With the NFL trade deadline less than two weeks away, some players from losing teams are looking for a way to join a contender and compete for that elusive Super Bowl ring. Others may simply want to move on for a better playing time opportunity elsewhere.
The former scenario has applied to the Cleveland Browns for most of their recent history, but not so much this year. The latter situation could involve Shedeur Sanders, who has been demoted to backup quarterback with no hope of Deshaun Watson getting on the field without injury.
In 11 seasons with the Browns, Joe Thomas had no real chance to reach the Super Bowl. Cleveland never made the playoffs back then, even with one of the best players of his generation.
Thomas recently revealed why he never asked the Browns for a trade, saying that pursuing success in Cleveland is more important than doing so elsewhere.
“I never did. I’ve always been happy in Cleveland. I’ve always taken great pride in building something special. I’ve always felt a great connection to the city of Cleveland. I loved the franchise, I loved the organization, and I wanted to do it there. To me, if it didn’t build something great in Cleveland and give the fans titles, it wouldn’t be worth doing,” Thoma said.
“I’ve never … I’ve always been happy in Cleveland.” — @joethomas73 says he’s never considered asking for a trade. pic.twitter.com/DvLEeThrrT
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) October 30, 2026
That sentiment makes Thomas a beloved figure for the franchise and the city. As every Browns fan knows, their beloved team is one of only four teams to never make it to the Super Bowl, along with the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Cleveland had their chance decades earlier with a three-game AFC Championship appearance in the late 1980s, long before Thomas arrived as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. In Thomas’ 167 games played, the Browns were 48-119, which makes his dedication even more admirable. The six-time All-Pro said he was at the end of his career when he accepted that he would never win a Super Bowl with Cleveland and that he was physically unable to contribute to another team.
Even without a playoff game, Thomas was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, honored for his ability to be one of the best offensive tackles in league history as well as his commitment to a beleaguered franchise.
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