Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Joe Thomas
Enshrinement
Published on : 8/1/2023
By Evan Rogers
Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Seventh in a series of features on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023)
Throughout the entirety of JOE THOMAS' football career, he rarely was seen on the sidelines.
At Brookfield Central High School, Thomas starred on both sides of the ball for the Lancers, playing on the offensive and defensive lines as well as tight end. A future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer, he even took snaps on special teams, serving as Brookfield Central’s punter, a skill Thomas said came from his father, also a high school punter.
Tabbed a four-star recruit by 247Sports, Thomas held offers from multiple blue-chip programs, including Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Nebraska.
By the end of his recruitment process, Thomas was as highly sought after as any recruit in the country. The University of Iowa was reported to be sending Thomas upward of “five (to) six letters a day.”
“That’s pretty crazy, but I look at it as a privilege,” Thomas said while in high school. “It’s people wanting you, and you’re in control. They’re courting you; it’s a great thing.”
Before Thomas officially inked his commitment to play for Wisconsin, he already was making waves among the Badger greats. Joe Panos, a former All-American offensive tackle at Wisconsin, served as a volunteer assistant at Brookfield Central and recalled Thomas’ elite skill set flashing from first sight during a footwork drill.
“After watching him, I turned to one of the other coaches and said, ‘Based on talent alone, this kid will play football as long as he wants as long as he doesn’t get hurt,’” Panos said. “He’s that gifted … He’s big, strong (and) explosive. Great feet; great kid.”
As a Lancer, Thomas accumulated several honors, including All-American status from PrepStar and USA Today. In his senior season, Thomas recorded 85 tackles and 12 sacks and was named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year.
After playing limited snaps his true freshman year of college — mostly serving as an extra blocker in run packages — Thomas became a full-time starter as a sophomore.
During his junior year, Thomas cemented himself on a national scale. He started every game for the Badgers and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. By the end of the year, Thomas was recognized as a potential top-15 pick in the ensuing NFL Draft, but a torn ACL in Wisconsin’s bowl game prompted him to return for a fourth year.
Thomas upped his play, earning all-conference honors again and consensus All-American status. He also took home the Outland Trophy, awarded annually to college football’s top interior offensive lineman.
“(Thomas) is the best lineman to ever come through here,” then-Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez said. “Everything came easy to him.”
Possibly Thomas’ lone football-related absence came on draft night.
Instead of attending the 2007 NFL Draft, the eventual No. 3 overall pick, to the Cleveland Browns, opted to uphold a family tradition and went fishing with his dad on Lake Michigan.
“A lot of non-Browns and non-Badgers fans will say to me, ‘You're the guy that went fishing on draft day,’” Thomas said. “It's a special story for me because it reminds me of my dad. We used to go fishing together and have these father-son moments.
“I didn't dream of going to the NFL Draft, I dreamed of playing in the NFL. (The Draft) is just an entertainment event, and for me it didn't even make a blip on my radar as exciting.”
Thomas quickly adjusted to the professional ranks. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons, setting a Browns franchise record for total appearances. He also served as the standard of durability in the league, playing 10,363 consecutive snaps during his 11-year career, a mark believed to be the longest streak in NFL history.
“I'm hired to do a job,” Thomas said. “They expect me to do a job, and that job requires me to get my butt up and get back to the huddle, get the play and go do it another time. And until I can't physically get up, I'm going to do that.”
Whether it was the 10 consecutive losing seasons, six different head coaches or the hodgepodge of 20 quarterbacks Thomas played with while in Cleveland, the eight-time All-Pro tackle always managed to get up for the next play.
For Thomas, it was his selfless approach that kept him on his feet — no matter what.
“If I was playing for my own additional accolades, there is a ceiling,” he said. “When you play for teammates, the franchise, the city and the fans and your wife and kids, you find another gear that might not normally be possible.”
Evan Rogers is a student at the University of North Carolina and is an intern this summer at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Seventh in a series of features on the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023)
Throughout the entirety of JOE THOMAS' football career, he rarely was seen on the sidelines.
