Shedeur Sanders’ starting hopes suffer immediate blow as Browns hero announces shock retirement

Jun 9, 2026 - 15:30

Once a Cleveland Brown, always a Cleveland Brown.

That is especially true for Joel Bitonio.

Joel Bitonio is calling time on his NFL career after 12 seasons

The 34-year-old guard announced his intention to retire from the NFL on Tuesday in an emotional – and lengthy – statement.

“When I watched Baker [Mayfield] keep the football and run around the right end for the first down, clinching the playoffs and beating the Steelers, all I could think at first was that we had finally made it,” a portion of his statement read.

“I’d worked hard my whole career and hadn’t made the playoffs; but that moment – a team-oriented, surreal moment – made it worth it.

“It was also a moment in my head that I thought, “Man, it’d be really special to finish my career here in Cleveland.“

“At the time, I was in my seventh NFL season and had just reached my first playoff game – that taste of winning was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

“We had fought through losing seasons and risen to this moment with the brotherhood we’d built in the locker room. Retirement wasn’t on my radar.

“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 the Browns, and it gave me a sense of pride to represent a fan base who is consistently loyal to us.

“I started the job here, and once I got to a certain point, I knew I wanted to finish the job in Cleveland.

“Now that job is finished. After 12 seasons of wearing No. 75 in brown and orange, I have officially decided to retire.”

Bitonio received seven Pro Bowl nods in his 12 year career in the NFL

Bitonio last protected Shedeur Sanders out on the field

Drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Bitonio spent his entire 12-year career protecting the revolving door of Browns quarterbacks, the last of which was rookie Shedeur Sanders.

“After the 2025 season came to an end, I was still pretty set on the fact that I was retiring, but I was still going to the facility to rehab,” he further wrote when dissecting how he came to his decision.

“I was contemplating my decision, thinking about how I have been playing football for 23 years of my life — including 12 in the NFL. But there was never a need to rush the decision.”

Bitonio started all 178 games in his career, and leaves behind a legacy that consists of seven Pro Bowl nominations, two First-team All-Pro and three Second-team All-Pro honors.

Offensive line overhaul

The 2026 offseason has been one of substantial change for the Browns.

Despite having the best defense in football last season, with Myles Garrett fronting the team – who has since been traded away – the offense was subpar, which saw the Browns finish last in the AFC North with a lowly 5-12 record.

The Browns offensive line has been completely overhauled over the offseason

The Browns used the No. 9 overall pick in the draft to select OT Spencer Fano

The 2026 offseason marked a period of transformation for the team, which started by the firing of head coach Kevin Stefankski during the NFL’s notorious ‘Black Monday’.

In came first-time head coach Todd Monken, while the 2025 offensive line also parted ways, with startersJack Conklin, Wyatt Teller, and Ethan Pocic all departing the team as unrestricted free agents.

The Browns were busy in free agency, agreeing to a deal with former LA Chargers guard Zion Johnson worth three-years, $49.5 million, as well as Elgton Jenkins, formerly of the Green Bay Packers.

They also traded for offensive tackle Tytus Howard, and re-signed guard Teven Jenkins on a one-year, $4 million deal.

As a result of their poor regular season record, the Browns were in possession of the No. 6 overall pick in the NFL Draft, though they wound up trading down to No. 9 and selected left tackle Spencer Fano out of Utah.

They further bolstered their o-line in the later rounds of the draft, bringing in OT Austin Barber in the third round, and center Parker Brailsford in the fifth.

While the football world awaits Monken’s decision over who will be the Browns’ starting quarterback between Sanders and $230 million Deshaun Watson, one thing is for certain – the offensive line will look vastly differentin Cleveland, and the hole Bitonio has left will be very difficult to fill.

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