The Cleveland Browns have been relatively quiet in free agency this offseason, and it seems their main focus has been retaining the core that unexpectedly got them to the playoffs last season.

They re-signed defensive end Za’Darius Smith, but they also did sign a couple of new players, including another former Minnesota Viking by the name of Jordan Hicks.

On Tuesday, the Browns went out and got Justin Hardee, who is a native of Cleveland, and he took to Twitter to express his gratitude for getting to play for his hometown team.

“Cleveland!!!! Let’s go I’m back home! Year 8 blessed. I had no clue but God always knew !!!” he tweeted.

Cleveland!!!! Let’s go I’m back home! Year 8 blessed 🙏🏾 I had no clue but God always knew !!!

— Justin Hardee Sr. (@jhardee_19) April 2, 2024

It is rare for a pro athlete to play for his hometown team, but that is the lucky opportunity Hardee has now received.

He went undrafted out of the University of Illinois in 2017, and he played his first four seasons with the New Orleans Saints before moving on to the New York Jets in 2022.

Hardee has played mostly on special teams in the NFL, although he has played a handful of snaps on defense over the years, and he even caught a pass on offense in 2018 for 10 yards and a first down.

Somehow, even after star running back Nick Chubb and quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered season-ending injuries, the Browns won 11 games, although they got trounced in the the playoffs by the Houston Texans.

It is currently unknown when Chubb will be ready to return to game action, but general manager Andrew Berry seems confident Watson will be ready to go when the 2024 campaign kicks off.