For over a decade, Joe Thomas defined consistency and toughness in the NFL. As the Cleveland Browns’ iron man, he played 10,363 consecutive snaps—a feat no one else in the sport has ever matched. But behind the scenes, years of punishment on the field had taken a toll on his body. When he finally retired in 2018, Joe was left with more than a legacy—he was left with chronic inflammation, nagging injuries, digestive problems, and a lingering question:
What now?
This is the story of how Joe Thomas reclaimed his health, reconnected with the land, and started a second act that would become Hall of Fame Beef—a brand built on healing, heritage, and the belief that food is medicine.
"I didn't know what healthy felt like"
Joe didn’t ease into retirement with a clean bill of health. Years of playing at an elite level meant constant soreness was normal. But when the structure and routine of football disappeared, the lingering damage revealed itself.
“I had been in pain for so long that I didn’t even realize it anymore,” Joe shares. “Every joint hurt. My knees, hips, ankles. My digestion was off. I didn’t sleep well. My weight was climbing.”
Like many former athletes, Joe tried to manage the aftermath with crash diets and quick fixes. He played around with calorie counting and macros. He cut carbs. He tried eating less. But nothing stuck. And none of it made him feel better.
Moving Back to Move Forward
The turning point came when Joe and his wife Annie made the decision to move their family back to Wisconsin. There, surrounded by the quiet strength of the Driftless countryside, Joe began reconnecting with something deeper—his food, his body, and the rhythms of the land.
They founded Six Springs Farm, a working cattle farm that would later evolve into Hall of Fame Beef. But the farm was never just a business venture—it was personal. Joe wanted to raise the kind of beef he felt good about feeding his own kids: clean, pasture-raised, and full of nutrition.
And that required more than good intentions. It required a fundamental change in the way he approached food and health.
Building a Foundation of Health
Joe started focusing not on restriction, but on nutrition. He prioritized whole foods—quality beef, seasonal vegetables, healthy fats—and began eating meals that gave him lasting energy. He restructured his training around mobility, strength, and longevity.
And just as important, he started tracking the metrics that mattered—his weight, muscle mass, energy levels, recovery, and even how specific foods made him feel. This shift wasn’t about vanity. It was about performance, just like in football.
“I stopped thinking about food as something I had to cut,” he explains. “And I started thinking about it as fuel. That changed everything.”
A Modern Approach to an Ancestral Lifestyle
To help dial in his approach, Joe partnered with Elo Health—a company that uses real-time biometric data, blood work, and AI-driven coaching to build personalized nutrition strategies. With Elo, Joe was able to integrate insights from his body into actionable daily choices.
The results? Joe lost nearly 60 pounds, rebuilt muscle, and reclaimed a sense of vitality he hadn’t felt in years.
“It felt like I finally came back to myself. For the first time, I wasn’t guessing. I had data. I had structure. And I had real food backing it all up.”
This wasn’t just a personal victory. It was the spark that lit the fire behind Hall of Fame Beef—because Joe knew he wasn’t the only one looking for better answers and better food.
Why Hall of Fame Beef Exists
Joe believes that great beef should do more than taste good. It should nourish the body. It should honor the animal. It should respect the land.
That’s why Hall of Fame Beef isn’t just another label slapped on commodity meat. Every cut comes from cattle raised with intention—on clean forage, with rotational grazing practices, and without the shortcuts of industrial agriculture.
Whether it’s our Fullblood Wagyu with intense marbling or our American F1 Wagyu known for balance and richness, every product is crafted to deliver taste with integrity. And because Joe’s personal health journey is baked into the DNA of the brand, quality and transparency are non-negotiable.
If it wouldn’t go on Joe’s plate, it won’t go on yours.
What Comes Next: Wellness as a Way of Life
Today, Joe’s life is full. He’s raising his kids, running a growing beef business, and filming content that blends farming, family, and life on the land. He still trains like an athlete but now it’s not for the gridiron, it’s for life.
He fuels that training with the beef he raises, the vegetables he grows, and the habits he’s cultivated over the last several years.
Joe’s vision extends far beyond meat. Hall of Fame Beef is evolving into a full-spectrum wellness lifestyle brand—with everything from pasture-to-plate transparency to future wellness retreats at the farm’s property.
At the core of it all? A simple philosophy:
Food is Medicine.
Your Comeback Starts Here
You don’t have to be a pro athlete to care about what goes on your plate.
Whether you’re healing, training, or just looking to feed your family the way Joe feeds his, Hall of Fame Beef is here to deliver the best cuts in the country—ethically raised, powerfully nourishing, and unforgettable in every bite.
Ready to taste the difference?
