Last offseason, the Chicago Bears trading for guard Joe Thuney might arguably be the most important move the franchise has made in years.
The Bears only needed to give up a fourth-round pick to acquire Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs. That move paid off, as Thuney was a Pro Bowler, an All-Pro selection, and won the first-ever Protector of the Year Award.
All of those accomplishments in just his first season in Chicago led to him being recognized by his peers. The NFL announced that Thuney is the 49th-best player in the NFL, according to the players around the league.
Joe Thuney ranked 49th as the best player in the NFL
Last season, Thuney allowed just 15 pressures, one quarterback hit, zero sacks, and committed just two penalties. Pro Football Focus gave him a 79.4 overall grade, ranking him fifth out of 81 guards in the NFL.
The importance of Thuney to the Bears can't be undervalued at all. He made a huge impact on pass protection and on getting the running game going again.
While he was great as a guard, his biggest impact was what he did for the team in the postseason. When Ozzy Trapilo went down with an injury against the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card, Thuney stepped in at left tackle for the Divisional Round game against the Los Angeles Rams. While they didn't win the game, Thuney played extremely well in the role.
Entering 2026, Thuney continues to be a critical piece of the Bears' offense. The hope is that he is far from retirement, but when he does retire, he will be a Hall of Fame player and one of the greatest Chicago Bears of all time.
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Until then, Bears fans can enjoy watching Thuney hold his own at his usual left guard position for the 2026 campaign.
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