---
Brookfield Native
University of Wisconsin All-American
3rd overall pick in NFL Draft
8x NFL All-Pro
10x NFL Pro Bowler
NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee
&
5x Wisconsin State Track and Field Championships Qualifier
+
2x Wisconsin State Champion
---
That is the resume of one of the greatest offensive tackles in NFL history in Brookfield, Wisconsin native Joe Thomas. There wasn't much he didn't accomplish during his accomplished football career as seen above. He is simply a legend of the game and one of the most memorable players in Cleveland Browns history.
Alongside his storied NFL career, he was also a Wisconsin high school track and field legend.
During his high school career, Thomas qualified for the state track and field championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003. During his senior season, he won the state shot put and discus titles in a dominant performance. That day he threw 185' 6" to win the discus title and 64' 10.5" to win the shot put title.
Joe Thomas High School PRs
| High School | Mark |
| Shot Put | 185' 6" |
| Discus | 64' 10.5" |
| College | |
| Shot Put | 65' 5.25" |
| Discus | 177' 2" |
Upon his high school graduation, Thomas was a highly-ranked recruit for the University of Wisconsin where he was an All-American football star. A man of many talents, Thomas also competed on Wisconsin's track and field team in the shot-put and discus games. He received national recognition for his performance in track and field, earning second-team Big Ten All-Conference selection in 2005, and qualifying for the 2004 and 2005 NCAA Regionals.
Then he went on to his Hall of Fame NFL Career!
---
Thomas still ranks favorably among the best throwers in Wisconsin high school history. He ranks 5th all-time in the shot put still and was the state record holder in the event for about two years before it was broken in 2005.
All-Time WI Boys Shot Put Marks
| RANK | MARK | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATE PLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 68-10.5 | Hortonville | 2024 | West De Pere Invite 1st F |
| 2 | 68-7 | Fond du Lac | 2019 | |
| 3 | 68-0.25 | Green Bay Preble | 2005 | Nike Outdoor Nationals 1st F |
| 4 | 66-6.5 | Hillsboro | 2012 | Cardinal Invite 1st F |
| 5 | 64-10.5 | Brookfield Central | 2003 |
For the discus, Thomas ranks 20th all-time in Wisconsin state history and ranked as the #4 discus thrower in state history at the time of his graduation. His mark of 185' 6" has since been passed by 16 other Wisconsin boys.
Wisconsin Top Discus Marks (June 2003)
| Rank | Athlete | Mark | Year |
| 1 | Luke Sullivan | 196' 7" | 1994 |
| 2 | Gavin Ball | 192' 1" | 2003 |
| 3 | Joey Sarantos | 186' 3" | 2001 |
| 4 | Joe Thomas | 185' 6" | 2003 |
| 5 | Brandon Houle | 177' 9" | 2002 |
Thomas, once renowned for his exceptional prowess in track and field in Wisconsin, seamlessly transitioned those athletic abilities to the football field, carving out a legendary Hall of Fame career. His speed, agility, and raw athleticism, honed through years of track and field competition, became defining traits of his football style, setting him apart as one of the game's all-time greats.