At Brookfield Central High School, Thomas starred on both sides of the ball for the Lancers, playing on the offensive and defensive lines as well as tight end. A future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer, he even took snaps on special teams, serving as Brookfield Central’s punter, a skill Thomas said came from his father, also a high school punter.
Tabbed a four-star recruit by 247Sports, Thomas held offers from multiple blue-chip programs, including Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Nebraska.
By the end of his recruitment process, Thomas was as highly sought after as any recruit in the country. The University of Iowa was reported to be sending Thomas upward of “five (to) six letters a day.”
“That’s pretty crazy, but I look at it as a privilege,” Thomas said while in high school. “It’s people wanting you, and you’re in control. They’re courting you; it’s a great thing.”
Before Thomas officially inked his commitment to play for Wisconsin, he already was making waves among the Badger greats. Joe Panos, a former All-American offensive tackle at Wisconsin, served as a volunteer assistant at Brookfield Central and recalled Thomas’ elite skill set flashing from first sight during a footwork drill.
“After watching him, I turned to one of the other coaches and said, ‘Based on talent alone, this kid will play football as long as he wants as long as he doesn’t get hurt,’” Panos said. “He’s that gifted … He’s big, strong (and) explosive. Great feet; great kid.”
As a Lancer, Thomas accumulated several honors, including All-American status from PrepStar and USA Today. In his senior season, Thomas recorded 85 tackles and 12 sacks and was named the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association Defensive Player of the Year.
After playing limited snaps his true freshman year of college — mostly serving as an extra blocker in run packages — Thomas became a full-time starter as a sophomore.
During his junior year, Thomas cemented himself on a national scale. He started every game for the Badgers and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. By the end of the year, Thomas was recognized as a potential top-15 pick in the ensuing NFL Draft, but a torn ACL in Wisconsin’s bowl game prompted him to return for a fourth year.
Thomas upped his play, earning all-conference honors again and consensus All-American status. He also took home the Outland Trophy, awarded annually to college football’s top interior offensive lineman.
“(Thomas) is the best lineman to ever come through here,” then-Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez said. “Everything came easy to him.”
Possibly Thomas’ lone football-related absence came on draft night.
Instead of attending the 2007 NFL Draft, the eventual No. 3 overall pick, to the Cleveland Browns, opted to uphold a family tradition and went fishing with his dad on Lake Michigan.
“A lot of non-Browns and non-Badgers fans will say to me, ‘You're the guy that went fishing on draft day,’” Thomas said. “It's a special story for me because it reminds me of my dad. We used to go fishing together and have these father-son moments.
“I didn't dream of going to the NFL Draft, I dreamed of playing in the NFL. (The Draft) is just an entertainment event, and for me it didn't even make a blip on my radar as exciting.”
Thomas quickly adjusted to the professional ranks. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons, setting a Browns franchise record for total appearances. He also served as the standard of durability in the league, playing 10,363 consecutive snaps during his 11-year career, a mark believed to be the longest streak in NFL history.
“I'm hired to do a job,” Thomas said. “They expect me to do a job, and that job requires me to get my butt up and get back to the huddle, get the play and go do it another time. And until I can't physically get up, I'm going to do that.”
Whether it was the 10 consecutive losing seasons, six different head coaches or the hodgepodge of 20 quarterbacks Thomas played with while in Cleveland, the eight-time All-Pro tackle always managed to get up for the next play.
For Thomas, it was his selfless approach that kept him on his feet — no matter what.
“If I was playing for my own additional accolades, there is a ceiling,” he said. “When you play for teammates, the franchise, the city and the fans and your wife and kids, you find another gear that might not normally be possible.”
Evan Rogers is a student at the University of North Carolina and is an intern this summer at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
More of this series
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Rondé Barber
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Don Coryell
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Chuck Howley
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Joe Klecko
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Darrelle Revis
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Ken Riley
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Joe Thomas
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Zach Thomas
- Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: DeMarcus Ware
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Countdown to 2023 Enshrinement: Zach Thomas
Undersized and overlooked at every level of football he played, Zach Thomas, Pro Football Hall of Famer, no longer will be undervalued.
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