There is no question about it: Chicago Bears fans know how important starting left guard Joe Thuney has been for the franchise.
The Bears got an incredible deal for him when a trade was executed with the Kansas City Chiefs last offseason, with a Day 3 pick being all Chicago needed to give up for Thuney. That move paid off as Thuney became a Pro Bowler and All-Pro selection, as well as won the Protector of the Year award in his first season with the franchise.
This is nothing new for Thuney, as he has been successful throughout his entire NFL career, but an interesting question has been posed about him. One that has some wondering if Canton, Ohio, will be his final stop on his NFL journey.
Is Joe Thuney a Hall of Famer?
Pro Football Focus writer Bradley Locker looked at current NFL players and whether they would be considered Hall of Famers or not quite yet. There are three categories, with Thuney falling into the last one, "On the Fence."
"Being a four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time first-team All-Pro are feats few can lay claim to at any position, and Thuney’s accomplishments are that much more impressive considering he’s dominated with each of the Patriots, Chiefs and Bears. Claiming the NFL’s inaugural Protector of the Year award in 2025 is another boost, as is ranking second in PFF WAR (2.32) among guards since 2020.
One downside to Thuney’s candidacy is that he may never have been the best guard in the league at any point, not posting higher than an 81.2 overall PFF grade or ranking among the top-five at the position in any season. The competition in that range has been steep with the likes of Zack Martin, Quenton Nelson and Chris Lindstrom, and it definitely throws water on Thuney’s odds.
If Thuney keeps his quarterbacks clean and receives a few more first-team All-Pro berths, then Canton will definitely await. For now, he’s more of a unique case study at a position where longtime standouts continue to be snubbed."
Thuney already has resumes that match Hall of Famers, so it's an interesting question to ask when the man has dominated the guard position over the last five years. He's been reliable and has stayed healthy while playing at a consistent level.
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At age 33, Thuney still has some years in him to add to the resume, and there's no doubt that it will only get better and should solidify his spot as a first-ballot Hall of Famer soon enough.
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