08-05-2025
Hall of Famer Joe Thomas guest speaker for Greater Akron-Canton High School Sports Awards
The 2024-25 Greater Akron-Canton High School Sports Awards are happy to announce Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas as the guest speaker for its live event on Tuesday, June 17 at the John S. Knight Center in Akron. The show is produced with the support of Meijer.
A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Thomas cemented himself as one of the most accomplished and most decorated athletes to ever step foot on an NFL field. Selected third overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2007 NFL Draft, Thomas became one of just five players in history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons. His 10,363 consecutive snaps played is the longest streak in history.
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Thomas was also the only player in team history to earn the Cleveland Browns' Walter Payton Man of the Year award multiple times (2010, 2012, 2016). Following an illustrious 11-year career, the NFL Ironman decided to retire from the league.
The Greater Akron-Canton High School Sports Awards are part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards program.
Prior to joining the Browns, Thomas was an All-American at the University of Wisconsin, earning honors as the nation's best interior lineman.
Growing up in Wisconsin, Thomas was a multi-sport athlete at Brookfield Central High School.
An avid outdoorsman, Thomas formerly co-hosted "Outdoors Ohio" on SportsTime Ohio and enjoys hunting, fishing and farming. Thomas could be seen on NFL Network's pregame and postgame shows for every Thursday Night Football game in 2019, as well as on the NFL Network's extensive coverage of such events as the Super Bowl, NFL Scouting Combine and the NFL Draft.
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In 2024, Thomas coached with the Munich Ravens in the European League of Football. Thomas is a partner in several Mission BBQ franchises.
Hall of Famer Joe Thomas pumps his fist as he walks on stage to announce the Browns' second-round pick during the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
A Brookfield, Wisconsin native, Joe and his wife Annie reside in Middleton, Wisconsin with their four children.
The 2024-25 Greater Akron-Canton High School Sports Awards are part of the USA Today High School Sports Awards. Tickets are on sale now and can be obtained here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Joe Thomas is Greater Akron-Canton High School Sports Awards speaker
