The offensive guard Joel Bitonio of the Cleveland Browns submitted his retirement letter, walking away from football. But the reason behind retirement has left fans stunned.

While many wondered why 34-year-old Bitonio, who played 12 seasons, backed off this week after performing well. Browns' head coach Todd Monken had a straightforward answer.

"First off, I mean, you read all about it, and you saw it," said Monken, posted on X by the Cleveland Browns. "Twelve years, 178 starts, seven home runs, five All-Pros. He's one of the rare guys who ended his career with everything his body could give. I still think he's down he loves football, he would love to play, but his body just won't allow him to do it."

Bitonio was one of the league's most reliable guards, starting 178 games for Cleveland. However, years of physical strain, including knee issues, exhausted him.

According to Monken, the urge to play was still there, but the physical demands of sport had finally caught up with the Browns legend. He owned seven Pro Bowl selections and five All-Pro honors while being the cornerstone of the offensive line.

Bitonio even held a record of 6,481 consecutive snaps. Coach Monken appreciated him for always saying the right things and supporting his teammates.

Bitonio's retirement letter also showed his loyalty to Cleveland. He admitted he never saw himself wearing another NFL uniform and wanted to end his journey with the franchise that drafted him.

While Bitonio's career ended, the legacy remains firmly intact.

Joel Bitonio's Comments on Johnny Manziel During His Retirement

Joel Bitonio's emotional farewell was supposed to celebrate one of the Browns' most respected players. Instead, one of his comments became a reminder of how dramatically Johnny Manziel's NFL career cleared up.

"I was drafted the same year as Johnny Manziel," Bitonio said in his retirement press conference via Ari Meirov's X post, "And we actually roomed together. I learned some things not to do from him."

Bitonio mentioned it playfully, as it reflected the 2014 draft class: one pick became a franchise icon, the other fell short.

First-round pick Manziel struggled to fulfill the responsibilities of a first-round quarterback. Off-field issues held back his NFL tenure after just two seasons, which saw him record a total of 7 passing touchdowns for a little over 1,675 yards.

Meanwhile, Bitonio's successful career would be unforgettable for the Browns.

What are your views on guard Joel Bitonio's career? Let us know in the comments!

Read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote