Thuney and Jackson on their trade to the Bears, protecting Caleb Williams

Ariana Pensy - Correspondent - 7 hours ago

CHICAGO - Offensive guard Joe Thuney just went from playing in the Super Bowl protecting three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes to playing for the Chicago Bears and protecting quarterback Caleb Williams who was sacked 68 times last season.

“A little surprised, but my agent called me and said what was happening and I think just, (it is) such a great fit though and just so excited to be here and knowing (general manager) Ryan (Poles) from Kansas City and Coach (Ben) Johnson and just couldn’t be more excited,” Thuney said. “I think (it is) a special place here and excited to do what I can and contribute and get going.”

Thuney seems to get better with age. He started his career with the New England Patriots in 2016 after being selected by them in the third round of the NFL Draft. In 2019, Thuney was a second-team All-Pro. His time with the Chiefs started in 2021. He was a Pro-Bowler each of the past three seasons there, a second-team All-Pro in 2022 and first-team All-Pro in 2023 and 2024. Thuney was even No. 10 in Offensive Player of the Year voting last season, a rare feat for an offensive lineman.

From his time in New England and Kansas City, Thuney says he learned a lot from the talented players and coaches around him.

“Fortunate to play for some really good coaches, really good quarterbacks and really good offensive lines and I think just being a part of that and seeing how the day-to-day goes, how certain people approached meetings, how they approached practice, what they do in between meetings and practice, nutrition,” Thuney said. “I felt (fortunate) to witness that and to be around and tried to copy what guys were doing in the building and just (take) it a day at a time and trying to make small improvements each day and get better and it’s kind of what I’ve been trying to do too.”

The day before acquiring Thuney, Chicago acquired fellow guard Jonah Jackson in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. However, Los Angeles did not seem to be a good fit for him.

During his years with the Detroit Lions, while Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson was there, Jackson performed much better compared to how he performed in his one year with the Rams.

“I had a great relationship with Ben. He was with me when I was a young pup my rookie year and what he brings to the table is awesome and I couldn’t be more excited, especially having a guy like (Thuney) on the line, (center) Drew (Dalman), (right tackle) Darnell (Wright) and (left tackle) Braxton (Jones). But, last year it was a little hiccup along the road. Things like that happen and I feel like it definitely sharpened me a little bit, brought everything into perspective. This game, it can come and go whenever. But, I was able to build more of (an) appreciation for it and own it, hone in on my craft and I’m excited for that’s to come,” Jackson said. “I feel like my best years were with Ben. He calls the game to our strengths and things we’re good at and it’s not just for one guy specifically and I felt like I was able to strive in that system and I’m excited to get back into it, get back to what I was able to do and keep it rolling.”

Chicago certainly needs the offensive line help. Williams took a beating during his first season in the NFL which does not help his development. He was pressured a total of 160 times and only had an average of 2.4 seconds to throw the ball. The offensive line failed Williams last season. Jackson recognizes the importance of building a quarterback’s confidence.

A quarterback cannot grow their confidence when under that kind of pressure.

“You see what happened last year, he (took) a lot of hits and you got to build confidence in a young guy like that, in any quarterback honestly,” Jackson said. “I feel like that’s something we’re able to bring to the table and I’ve seen a lot of tape of (Thuney doing) great work, protecting (Mahomes) and that’s just part of our job.”