CANTON, Ohio — Joe Thomas won’t be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton until later this summer.
But Cleveland Browns fans don’t have to wait until then to celebrate the team’s legendary left tackle.
On Friday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame unveiled a new display featuring memorabilia from Thomas’ 10-year career in Cleveland. Among the items featured are a game-worn jersey, Browns helmet, a Pro Bowl locker name tag, Pro Bowl gloves, custom Browns-colored Nike Air Force Ones and the remnants of the guitar that Thomas broke while introducing his former team ahead of Cleveland’s Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets last season.
This summer, a new version of a featured exhibit for incoming members has been unveiled in Canton.
It includes a free-standing glass case for each member of the Class of 2023, displaying artifacts from their careers. ???? pic.twitter.com/bZ30C621zI
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) July 13, 2023
The 38-year-old Thomas was selected to this year’s Hall of Fame class in what marked his first year of eligibility. Selected by the Browns out of Wisconsin with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, Thomas established himself as one of the best left tackles in football history during his 11 seasons with the franchise. During his time in Cleveland, he was named to 10 consecutive Pro Bowls (2007-16) and earned six first-team and two second-team All-Pro selections, all while playing an NFL record 10,363 consecutive offensive snaps before a torn triceps injury ended his 2017 season — and ultimately his career.
The 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class is comprised of the following nine inductees: