Before making his Bears debut, Joe Thuney has a new deal in hand. The All-Pro guard agreed to terms on a two-year extension, his agent announced on Tuesday. 
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports this pact is worth $35MM and brings Thuney’s scheduled earnings up to $51MM over the next three seasons. $33.5MM is fully guaranteed at signing. Rather than entering the coming season as a pending free agent, Thuney is now on the books through 2027. To no surprise, this agreement will lower his 2025 cap hit, with Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune noting it will be cut in half to $8MM.
The 32-year-old represented a key element of the Bears’ multi-faceted efforts to improve along the interior of the offensive line. He, like fellow guard Jonah Jackson, was acquired via trade in March prior to the outset of free agency. Those two are set to join free agent signing Drew Dalman, who departed the Falcons on the open market to take on center duties in Chicago.
After a strong five-year run in New England to begin his career, Thuney enjoyed plenty of individual and team success during his time with Kansas City. He added another two Super Bowl titles to his resume with the Chiefs while earning a Pro Bowl nod during each of the past three seasons. That stretch includes the 2024 campaign, during which Thuney took on left tackle duties out of necessity with the team’s other blindside options falling short of expectations.
That setup proved to be effective enough for the Chiefs until their Super Bowl loss, one which did not damper Thuney’s value. Kansas City’s need to budget for a Trey Smith commitment at the other guard spot – which to date consists of using the franchise tag with an extension likely coming in the near future – resulted in the Thuney trade, though. The NC State product was dealt to the Bears in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. He will handle his familiar left guard spot, with Jackson moving over to the RG position upon arrival in Chicago.
At first, Thuney was non-committal about signing an extension prior to the start of the 2025 season. In April, however, general manager Ryan Poles made it clear a new deal on this front was a team priority. Jackson inked a one-year extension shortly after he was acquired, and today’s move means both of Chicago’s guards are under contract until the 2028 offseason. The same is also true of Dalman.
Pass protection was a major issue for the Bears in 2024; improved play from quarterback Caleb Williams in Year 2 will depend in large part on the team’s ability to deliver stronger play up front. New head coach Ben Johnson named changes along the interior of the O-line as something to watch for upon arrival. That took place on multiple fronts, and now all three of the unit’s new faces are attached to overlapping multi-year pacts.
Nice! 2 year extension, given his age, is perfect AND this should create some more cap space.
Good deal for all involved. The Chiefs can’t sign everyone so they needed to replace some veterans with less expensive youth. The Bears definitely needed to sure up the oline in front of Williams and now have a high caliber interior lineman for two more years. Thuney ended up somewhere that had the need and space to give him his worth for a couple years towards the twilight of his career. Thuney has a lot left the Chiefs simply moved him for cap reasons not performance if there wasn’t a cap he’d still be a Chief. It’s tough in the NFL to get to the top and stay there. Outside of a franchise QB very few players will finish their career with the team they shared so much success with
The unfortunate thing is the Chiefs paid big for two very middling tackles and b/c of that are now getting pinched on the interior. They seem to draft interior olineman well, but can’t figure out the tackles.
Well it does open up 8 million in Cap space for this year which was desperately needed so they should have 10 million or so to operate with after signing their 3 second round picks. It kicks money down the road which I’m never in favor of but it had to be done. Poles has always managed to keep at least 10 million in reserve in case of injuries. I’ll go with what they have at RB rather than sign a FA injury prone guy. See what they have first and who gets cut first rather than start off with a walking injury. Besides Johnson might already be one of those guys. Plus that UDFA kid Hankins looks like a human bulldozer which they haven’t had lately. Hopefully Wheeler comes back at least for the practice squad.
Joe Thuney’s career will be highlighted by those he protected & Won with. Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes & Caleb Williams. What a list.
Everything is falling nicely into place for the Bears …and that’s when I worry the most:)