Joel Bitonio retires a Brown: 7 Pro Bowls, 178 starts, and zero seasons anywhere else
The longtime guard played 12 seasons entirely in Cleveland, making the most starts of any Brown since the 1999 return. His exit completes the offensive-line teardown we wrote about this spring.
Joel Bitonio is retiring after 12 seasons, all with the Cleveland Browns. The guard the Browns drafted 35th overall in 2014 leaves as a seven-time Pro Bowler and the franchise's most prolific starter of the modern era, having stayed loyal to one team through a decade-plus of organizational chaos.
What was the career?
One of the most decorated interior linemen of his generation, and a model of consistency. Bitonio made seven Pro Bowls, tied for fourth-most in Browns history, and earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and 2022. His 178 starts are the most by any Browns player since the franchise's 1999 return to Cleveland. Even in his final season at 34, he ranked third among 65 qualifying guards in pass-block effectiveness, retiring as a starter rather than a fading veteran.
Why does the loyalty stand out?
Because he stayed through everything. Bitonio spent 12 seasons in Cleveland during a stretch that included a 0-16 year, a carousel of quarterbacks and head coaches, and constant upheaval, never playing a snap for another team. 'I felt a loyalty to the Browns, and it gave me a sense of pride to represent a fan base who is consistently loyal to us,' he said. He was also a two-time Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award winner and the 2022 Walter Payton Man of the Year, a respected figure beyond the line of scrimmage.
How does this fit the Browns' offseason?
It completes a near-total offensive-line rebuild. When we covered Cleveland's 2026 line teardown, Bitonio was one of several veterans on the way out; his retirement makes it official. The Browns replaced him and five other departing linemen by adding right tackle Tytus Howard, signing interior linemen Zion Johnson and Elgton Jenkins, and drafting left tackle Spencer Fano ninth overall. Losing a player of Bitonio's stature is a leadership void as much as a talent one, and the rebuilt unit will be measured against the standard he set.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Longtime Browns guard Joel Bitonio retires after 12 seasons
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