Bears Extend Decorated Guard Joe Thuney

The Chicago Bears and two-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney have agreed to a significant two-year contract extension. The extension is valued at $17.5 million per season. This deal brings Thuney’s new three-year contract total to $51 million, with an impressive $33.5 million fully guaranteed at signing. Bears general manager Ryan Poles had emphasized earlier this offseason that securing an extension for Thuney was a top priority for the team, highlighting the crucial role Thuney plays within the Bears’ offensive line as they bulk up to protect Caleb Williams.

Thuney was acquired by the Bears in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs in March, when the Bears sent a 2026 fourth-round draft pick in exchange for his services. At the time of the trade, Thuney was entering the final year of the five-year, $80 million contract he initially signed with the Chiefs as a free agent in 2021. The hope is that his impact will be immediate and substantial, as Thuney has consistently been one of the league’s best. Last season, Thuney was recognized by his Chiefs teammates as the team’s Most Valuable Player, earning the Derrick Thomas Award. This honor acknowledged not only his outstanding performances but also his versatility and unselfishness—especially when he stepped up to fill the left tackle position at the end of the season, a move that demonstrated his willingness to prioritize the team’s needs over personal comfort.

Over the course of nine NFL seasons split between the New England Patriots and the Chiefs, Thuney has established himself as one of the most durable and reliable offensive linemen in the league. Remarkably, he has missed only two games and started 146 during that span. His technical skills are equally impressive; Thuney boasts the highest pass block win rate in the NFL over the past two seasons—an extraordinary 97.8%. This consistency in pass protection has contributed significantly to his back-to-back selections as a first-team All-Pro. Furthermore, his excellence has been acknowledged through his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod in 2024.

With this extension, the Bears are doubling down on a player who combines elite performance, versatility, and resilience—qualities that will be instrumental as the team looks to strengthen its offensive front in the coming seasons while embarking on a journey to hopefully be contenders in 2025.