Chicago’s investment up front delivered immediate and historic dividends.
Bears offensive lineman Joe Thuney was named the inaugural Protector of the Year on Thursday night at NFL Honors in San Francisco, earning the league’s newest award recognizing excellence along the offensive line. Thuney topped a finalist group that included Broncos tackle Garett Bolles, Dolphins center Aaron Brewer, Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz and Lions tackle Penei Sewell.
The award, championed by former standout tackles Andrew Whitworth and Dion Dawkins, was created to honor the NFL’s most outstanding offensive lineman over the course of a single season — a role Thuney filled seamlessly in his first year with Chicago.
Acquired in the offseason from Kansas City, Thuney became a stabilizing force for a Bears offensive line that struggled a year earlier. His presence proved vital under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, helping Chicago protect second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and fuel an 11-6 season that culminated in a run to the NFC Divisional Round.
While Johnson has been widely credited as the face of the Bears’ turnaround, Thuney’s impact was equally significant. He finished the season with a 79.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking fifth among all NFL guards, and led the position in pass-blocking grade — a reflection of his consistency and reliability in the trenches.
Now a 10-year veteran, Thuney added another accolade to a résumé already decorated with championship success. He spent the previous four seasons with the Chiefs, winning two Super Bowls, after opening his career in New England, where he captured two more titles with the Patriots.
Though 2025 didn’t end with another Lombardi Trophy, Thuney’s recognition carried special weight. The Protector of the Year was decided by an elite committee of NFL legends, including LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O’Hara, Whitworth, and Pro Football Hall of Famers Orlando Pace and Will Shields.
On a night celebrating the league’s best, Thuney stood as the standard-bearer for the men who make everything else possible — the protectors up front.
