Joe Thomas is hanging it up after 11 seasons, 10 Pro Bowls and 10,363 snaps.
The Browns' ironclad left tackle announced his retirement Wednesday after mulling over the decision ever since he suffered a season-ending injury in October.
Thomas departs Cleveland's roster as one of the franchise's all-time great players and will surely be a Hall-of-Famer when it's all said and done. Here's a look back at his career on and off the field, and why Thomas will be remembered for a long time.
April 28, 2007: The Browns select Thomas, the Wisconsin standout and captain, with the third-overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Instead of attending the draft in New York City, Thomas spends the day fishing with his father on Lake Michigan.
Dec. 30, 2007: In Thomas' first season, the Browns finish 10-6 with a win over the San Francisco 49ers. It's the team's best record since 2002.
Jan. 8, 2008: After playing every single snap as a rookie, Thomas is named to his first Pro Bowl, becoming the first Browns offensive lineman named to the all-star game since 1987 (right tackle Cody Risien) and first rookie since 1982 (linebacker Chip Banks).
Feb. 8, 2009: Thomas, named to his third-straight Pro Bowl, becomes the first Browns offensive lineman to accomplish that feat since Hall of Famer Gene Hickerson (1969-71).
March, 2010: Thomas embarks on a weeklong visit to U.S. troops at military bases throughout Southwest Asia as part of the NFL-USO program during the offseason.
Sept. 29, 2013: Thomas makes his 100th career start in a win over the Bengals.
Sept. 21, 2015: Thomas becomes the host of The Joe Thomas Hour, the Best Two Minutes of Your Life, an Emmy-submitted web series, where he interviews teammates, coaches, media members and more.
Dec. 20, 2016: Thomas is named to his 10th consecutive Pro Bowl, the most in team history, surpassing legends such as Jim Brown (9) and Lou Groza (9). He becomes the fifth player in NFL history to be selected to the Pro Bowl each of his first 10 seasons (Barry Sanders, Lawrence Taylor, Mel Renfro and Merlin Olsen).
Aug. 20, 2017: Thomas is the subject of an E:60 special that dives into his career in Cleveland and his role as the face of the franchise over the past decade. He's the first-ever offensive lineman featured on the show. "I think when ESPN came to me and asked me about doing something like that, I was maybe lukewarm at best at the beginning because it's not my favorite thing to do all the time is two or three days of on camera stuff," he said back in training camp.
"But I did feel a little bit humbled that I was the first offensive lineman that they've ever asked to do an ESPN E:60 special on. So I thought that was kind of special and I felt that it was definitely deserving of my time when I got the full information on what was going to happen and basically what the show was all about."
Aug. 25, 2017: Thomas takes a bow as the first lineman in NFL history.
Sept. 17, 2017: Thomas reaches a milestone we might not ever see again, recording his 10,000 consecutive snap early in a loss to the Ravens. The feat is met with an outpouring of support throughout the league and across multiple sports. Thomas, meanwhile, plays down the honor in typical fashion.
Oct. 15, 2017: The streak comes to an end. On his 10,363th straight snap, Thomas suffers a season-ending triceps injury in a loss to the Titans. It's a devastating blow for the Browns as coach Hue Jackson, teammates and others across the league wish him the best. The following day, Thomas is placed on injured reserve and scheduled for surgery.
Dec. 1, 2017: As he recovers and mentors his younger teammates, Thomas launches the First Podcast in NFL History.
Jan 18, 2017: Thomas is honored for his 10,000th snap streak at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards. During an interview with news reporters, he reiterates he's uncertain about his playing future and, at 33 years old, playfully suggests the Browns should keep tabs on his replacement sooner than later.
March 14, 2018: Thomas calls it a career, leaving behind a legacy unmatched both on and off the field.
