Chicago Bears offensive guard Joe Thuney was a game-changer when he arrived in the Windy City last offseason.
Thuney helped transform this offensive line from one of the worst in 2024 to a top-five unit in an instant last year. His former teammate, Tom Brady, appeared on the "New Heights" podcast, where former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce brought up Thuney, and Brady praised Chicago's top lineman.
"I used to call him Looney Tunes. But Joe was like a third-round pick for us, and he played tackle at NC State. We moved him to guard, started as a rookie, and Joe just came in, and he embraced all that. He had David Andrews next to him a few times as a center. I mean, he was just the perfect guard. Size, strength, you know, probably he didn't have the longest arms, but it didn't matter, you know."
Joe Thuney has truly been the perfect guard for the Bears
In 686 pass-blocking snaps last season, Thuney allowed 15 pressures and one quarterback hit, with zero sacks. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro selection, and won the first-ever Protector of the Year Award. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall grade of 79.4, ranking him fifth among 81 NFL guards.
This offensive line would not have been the same without Thuney. In 2024, the Bears' offensive line allowed a league-high 68 sacks and had the NFL's worst rushing attack. With Thuney and the other new additions to the line, they finished third in rushing yards and allowed just 24 sacks.
Thuney has accomplished so much in his NFL career, winning the Super Bowl four times and being a four-time Pro Bowler, three-time first-team All-Pro, and a two-time second-team All-Pro. That kind of resume is more than good enough to get him into the Hall of Fame, where not many guards have made it.
Chicago would not be the offense it is now without Thuney's contributions. It's crazy to think that Bears general manager Ryan Poles only had to give the Kansas City Chiefs a fourth-round pick for Thuney in a trade. That feels like the deal of the century.
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It's only been one season, but Thuney feels like he might be the best offensive lineman in franchise history, and it may not even be close. What he has done for this franchise could help lead them to their first Super Bowl since the 80s.
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