Windy City Gridiron
For the 17th straight year, we’re bringing you who we believe will be the ten most important Chicago Bears for the upcoming season, and at number 2 is All-Pro Joe Thuney.
The Chicago Bears began their offensive line makeover by trading a fourth-round draft pick for Joe Thuney, who is a four-time All-Pro and a four-time Super Bowl champion. I’ve never had an offensive lineman this high on my annual Most Important Bears list, but the Bears have never had an offensive lineman with Thuney’s pedigree on their roster.
As someone who has tracked sacks allowed for over a decade, it’s occasionally difficult to say with 100% certainty who gave up the sack, but most pundits agree that Thuney didn’t allow any in 2024. And in case you didn’t know, the Chiefs kicked Thuney out to left tackle in week 15, and he played over 200 snaps at that position last year. That’s probably why he received enough votes to finish 10th in the 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year voting.
According to Next Gen Stats, Thuney has only allowed 8.5 sacks over the last four years, which is the fewest of any guard or tackle in the NFL with over 2,000 pass block snaps since 2021.
The 33rd Team had Thuney responsible for just seven sacks allowed in the last five years, with a 3.3% pressure allowed rate in that time. Which, according to their analytics, is 12th-best among all offensive linemen with at least 1,500 pass blocking snaps in that timeframe.
The Bears allowed the most sacks in the league a season ago, so his prolific pass blocking is just what they need up front.
However, his professionalism and leadership are exactly what this franchise needs as well.
He’s played with the two most successful franchises this century, for two of the greatest head coaches of all time, so he knows how to win and what the culture should feel like.
“It can start how teams approach OTAs even, just the focus, the intensity, the attention to detail,” Thuney said shortly after the trade. “Some teams approach it differently, but just try to take it seriously and get something from each day, and then grow through the camp. In camp, you’re spending all that time together, so you could start to feel it, and then all of a sudden you start getting some wins and you’re like, ‘All right, this is real and it’s happening.’”
Thuney only had one year left on his deal when he was traded, but a new contract was always part of the plan, and in May, the Bears gave him a 2-year, $35M extension.
“Joe’s leadership and experience have already positively impacted our organization,” General Manager Ryan Poles said after the deal was announced, “and we are fortunate that he will continue to lead our team, on and off the field.”
Head coach Ben Johnson said, “We are excited to secure Joe as a member of our team moving forward. As we...
