Latest NFL rankings raise questions about how the league really views Chicago Bears star offensive lineman Joe Thuney
Chicago Bears left guard Joe Thuney was awarded the NFL’s first ever Protector of the Year award, yet some people within the league still aren’t sold on him actually being the best in the league.
The Chicago Bears hit an absolute home run with the acquisition of left guard Joe Thuney last offseason, a deal that continues to look better and better by the day despite Thuney entering the later years of his career.
Father Time hasn’t come close to catching Thuney, though. Thuney is coming off one of the best seasons of his Hall of Fame worthy season in his first year with the Bears. He finished the regular season as one of two players (Garrett Bolles) to play 750+ pass blocking snaps and allow zero sacks while being a consistent and selfless player up-front.
And Thuney was nationally recognized for his efforts. Thuney earned his fourth straight Pro Bowl nod and third straight first-team All-Pro nomination last season while being named the NFL’s first ever Protector of the Year award. Yet, some people in the league still don’t view him as the best offensive linemen in football.
NFL can’t make up their minds when it comes to how Joe Thuney is viewed among the best OL
In winning the Protector of the Year award, the Associated Press and all of the voters confirmed that Thuney was viewed as THE best offensive linemen (not just guard, or interior offensive lineman) in the entire league. However, those inside the league had differing opinions.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler put together his Top-10 interior offensive linemen entering the 2026 season, voted on by NFL executives, coaches, and scouts. His rankings for the position had Thuney listed at No. 5, which doesn’t add up. Thuney highest ranking was No. 1, but he also wasn’t ranked in other ballots. It’s not the first time Thuney’s been overlooked by the league, either.
Thuney has never been ranked inside the NFL’s Top-100 players list, a ranking voted on by the players themselves. And when you go back to ESPN’s rankings from last year, Thuney came in at No. 6 while again getting a highest vote of No. 1 and being unranked on others.
The reason people overlook this guy is simple. Joe Thuney is so good, he’s boring, and I mean that as a compliment. He’s just not a flashy guy or energetic on the field to create attention. He just goes out there, does his job for four quarters, and does it at an elite level.
“He kicked our (expletive) last year,” one veteran NFL defensive coach said.
Some could make the argument that age could be a concern when evaluating a player going into his 11th season at the age of 33, but Thuney was so good last season that it completely eliminates that as a potential variable.
“He’s losing a little lateral quickness, but he’s so technically sound and tough and sturdy and stronger than you’d think that it doesn’t really matter,” an NFC exec said. “He was awesome last year.”
Take it from the people who matter most in this conversation
Thuney doesn’t get a lot of the love he deserves and people forget about this guy because he’s so quiet and consistent. But, when you look at what this guy is doing, it’s clear he’s the best at his craft and it’s not close.
Take it from the people that have spent the most time with Thuney, including GOAT himself.
“He was just the perfect guard,” Tom Brady explained on the New Heights Podcast. “Size, strength, probably didn’t have the longest arms, but it didn’t matter. He was a captain, and he always did the right thing; he showed up, he sweated his (expletive) off, and he was the consummate pro. He should be a champion, and he still is. He’s just a great player, a great guy.”
“Joe [Thuney] might be the greatest. He might be the greatest guard,” Caleb Williams said on The Rush With Maxx Crosby. “He’s unreal. His resume, plus who he’s gone against and the games he’s been in. I love Joe, he’s the best.”
“He’s played every position on the offensive line and wherever we need him, he’s willing to go out there and do it. That’s what champions do,” Patrick Mahomes said “They just go out there, they compete for every single snap and try to make their team better. Joe Thuney is gonna go down in the history of football as one of the greatest players.”
Thuney will be enshrined among the best players in NFL history when it’s all said and done. For now, he’s still the very best and people honestly need to start paying more attention and give him the respect he’s earned.