Joe Thomas: Defining Greatness Beyond Football

In Cleveland, Joe Thomas became a franchise star, admired for the standard he maintained every Sunday rather than the noise around his performance. Fans saw his character on draft day when Thomas opted to spend the 2007 NFL Draft fishing with his father on Lake Michigan instead of joining the festivities in New York. Joe Thomas received the call that made him the No. 3 overall pick by the Browns while enjoying a quiet day outdoors.

At halftime against the Baltimore Ravens on October 1, 2023, Thomas high-fived fans upon his induction into the Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor. Retired and leaner, Thomas is now focused on life beyond the NFL as a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer in 2023. He shared reflections on his draft day and health transformation with OutKick Outdoors. Thomas has also dived into his Wisconsin cattle business, Hall of Fame Farms.

Thomas chose simplicity over spectacle on draft day, preferring a fishing rod to custom suits and stage appearances. “I wasn’t interested in the pomp of the NFL Draft,” said Thomas. “I didn’t have a suit and preferred fishing with my dad.” When urged to attend the draft by NFL representatives, Thomas remained resolute. Instead, he headed to Lake Michigan to fish with his father. When the Browns called him, Thomas accepted his new role as a Cleveland Brown with excitement and dedication.

Throughout his 11-year career, Thomas maintained a down-to-earth approach that now shapes his post-football life in Wisconsin. Retirement in 2018 led him to tackle the physical toll of playing football at over 310 pounds. “I faced inflammation and pain, barely able to walk down stairs,” Thomas recalled. “A doctor advised knee replacement or losing weight, and I chose the latter.”

Thomas committed to transforming his body by eliminating processed foods and adopting intermittent fasting with garden vegetables and high-quality proteins. The change restored his mobility and reshaped his physique, aligning him more closely with an NFL tight end.

These health changes inspired Hall of Fame Farms. Initially a cash-crop operation in Wisconsin, Thomas’ farm shifted towards livestock after his children expressed a desire for a “real farm.” Thomas applied his passion and precision from football to cattle farming. “The same care I put into my football career now goes into raising livestock,” he said. “Our animals are treated like professional athletes, and this results in beef worthy of the Hall of Fame.”

Hall of Fame Farms now produces Wagyu and Certified Angus beef, providing premium steaks and Wagyu beef tallow. The tangible results are seen on the farm, where Thomas enjoys raising four children, cultivating the land, and cherishing the lifestyle earned through hard work.

Whether fishing in Canada, tagging calves, or competing in the Bassmaster Randy Moss Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro-Am, Thomas thrives outdoors with his children. “Seeing my kids catch their first fish is more thrilling than my own first catch,” Thomas expressed. “Passing on the love for fishing and the outdoors to the next generation is rewarding and affirms the values instilled in them.”

This dedication to family and nature highlights Thomas’ post-football journey, marking a seamless transition that aligns passion with purpose, both on the land and water.