Joel Bitonio Retires After 12 Years

Joel Bitonio, the Browns’ loyal 12-year offensive lineman, retired with a sharp, humorous speech that subtly nodded to Johnny Manziel’s draft day antics — and learned some hard lessons from him. He praised teammates like Nick Chubb, Baker Mayfield, and David Njoku for shaping his game and character, calling them mentors in toughness, humility, and fire. A seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Bitonio started every game of his career, missed just 19 total, and was ranked the top guard in 2022 by one metric — all while committing only 13 holding penalties. His quiet, disciplined excellence defined an era of Browns football, even amid tough wins. His departure closes a chapter on loyalty, grit, and leadership that fans won’t soon forget. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/037fbd9101738335