Joel Bitonio announces his retirement after 12 seasons with the Browns
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Joel Bitonio, a 12-year Cleveland Browns guard and two-time first-team All-Pro, has announced his retirement from the NFL after spending his entire career with the team.
- Bitonio expressed deep loyalty to the Browns, stating he never envisioned playing for another team and felt pride representing Cleveland's dedicated fan base.
- He credited veteran Browns linemen like Joe Thomas, Alex Mack, and Mitchell Schwartz for setting a high durability standard, which inspired him to play 6,481 consecutive offensive snaps from 2017 to 2023.
- Bitonio played every snap in his final season, and although he is now a free agent, he affirmed his identity as a lifelong Brown.