The Chicago Bears officially starting left guard Joe Thuney on Wedensday following their trade with the Kansas City Chiefs last week.
Prior to Thuney speaking with reporters at Halas Hall, Ben Johnson made it clear the All-Pro would be remaining at the position where he has earned his keep in the NFL. Thuney will serve as the Bears' starting left guard in 2025 with Jonah Jackson being the right guard, Drew Dalman, who will be officially introduced by the Bears on Thursday, will be the team's center.
Dalman signed a three-year contract with the Bears, a deal that was first reported on Monday. Thuney, meanwhile, is in the final year of his current contract. Thuney was asked about a potential contract extension on Wednesday.
“I’m grateful to be here and I’m pumped to play,” Thuney said. “I’ll let the business side of it handle itself. Excited to get on the field with the guys in OTAs and I’m excited to start working. Just looking forward to it.”
After the trade was first reported, the sense was that the Bears would work quickly to sign Thuney to a contract extension. While no extension has been agreed to yet, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune believes one will happen before the start of the season.
"I don't believe you can hold the guy up as this great example of new leadership that you brought into your locker room without proving it with a contract," Biggs told 670 The Score.
Bears fans can likely count on a Joe Thuney contract extension
Conventional wisdom would suggest that Thuney will get a two-year extension to tack on after his current contract expires. Such a contract would put Thuney on the same timeline as Dalman as well as the end of Caleb Williams' rookie contract. Williams' rookie contract is beginning to look like the marker of this current contention window for the Bears. The other deals the Bears agreed to this week were also for three years.