The Chicago Bears go into December as the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 9-3 record, finding several ways to win when it seemed improbable, and own a five-game win streak entering Week 14. It's taken some time, but it's easy to see now how some of general manager Ryan Poles' offseason moves are finally starting to pay off.
The acquisitions that the Bears made along the offensive line have paid dividends, including acquiring Joe Thuney via trade from the Kansas City Chiefs for a fourth-round pick. Ahead of Week 14, Thuney has only given up 10 pressures on 486 pass block downs while also helping establish Chicago's run game, proven by his 85.9 run block grade being No. 1 among guards on Pro Football Focus.
While Thuney has been a no-doubt home run addition, fellow Bears guard Jonah Jackson is going under the radar for being an outstanding presence himself.
Jonah Jackson Has Been Excellent for Bears in 2025
Back in March, the Bears acquired Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams for a 2025 sixth-round pick. He was a player who had a history with Ben Johnson during their time with the Detroit Lions (2020-2023). That helped him land in the Windy City, and he's been a stellar player on the offensive line.
Bleacher Report's Brandon Thorn, who is known for being an OL expert, posted some clips of Jackson and believes he's playing at 2021/22 levels, which were some of the best years of his career, and included a Pro Bowl appearance.
The above video shows how easily Jackson can climb to the second level on run plays, helping create massive holes in the run game against the New York Giants in Week 10. His play hasn't taken a dip either, as he had a huge pancake block (h/t @ImBearingDown) in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
According to PFF, Jackson has a 74.0 overall grade (8th among 81 graded guards), 66.6 pass-blocking grade (27th among 81 graded guards), and a 74.1 run-blocking grade (13th among 81 graded guards). While he's allowed 20 pressures this season, it's only translated to two sacks.
The biggest area where Jackson is making an impact is in the run game. Chicago is second in the NFL in rushing offense (153.8) and has played a massive role in this win streak. Being able to win the battle at the line of scrimmage is one of the main keys to victory. Jackson has helped create a powerful duo on the right side with Darnell Wright.
The trade for Thuney was certainly a game-changer, but so is the one for Jackson. He's been going under the radar, yet he's been one of the most productive players on the team. And as the weather gets colder, having a tough OL is big, and the Bears appear to have that.