Ethan Pocic Bio
Ethan Pocic (born August 5, 1995) is an American professional football center for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and listed at 320 lb (145 kg), Pocic has built his reputation on positional versatility, having also lined up at left guard and right guard during his professional career. After a distinguished college tenure at LSU, he entered the league as a second-round pick and has since become a steady presence on the offensive line.
Selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2017 NFL Draft, Pocic earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in his first season. He has continued to log significant playing time with the Cleveland Browns, contributing as a starter along the interior line. Over the course of his NFL career, he has appeared in 114 games and made 97 starts.
Early Life and Background
Ethan Pocic was born on August 5, 1995, in Lemont, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago. He grew up in the Lemont area and attended Lemont High School, where he developed into a highly regarded offensive line prospect. His size, footwork, and technical foundation at the high school level positioned him for recruitment by major college football programs.
During his formative years, Pocic focused on the trench positions, working on the fundamentals that would later define his professional profile. His development in Lemont, combined with consistent training, helped him attract attention from Southeastern Conference programs looking for polished interior linemen.
Path to American Football
Pocic committed to Louisiana State University (LSU), where he played for the LSU Tigers from 2013 to 2016. He competed in the Southeastern Conference, widely regarded as one of the most competitive conferences in college football. His progression through the LSU program allowed him to face top-tier defensive talent on a weekly basis.
As a junior in 2015, Pocic was named a second-team All-SEC selection by the conference’s coaches. In his senior season of 2016, he elevated his play further, earning first-team All-American honors and a first-team All-SEC selection from the Associated Press. He was also a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top center, signaling his readiness for the next level.
Ethan Pocic Career
Early Career (2017)
Ethan Pocic entered the 2017 NFL Draft process with an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he helped the South team defeat the North 16-15. He met with several teams during the pre-draft process, including the San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens, and completed all drills at the NFL Combine. Analysts ranked him as the second-best center in the draft class, projecting him as a second or third-round selection.
The Seattle Seahawks selected Pocic in the second round with the 58th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He made his first career start on October 22, 2017, against the New York Giants in Week 7. Pocic started five games at left guard in place of an injured Luke Joeckel and the final six games of the season at right guard for an injured Oday Aboushi, allowing only two sacks across his rookie year and earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Seattle Seahawks Tenure (2017–2021)
Following his productive rookie campaign, Pocic continued as a regular contributor along Seattle’s offensive line. In 2019, he was placed on injured reserve on October 11 with a back injury, designated for return on November 27, and activated on December 13. He returned to the lineup briefly before being placed back on injured reserve on December 31, ending his season.
Pocic re-signed with the Seahawks on March 22, 2021, returning to the team for another season. He suffered a knee sprain in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve on September 15, before being activated on October 15 and finishing the year. His Seattle tenure, which lasted from 2017 through 2021, established him as a reliable interior lineman capable of playing both guard and center.
Cleveland Browns Era (2022–Present)
On April 6, 2022, Pocic signed with the Cleveland Browns and was named the team’s starting center to open the season. He started the first 10 games of the year before a knee injury in Week 11 sent him to injured reserve on November 22. He was activated on December 23 and returned to action, reinforcing his value to the Browns’ offensive front.
On March 15, 2023, Pocic signed a three-year, $18 million contract extension with the Browns, cementing his role as a long-term fixture at center. He continued to log significant snaps for Cleveland, providing stability and veteran leadership along the interior line. By the 2025 season, he had firmly established himself as a foundational piece of the Browns’ offense.
Driving Style and Strengths
Pocic is recognized for his positional versatility, having started games at center, left guard, and right guard during his NFL career. His combination of size, technique, and football intelligence allows him to adapt to multiple roles along the interior offensive line. Coaches have valued his communication skills and ability to anchor against powerful defensive tackles in both the run and pass game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Pocic’s career milestones are his second-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, his PFWA All-Rookie Team selection, and his Rimington Trophy finalist honors during his senior season at LSU. He has also reached the 100-game mark in his NFL career, reflecting his durability and longevity in a physically demanding position.
Ethan Pocic Career Wins
Ethan Pocic’s career is best measured by his consistency and durability rather than traditional win totals, as offensive linemen do not accumulate individual victories in the same way skill players do. Across his time with the Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns, he has served as a starter along the interior line, contributing to offensive production through his blocking and communication.
Cleveland Browns Highlights
Since joining the Browns in 2022, Pocic has served as the team’s primary starting center. He started the first 10 games of the 2022 season before his injury and returned to action later that year. His three-year, $18 million extension in March 2023 reflected the organization’s commitment to keeping him as a centerpiece of the offensive line.
Ethan Pocic Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Ethan Pocic’s family background are limited. He grew up in Lemont, Illinois, where he attended Lemont High School and developed into a top offensive line prospect before moving on to LSU.
2025 Season Performance
Ethan Pocic’s 2025 season with the Cleveland Browns began with him playing 13 games, starting all of his appearances and serving as a steady anchor along the interior offensive line. He was a consistent presence for the Browns, helping to set the tone in both the run game and pass protection during the early portion of the year.
His season, however, came to an unfortunate end in Week 14 against the Tennessee Titans, when Pocic suffered a torn Achilles tendon that placed him on season-ending injured reserve. The injury marked a difficult conclusion to an otherwise reliable year, leaving the Browns to adjust their offensive line configuration for the remainder of the season.
Despite the injury, Pocic’s contract extension runs through 2026, indicating that the Browns view him as a long-term piece of their offensive line plans. His 13 starts in 2025 added to a career total that now stands at 114 games played and 97 games started, underscoring his continued value to the franchise as he works toward recovery and a return to the field.
