Joe Thomas, a former Cleveland Browns left tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer, is eager to mentor Dawand Jones as he transitions to a full-time left tackle. Speaking at the Greater Akron-Canton High School Sports Awards on June 17, Thomas expressed his willingness to share his experience with Jones during the Browns’ training camp in Berea starting late July.
“Dawand is a talented guy,” Thomas said. “If there is an opportunity for me to talk to Dawand a little bit, to share some of the wisdom and the insight that I’ve learned over my 11 years playing and now my seven years after being done playing, I’m definitely going to take that opportunity because I think the sky’s the limit for Dawand.”
Jones was drafted by the Browns in 2023 in the fourth round and has primarily played right tackle. However, efforts are underway for him to switch positions.
Thomas has previously mentored Browns players since retiring in 2017. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has welcomed Thomas’s input, stating last year, “Joe is always welcome here.”
In 2024, Thomas gained coaching experience with the Munich Ravens in Germany’s European League of Football. He said coaching fulfilled a long-standing desire: “I’ve got this itch inside of me to coach.”
Thomas attributes his success as a player to his dedication and mental approach. “The mental side of the game is huge,” he explained. Now, he looks forward to passing on his knowledge to Jones.
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