Longtime Cleveland Browns offensive guard Joel Bitonio has officially announced his retirement from the NFL after 12 seasons with the franchise, per @RapSheet.
Bitonio, 34, concludes a career spent entirely in Cleveland after being selected by the Browns in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. A staple of the offensive line, Bitonio earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was named a first-team All-Pro twice during his tenure. He also earned three second-team All-Pro honors, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest interior linemen in franchise history.
The veteran guard leaves as the franchise leader in games played (178) since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999, surpassing his former teammate and mentor, Hall of Famer Joe Thomas. Bitonio was renowned for his durability, at one point playing over 6,000 consecutive offensive snaps for the organization.
In a statement released Tuesday morning, Bitonio expressed his gratitude to the city and the organization, noting that he could never envision himself in another uniform. His retirement marks the end of an era for the Cleveland front five as the team begins its mandatory minicamp this week.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting
