Coming out of Long Beach Wilson High School in 2010, offensive lineman Joel Bitonio signed with the Nevada Wolf Pack. Taken under legendary head coach Chris Ault’s wings, he was later selected in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. Cut to 2026, he made a sacrifice. 

According to reports, Bitonio has officially stepped away from the NFL after a 12-season career, all with Cleveland, on June 9. The retirement followed the Browns’ offseason reshaping of their offensive line without his presence. But he chose to retire without fulfilling his Super Bowl dreams.

Even though he had a bigger presence in the pro league, his college football journey played an important chapter in his football career. 

“I got recruited really late in the process, so when Nevada started recruiting me hard, it was basketball season,” shared Bitonio in an interview back in April, 2014. “He [Ault] watched me play ball and liked what he saw, and I took my trip there the next weekend. That’s how I ended up coming to Nevada.”

Ault developed him into an NFL talent. The former head coach coached at Nevada for 28 seasons, becoming the winningest coach in school history. Playing under him, Bitonio saw action in all 14 games as a redshirt freshman. 

In 2011, he was a key force in leading the way for the fifth-best offense in the nation. For the same season, he earned Big Blocker honors for his performance against UNLV.

The next season, Bitonio helped drive a rushing attack ranked seventh in the nation at 271.0 yards per game and was part of an offense that produced the nation’s second-leading rusher in Stefphon Jefferson (144.85 yards per game).

After proving himself in college, he carried his talent to the NFL in 2014.

Joel Bitonio’s Legacy in the Cleveland Browns

In Cleveland, Bitonio earned All-Pro honors five times, along with seven Pro Bowl honors. He was the six-time captain for the Browns, who made 178 total starts, the most by a player since the franchise returned to town in 1999.

During his retirement press conference, he pointed to some of his most memorable games, such as the Browns’ 2018 Thursday night comeback win over the New York Jets, led by Mayfield in a performance that became known as “opening the fridges.”

Even while leaving a legacy behind, Bitonio sacrificed his dream while announcing his retirement.

"When I looked at my career and all that I had achieved -- the All-Pros, Pro Bowls, snap streaks and playoff appearances -- there was only one thing left that I still hoped to accomplish: a Super Bowl," he wrote.

Back in March, Bitonio and the team mutually delayed a mid-February contract deadline to provide more time for a decision on his future. 

The deadline passed, as did the start of the new league year, when he officially became a free agent for the first time. The Browns incurred $23.5 million in dead money once his contract expired.

A player who got late interest from FBS schools to being a notable addition to the Browns’ roster, share your best memories of Bitonio’s football journey.

Read more at Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Soheli Tarafdar

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar