Browns star retiring? Joel Bitonio reflects on NFL career

Andy McNamara

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Browns star retiring? Joel Bitonio reflects on NFL career image

Was Sunday's season finale victory over the Bengals the last of Joel Bitonio's 12-year Browns career?

The 7x Pro Bowl guard has openly contemplated retirement over past couple of years. This 2025 campaign may actually be it.

Drafted by Cleveland in 2014, Bitonio has seen his fair share of losing. If Sunday was his last game, it felt good to go out a winner.

More: Mock Draft round-up: Who will the Browns first round picks be in 2026 NFL Draft?

As Bitonio explained above, a last second game winning field goal would be a full circle way to polish off his stellar career. Week 2 at home against the New Orleans Saints in 2014 it was kicker Billy Cundiff who played the hero. In Week 18 of 2025 it was rookie Andre Szmyt to boot the winner.

The emotion could be seen in Bitonio's eyes when he reflected further on his NFL run. A sign that maybe this is actually it.

Trying to hold back tears the Browns OL stalwart said, "it's hard to put into words. Just tried to give it everything...do what you can to help the team win, and I tried to do that every day."

A class act from beginning to end.

GM Andrew Berry has his work cut out for him in rebuilding this Cleveland offensive line. Bitonio vacating his left guard spot would join both tackle positions, and possibly right guard as well, that will need replacing.

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Editorial Team