Advertisement

Former Browns star Joe Thomas a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023

steve doerschuk, the repository
·3 min read
1
Joe Thomas, offensive tackle
Joe Thomas, offensive tackle

Joe Thomas has a chance to complete a Cleveland offensive line with a home in Canton.

Thomas was named Wednesday as one of 15 modern-era finalists to be part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023. He was announced during the first segment of the "Gold Jacket Finalists" program, airing live tonight on NFL Network from 8 to 9 p.m. All 15 modern-era finalists will be announced over the course of the hour.

"It's a ton of emotion, right?" Thomas told NFL Network after being announced as a finalist. "You just kind of well up with excitement when you get to hear your name as one of the finalists and you get an opportunity to kind of stroll down memory lane and just think about all the people that helped get you here and all the great teammates that you had a chance to play with that were such a big part of being able to get yourself as one of the Hall of Fame finalists.”

Thomas played left tackle for the Browns from 2007-17 and is a finalist in his first year of eligibility.

Former Browns left tackle Joe Thomas is greeted by former teammates as he is honored in a ceremony at halftime of a game against the New York Jets , Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Cleveland.
Former Browns left tackle Joe Thomas is greeted by former teammates as he is honored in a ceremony at halftime of a game against the New York Jets , Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Cleveland.

Former Browns in the Hall of Fame include center Frank Gatski, right tackle Mike McCormack, and guards Gene Hickerson and Joe DeLamielleure. There will be a pair of left tackles if Thomas gets in and joins Lou Groza. Thomas is regarded as a better left tackle than Groza, who made it based on his line play and his kicking.

The Class of 2023 will be elected at an upcoming meeting of a 49-person voting group. Thomas advanced to the final 15 from a group of 28 semifinalists announced in November.

Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas blocks Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs during the first quarter, Sept. 17, 2017, in Baltimore.
Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas blocks Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs during the first quarter, Sept. 17, 2017, in Baltimore.

Reaching the finals in his first year of eligibility is a sign Thomas will make the Hall of Fame at some point, but he is no lock this year. No more than five of the 15 modern-era finalists will make the Class of 2023.

Thomas joined the Browns as a No. 3 overall draft pick out of Wisconsin in 2007. Starting with the first down of his rookie year, he was on the field for an NFL-record 10,363 consecutive snaps.

Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas walks off the field after a game against the Packers, Oct. 20, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis.
Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas walks off the field after a game against the Packers, Oct. 20, 2013, in Green Bay, Wis.

The streak ended when he left a game against the Titans on October 22, 2017. It was the last of his 167 games in a career that included 10 Pro Bowls.

The last time an ex-Brown got elected to the Hall of Fame was 2007, when Hickerson went in.

When the Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 will be announced

The 2022 NFL Football Hall of Fame class is seen during the NFL Honors show February. 10, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The class is: Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Cliff Branch, Art McNally and Dick Vermeil. Filling in for Sam Mills is Melanie Mills and filling in for Tony Boselli is Elain Anderson.
The 2022 NFL Football Hall of Fame class is seen during the NFL Honors show February. 10, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. The class is: Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Cliff Branch, Art McNally and Dick Vermeil. Filling in for Sam Mills is Melanie Mills and filling in for Tony Boselli is Elain Anderson.

The Class of 2023 inductees will be announced on Feb. 9 during NFL Honors, the prime-time awards show when The Associated Press reveals its individual award winners for the 2022 NFL season, including Most Valuable Player and Coach of the Year.

Four finalists previously announced are Don Coryell in the coaching category, and Chuck Howley, Joe Klecko and Ken Riley in the senior category.

Cleveland Browns in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Pro Football Hall of Fame running backs (from left) Leroy Kelly, Bobby Mitchell and Jim Brown brought Gene Hickerson (front) onto the stage during Hickerson's enshrinement into the Hall of Fame at Fawcett Stadium on Aug. 4, 2007 in Canton. Hickerson, unable to take the stage himself due to poor health, was the lead blocker for Kelly, Mitchell and Brown in Cleveland.

Thomas is looking to join the select company of former Cleveland Browns in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Browns have 17 enshrinees in the Hall who were a part of the franchise for a significant part of their career.

Cleveland's 17 Hall of Famers are:

  • Jim Brown, RB

  • Paul Brown, head coach

  • Joe DeLamielleure, OL

  • Len Ford, DE

  • Frank Gatski, OL

  • Otto Graham, QB

  • Lou Groza OL/K

  • Gene Hickerson, OL

  • Leroy Kelly, RB

  • Dante Lavelli, WR

  • Mike McCormack, OL

  • Bobby Mitchell, WR/HB

  • Marion Motley, FB

  • Ozzie Newsome, TE

  • Mac Speedie, WR

  • Paul Warfield, WR

  • Bill Willis, DL

Cleveland Browns players (from left) Otto Graham, Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedie celebrate a win with their head coach, Paul Brown. All four men are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Cleveland Browns players (from left) Otto Graham, Dante Lavelli and Mac Speedie celebrate a win with their head coach, Paul Brown. All four men are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Joe Thomas a Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 finalist