomas will truly live on.
After eleven remarkable years serving as the left tackle for the Cleveland Browns, the Wisconsin product said goodbye to football on Monday. And he left the same way he entered the spotlight: Graciously.
Nobody expected anything different from Thomas. Throughout his entire tenure in the NFL, he was an ambassador for the sport and was never a controversial figure. He made it a point to help the community of Cleveland and always make himself present for fans to show his love and support for them supporting him. But on Monday, all eyes were on Thomas and all ears were listening, each person hanging on every word he said.
Thomas thanked everyone he felt was responsible for him being in the position he was in, from the Haslam family to every coach and general manager he had. He thanked his wife and all the random teammates he had over the course of his career.
But at the very end of his speech, Thomas very humbly thanked Cleveland and Browns fans for sticking by him for the entirety of his career.
“Lastly, it is important that I mention thanks to all of the fans. You guys were the ones that took me in as one of your own. The grit, passion, toughness and determination that you display on a daily basis is an inspiration for myself and for all of my teammates and all of the people that wear ‘Cleveland’ across their chest. You guys taught me what it means to be a Clevelander. Playing in front of the greatest fans in the NFL is easily the greatest honor that I have had in my 11-year career. I hope I was able to make you guys proud in the way that I was always proud when I told people boldly that I am a Cleveland Brown. The excitement I had for my team and my city never wavered, no matter what the circumstances. It is with all of this, that I must say goodbye.”
Thomas’ day was capped off by being introduced to the fans at Quicken Loans Arena during the Cavs game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Before play resumed, LeBron James jogged over to Thomas and shared a hug with him.
A standing ovation from The Q, a bear hug from @KingJames.
A Cleveland @Browns legend forever.
Thank you, @JoeThomas73.#ThankYou73 pic.twitter.com/fLgA7liWBR
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 20, 2018
It’s safe to say there’ll never be another Joe Thomas. Not in Cleveland, not anywhere. For that, we’re forever thankful.
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