J.C. Tretter was the 2nd best center the Cleveland Browns have had since 1999

J.C. Tretter has retired, leaving an impactful legacy with the Cleveland Browns.

The news broke earlier this week that long-time Cleveland Browns center and NFLP President J.C. Tretter will be retiring from the sport of professional football. The ex-Brownie is only 31 but has had knee issues for the past few years that have kept his ability to practice limited.

Heading into training camp, Tretter remained unsigned, prompting many to wonder if the league was blackballing Tretter for his dogged handling of the Covid-Era of the NFL. He rubbed a lot of execs and owners the wrong way by demanding the players be safe while practicing and playing.

His knees were also a subject of much debate about his free agency. Were they more problematic than we knew? It’s entirely possible, regardless, that Tretter’s time as a player is over but not as the head of the NFLP. He’ll retain his duties until the players decide otherwise.

Regardless of how much longer he’ll be involved with the NFL, Tretter will go down as a modern Browns legend.

J.C. Tretter was the second-best center the Cleveland Browns had since 1999

While Tretter was never a Pro Bowler or an All-Pro, he absolutely should have been. During his entire stint with the Browns, Tretter was a Top-5 player at his position and was the glue that held the line together.

Arriving in 2017, he helped the team turn around its struggling line, and while the unit fell off a bit in 2019, that had little to do with his play. If anything, his play was a point as to why it wasn’t worse. He was arguably the smartest player on the line, which makes sense, as he was an Ivy League collegiate player at Cornell. You don’t get into that school if you’re a dummy.

Tretter will be remembered as the second-best center the team has had since its return right behind Alex Mack, a future NFL Hall of Famer, and right above Dave Wohlabaugh. Does this make Tretter a candidate to be in the Browns Ring of Honor? I don’t know, I’m leaning towards no, but I wouldn’t be surprised that under new ownership, the Browns could one day induct him.