Garrett and Bitonio earn local PFWA awards (1.2.26)
For Immediate Release
Jan. 2, 2026
Garrett and Bitonio earn local PFWA awards
BEREA, Ohio – Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett and OL Joel Bitonio each have earned awards from the local chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) for the 2025 season. Garrett, a unanimous selection, was voted the PFWA Joe Thomas Award winner for the third year in a row and fifth time overall. Bitonio was named winner of the PFWA Dino Lucarelli ‘Good Guy Award’ for the third consecutive season and sixth time overall.
Garrett is leading the NFL this season in sacks (22) and tackles for a loss (32). He is tied for the third-most sacks in a season in NFL history and is half of a sack away from tying the NFL sack record. Garrett was selected to his seventh Pro Bowl, the most by a Browns defensive player and are tied for the fourth-most in team history. Garrett has won the Joe Thomas Award five of the past six seasons.
The ‘Good Guy Award’ is given annually to a player for his cooperation with the media and for the way the player carries himself in the community and with his teammates. This marks Bitonio’s sixth time (2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025) winning the award. Joe Thomas (2010 and 2013) is the only other player in team history to win the award more than once.
Cleveland Browns PFWA
Joe Thomas Award – Player of the Year Winners:
2001 LB Jamir Miller
2002 RB William Green
2003 LB Andra Davis
2004 SS Robert Griffith
2005 RB Reuben Droughns
2006 LB Kamerion Wimbley
2007 QB Derek Anderson
2008 DL Shaun Rogers
2009 KR Joshua Cribbs
2010 RB Peyton Hillis
2011 LB D’Qwell Jackson
2012 K Phil Dawson
2013 WR Josh Gordon
2014 OL Joe Thomas
2015 TE Gary Barnidge
2016 OL Joe Thomas
2017 RB Duke Johnson Jr.
2018 QB Baker Mayfield
2019 RB Nick Chubb
2020 DE Myles Garrett
2021 DE Myles Garrett
2022 OL Joel Bitonio
2023 DE Myles Garrett
2024 DE Myles Garrett
2025 DE Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns PFWA Dino Lucarelli
‘Good Guy Award’ Winners:
2001 QB Tim Couch
2002 DB Corey Fuller
2003 OL Shaun O’Hara
2004 DB Daylon McCutcheon
2005 OL Jeff Faine
2006 DB Brian Russell
2007 K Phil Dawson
2008 DB Brandon McDonald
2009 LB David Bowens
2010 OL Joe Thomas
2011 DB Mike Adams
2012 LB D’Qwell Jackson
2013 OL Joe Thomas
2014 QB Brian Hoyer
2015 QB Josh McCown
2016 LB Christian Kirksey
2017 OL Joel Bitonio
2018 OL Joel Bitonio
2019 DL Sheldon Richardson
2020 DL Larry Ogunjobi
2021 OL Joel Bitonio and DE Myles Garrett
2022 QB Jacoby Brissett
2023 OL Joel Bitonio
2024 OL Joel Bitonio
2025 OL Joel Bitonio
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