CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 30: Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio 75 takes the field prior to the National Football League game between the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns on November 30, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, OH. Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA NOV 30 49ers at Browns EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon251130120
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 30: Cleveland Browns guard Joel Bitonio 75 takes the field prior to the National Football League game between the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns on November 30, 2025, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, OH. Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA NOV 30 49ers at Browns EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon251130120
Mar 16, 2026, 8:30 PM CUT
Browns Legend Takes Matters Into His Own Hands To Convince Joel Bitonio Against Retiring
Cleveland Browns legend and Hall of Famer Joe Thomas is stepping up to convince veteran guard Joel Bitonio against retirement.
While Bitonio’s future with the Browns remains uncertain, Thomas is confident he can persuade Bitonio to return for his 13th NFL season.
He plans to use OL coach George Warhop as a persuading factor. “I plan to shoot him a text and give him a rave review of George as an OL coach,” Thomas said.
George Warhop, the new offensive line coach, has worked with Thomas when Warhop coached the Browns from 2009 to 2013. Warhop has again returned for the same role under new head coach Todd Monken.
Warhop was a major contributor to Thomas’ success during his prime years. Thomas is confident that the possibility of playing under Warhop can influence Bitonio’s decision.
The Browns drafted Bitonio in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft, and he has been there ever since. He has played over 160 games, starting almost all games. He is a seven-time Pro Bowler with two First-Team All-Pro honors.
The Browns have also signed several players to fill in the gap after Bitonio’s time. After losing Wyatt Teller to free agency, they have signed Los Angeles Chargers guard Zion Johnson and Green Bay Packers’ Elgton Jenkins. They have also re-signed Teven Jenkins and got Houston Texans’ offensive tackle, Tytus Howard.
Still, Bitonio’s experience is highly valued as he enters the final stages of his career, especially by Zion Johnson.
Zion Johnson is “Honored” to Potentially Replace Joel Bitonio
Zion Johnson, a newly signed guard from the Los Angeles Chargers, is excited about the possibility of taking up Joel Bitonio’s role in the future.
Speaking about Bitonio, Johnson said, “Joel Bitonio, he played at an extremely high level for a lot of years. It’s an honor to be able to play that position after somebody like that. It’ll be my job to hold that standard.”
Johnson has signed a three-year, $49.5 million contract with the Browns. He is viewed as a long-term successor to Joel Bitonio. He was originally picked at No.17 by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022.
He also seems thrilled at the prospect of playing with newly signed Tytus Howard and Elgton Jenkins.
“Both of those guys are really, really good players. I’m really excited to get to play next to them, to really grow with them and see what we can become as a unit,” he said.
While Cleveland fans will hope for Bitonio’s return, Johnson is seen as a future star who can take up the mantle when Bitonio decides to hang up his boots.
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Written by
Shyam Hari
Edited by
Kalp Thaker