From Nevada, Joel Bitonio was taken in the second round (35th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Nevada, and immediately established himself as a generational fixture on the offensive line. Over a 12-season career spent entirely in brown and orange, Bitonio anchored the left guard position with iron-clad durability, elite technique, and unwavering loyalty to the franchise.

Bitonio integrated swift lateral agility with exceptional core strength and leverage. Serving as Cleveland's left guard, he demonstrated proficiency in executing reach blocks against edge defenders and pulling into the secondary during perimeter sweeps. In pass protection, his rapid footwork and robust anchoring maintained the integrity of the interior pocket, exemplifying exemplary interior offensive line play over his decade-plus tenure.

Bitonio earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 2014 after starting all 16 games. Early in his career, he battled injury setbacks that limited him in the 2015 and 2016 campaigns. He returned to full health in 2017—launching a staggering 6,481 consecutive snaps streak that spanned nearly six full seasons.

The durability demonstrated by Bitonio marked the beginning of an era characterized by elite individual dominance. He was recognized with seven consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2018 to 2024. Additionally, he received the Second-Team All-Pro honor for three consecutive years (2018–2020) before attaining the highest accolade with back-to-back First-Team All-Pro recognitions in 2021 and 2022. Whether facilitating Nick Chubb's rushing titles or providing steadfast protection during Cleveland's playoff runs in 2020 and 2023, Bitonio unequivocally served as the driving force behind the Browns' offensive line.

Bitonio proudly wrapped up his 12th and final season in 2025, demonstrating his incredible consistency by starting all 17 games. Throughout his career, he surpassed Hall of Famer Joe Thomas for the most games started (178) by any Cleveland player since the franchise's return in 1999. During his time with the Browns (2014–2025), Bitonio started every single one of his 178 regular-season games, earned 7 Pro Bowl selections, 2 First-Team All-Pro honors, 3 Second-Team All-Pro honors, and set the record for the most games played by any player in the modern Cleveland era.