CHI Joe Thuney
NFL player. Position: OL. Team: CHI (Chicago Bears).
Quick Facts
- Position: OL (Guard)
- Team: CHI (Chicago Bears)
- Bye week (2026): 10
2026 Outlook
All-Pro lineman joining the Bears in his first season (2025), Thuney immediately made an impact solidifying the offensive line and earning recognition as the inaugural Protector of the Year Award winner for his stellar 2025 season. In his first year with Chicago, Thuney excelled in run-game blocking and has been consistently steady in pass protection throughout his career. CBS Sports' Pete Prisco ranked Thuney at #55 in his top 100 NFL players list, noting he was the only guard ranked higher than the Colts' Quenton Nelson (#38) and Falcons' Chris Lindstrom (#33) on the list. His elite performance as a guard in Ben Johnson's run-heavy offensive system positions him as a cornerstone of the Bears' line heading into 2026, providing stability for Caleb Williams and the ground game.
ESPN's 2026 survey ranked Thuney as the #5 interior lineman overall, noting his continued excellence at age 33. He led all guards in pass block win rate and ranked third among guards in run block win rate at 77%, anchoring the Bears' revamped offensive line. One evaluator called him "awesome" in 2025, highlighting his technical soundness and durability (per Execs, coaches, scouts rank top NFL guards, centers for 2026 - ESPN).
Heading into 2026, Thuney forms the core of the Bears' elite offensive line alongside Wright and Jackson. Sports Illustrated noted the Bears' core trio of Thuney, Jackson, and Wright "has a strong argument for being the best core in the entire league," though the offensive line as a whole ranks 5th in the NFL (per Chicago Bears Roster Ranking). Despite significant offseason changes at center (replacing retired Drew Dalman with Garrett Bradbury and Logan Jones) and potential uncertainty at left tackle due to Ozzy Trapilo's injury, Thuney's continued presence as an All-Pro caliber guard ensures the Bears' interior line remains elite heading into training camp (per Chicago Bears 2026 Training Camp Preview: Offensive Line - 247Sports).
August 3 PFF guard rankings: PFF ranked Thuney #1 among all NFL guards entering 2026, confirming his status as the league's elite pass-blocker. He led all guards with an 87.7 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025, allowing just 22 pressures across 19 games and not surrendering a single sack on 788 pass-blocking snaps. His 68.6 PFF run-blocking grade ranked among the top 25 qualified guards. Thuney's elite consistency has made him the inaugural winner of the NFL Protector of the Year award (per NFL guard rankings 2026: Top 32 guards - PFF).
Role / Depth Chart
Starting guard for the Chicago Bears. Key piece of offensive line anchoring Ben Johnson's run-first system.
Injury Status
Healthy. Full availability expected for 2026 season.
Recent News
- 2026-06-26 — Three Chicago Bears make CBS Sports' Top 100 NFL Players of 2026 List (Three Chicago Bears make CBS Sports' Top 100 NFL Players of 2026 List)