CLEVELAND — Joe Thomas is the 52nd lineman of the modern era to join the Canton club, but Jon Kendle of the Pro Football Hall of Fame said linemen don’t like to look at themselves as individuals.

“Linemen have, they’re a unit,” Kendle said. “So, they don’t necessarily like to be called out. They play as a unit. There’s a lot of camaraderie on that offensive line.”

Thomas was a set it and forget it kind of tackle. He played 10,363 consecutive snaps, the first lineman to ever reach that mark. Kendle said consistency became his reputation.

“The epitome of consistency,” Kendle said. “Particularly in a time with the Cleveland Browns where those teams that he played on were inconsistent, you know, rotating quarterbacks, rotating coaches.”

When the big man got the call from the hall, his idol and fellow Hall of Fame Tackle Walter Jones delivered the news. Kendle said the message carries more weight if a familiar face gets to tell you that you’re among the game’s greats.

“Sometimes it’s the teammate, sometimes it’s a coach,” Kendle said. “But in Joe Thomas’ case, it was Walter Jones, another Hall of Fame left tackle and somebody that Joe Thomas really idolized throughout his career.”

Thomas also made it to 10 straight pro bowls, the only lineman to ever achieve that feat. Kendle said linemen don’t have as many stat lines as quarterbacks or skill players.

For Joe Thomas, being available was his most valuable asset.

“A lot of coaches will tell you that a player’s greatest ability might be their availability, and for Joe Thomas, he was always available when his team needed him,” Kendle said.

Which is just one reason Thomas made it into the hall in his first year of eligibility.