Bears All-Pro earns major honor that feels like just the beginning of something much bigger ahead
The Chicago Bears struck gold when they acquired left guard Joe Thuney last offseason and he continues to earn major accolades for an exceptional football career both at the college and professional level.
The Chicago Bears made an absolute homerun of a decision last offseason when the team made a deal with the Kanas City Chiefs to acquire All-Pro guard Joe Thuney for just a 2026 fourth-round pick. It was a steal at the time and highway robbery following his first season in Chicago.
Not only did Thuney notch another Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro recognition, he was also named as the NFL’s first ever Protector of the Year. It was well-earned for a player that’s made a career out of not having his name called, which is a high compliment for an offensive lineman.
Everywhere Thuney has gone, success has followed. He started his NFL career with the New England Patriots and was a key part of the dynasty under head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. Then, he went to Kanas City and helped form another dynasty alongside head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Before he even got to the league, however, Thuney was a standout player at NC State and now will forever be recognized for his efforts.
Joe Thuney has been inducted into NC State’s Ring of Honor
NC State announced on Tuesday that Thuney has been inducted into NC State’s Ring of Honor. According to the press released posted by NC State, the date for Thuney’s official induction will be set after NFL schedules are released in May.
“Joe was the true definition of a team player during his time at NC State,” head football coach Dave Doeren said. “He was willing to start wherever he was needed and he excelled at each position. He established a standard on the Wolfpack offensive line that players for the last decade have worked to live up to, which is one reason we’ve had two offensive linemen drafted in the first-round since then and have six on NFL rosters today. He worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the field and truly deserves to have his name enshrined among other NC State stars.”
Fittingly, Thuney will enter into his 11th season and get to playing to the left of one of his former NC State teammates in new Bears starting center Garrett Bradbury. It’s the first time the two will get to play side-by-side in over a decade and after the trade was official, Bradbury shared what Thuney meant to him during their time together at NC State.
“Spent two years with Joe in college. He’s a stud,” Bradbury explained. “I think everyone in college knew when he left college what kind of player he was, and no one was surprised by the success he’s had. It blows my mind that that two teams have let that guy walk out of the building. . .
He’s just a special guy. He’s a pro, he handles everything the right way. He’s a good leader. He works his butt off, and he is consistent as they come. I had some fun times with him in college and we’ve kept up over the years, just obviously being in the NFL together and playing against him a few times. Definitely excited to get back together with him.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame isn’t too far away for Joe Thuney after his time in the NFL is over
Not long after the Bears acquired Thuney, the team reached an extension that would keep Thuney under contract through the 2027 season. It showed the team’s commitment to the player and Thuney’s commitment to sticking around for multiple years.
“As the days rolled into weeks, you realize this is a special place, special building, special history here and the people in the building just make it even more special,” Thuney said last year. “Pretty early on I could just tell this is something I want to be a part of, something that I think would be really cool going forward.”
Acquiring Thuney has already proven to be a massive success for Chicago. At age 33, Thuney won’t be around for the long-haul in Chicago but he’s certainly going to be a key component of pushing the Bears back into title contention in this short window.
Once it comes time to hang up the cleats, another honor will await him. Thuney embodies what it means to be a Pro Football Hall of Famer and eventually he will be forever enshrined in Canton, Ohio as well.
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