Joe Thomas was recognized Wednesday for reaching a milestone we might not ever see duplicated.
Thomas, who played a record 10,363 consecutive snaps before suffering a season-ending triceps injury in October, was honored at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards.
Thomas, a 10-time Pro Bowler who eclipsed the 10,000-snap mark against the Ravens in Week 2, was a presenter at the show alongside former Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar for High School Athlete of the Year.
Thomas, who started 166 consecutive games since the Browns selected him with the third overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, has long been a force for Cleveland both on and off the field.
Both he and his wife, Annie, are heavily involved with the team's community outreach efforts, including work with the USO of Northern Ohio, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and Providence House. Thomas is a three-time nominee for the Browns' Walter Payton Man of the Year award (2010, 2012, 2016).
Joe and Annie have also been a longtime honorary co-chairs of the annual "Taste of the Browns," which serves as one of the Food Bank's largest fundraisers, and Providence House's "Deck the House" holiday event. Providence House fights to end child abuse and neglect by protecting at-risk children, empowering families in crisis and building safe communities for every child.
Thomas, who was the Browns' 2016 Salute to Service Award recipient, embarked on a 10,000-mile, week-long trip in 2010 to visit troops stationed throughout the Middle East as part of the NFL/USO Tour.
Thomas has also engaged in multiple military appreciation opportunities through the team's First and Ten program, including last month's visit to Brook Park Armory, when USO members onsite surprised him with a commemorative plaque to recognize his contributions since coming to Cleveland.
