The Chicago Bears have enjoyed perhaps the most impressive offseason of any team in the NFL. Following a disastrous Caleb Williams rookie campaign thanks to poor coaching and a terrible offensive line, the front office had a clear directive to fix things.
Among the key additions that Chicago made: four-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney. He started in the Super Bowl for the Kansas City Chiefs at left tackle following injuries, showcasing his versatility. This is one of the best linemen of the last decade, having won championships with both the Chiefs and New England Patriots.
Now that OTAs and mandatory minicamp are both over, Thuney is already proving his value as one of the best additions of the offseason.
The Bears built the best OG duo in the NFL this offseason
— PFF (@PFF) June 23, 2025
Joe Thuney & Jonah Jackson 🐻 pic.twitter.com/yM6LQLFcBv
New Bears Guard Joe Thuney Already Changing Expectations in Chicago
By adding Thuney and former Detroit Lions standout Jonah Jackson on the opposite side, the Bears now should have one of the better offensive lines in the league. Considering how important play in the trenches has been for the Lions' rise with new Chicago head coach Ben Johnson, that makes a huge difference.
Thuney has also already stepped up as a leader in the locker room. He's made it clear he'll be available to his new teammates, which will only help strengthen the unit Johnson is going to be heavily focused on turning into an elite group.
Williams is in a much better position to succeed now, as is the running game that made Detroit's offense one of the NFL's best. D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson are in a position to form a Costco version of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, which should instantly make the offense a top unit from Day 1.
Thuney ranked 12th out of 136 qualified guards at Pro Football Focus in 2024, to say nothing of the versatility he displayed at tackle. Some other veterans may be jealous of the contract Thuney received, yet he's clearly worth it regardless.
No matter where he's been, Thuney has made everyone around him better. He's 32 years old now but at $35 million over two years, he's well worth the cost. General manager Ryan Poles made a great decision here, and Thuney can give Williams the confidence to know he'll be protected as he finds reads down the field in Johnson's system.
This was a slam-dunk trade for the Bears. Thuney is a revelation for this team, filling a big need, and fans should be ecstatic to watch him on the field.