Seven-time Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio announced his retirement Tuesday, bringing to a close a 12-year NFL career spent entirely with the Cleveland Browns. The 34-year-old, selected in the second round of the 2014 draft out of Nevada, started all 178 games he played and became the franchise’s longest-tenured player since the Browns returned in 1999. At a Tuesday press conference in Berea, Ohio, Bitonio appeared alongside his wife, Courtney, and their three children, who all wore his signature No. 75 jersey. Reflecting on the finality of his decision, Bitonio revealed that he knew his playing days were over shortly after the conclusion of the 2025 season, but continued visiting the team facility while rehabbing injuries before finalizing his decision. In a heartfelt farewell letter published on the franchise’s website, Bitonio addressed his decision to remain a lifelong member of the organization instead of moving to a title contender late in his career: “Truthfully, as time passed and my career kept going, there was never a point where I could envision myself in a different uniform. Wearing that orange helmet and being part of this franchise — from getting drafted to signing three contracts — I felt a loyalty to…
Source: LV Sports
