Joe Thuney

Joseph Thuney ( ; born November 18, 1992 ) is an American professional football guard for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the NC State Wolfpack, and was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round (78th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft. Thuney is the first player in NFL history to start in the Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons. Thuney attended Incarnation Catholic School before becoming a member of two D4 state championship teams at Archbishop Alter High School. As a Senior he was Greater Catholic League Lineman of the Year and president of his senior class.

College career Thuney played sparingly at NC State during his freshman year. He came into his redshirt sophomore year as the projected starting center but ended up starting the season opener at right tackle, the second game at right guard and the last 10 games at left tackle. In his junior year he started at left guard and at left tackle his senior year. He became the first offensive lineman for NC State to be named an All-American since Jim Ritcher in 1979.

He was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, which rewards the best combination of academics, community service, and performance on the field, and he graduated from NC State cum laude in three years. According to NFL reporter Matt Verderame, when Thuney took the Wonderlic Personnel Test he avoided answering many of the questions so he would not come off as too smart. He later earned Master of Business Administration from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington.

In 2026, Thuney was inducted into the NC State Football Ring of Honor.

Professional career

New England Patriots Thuney was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft with the 78th overall selection, 13 picks before the Patriots drafted his teammate, quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Thuney won the starting left guard spot to start the season and remained the starter for all 16 regular-season games; according to Pro-Football-Reference.com, he played the highest number of snaps of any Patriot in 2016. He also started all three postseason games. On February 5, 2017, Thuney was part of the Patriots team that won Super Bowl LI. In the game, the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 34–28 in overtime. The PFWA named Thuney to its 2016 All-Rookie Team at guard. Thuney made it to his second straight Super Bowl when the Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots failed to repeat as Super Bowl champions when they lost 41–33 to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Thuney once again started all 16 games at left guard for the Patriots in 2018, and for the third time in his three-year career, the Patriots made it to the Super Bowl, becoming the first player in NFL history to start in the Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons. The Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13–3 to win their second Super Bowl in three years. Thuney played every offensive snap for the team and helped contain Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.

The Patriots placed the franchise tag on Thuney on March 16, 2020. He signed the franchise tag on March 20, 2020.

In 2020, with David Andrews out on injured reserve, Thuney was pressed into service at center for the Patriots' Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Kansas City Chiefs

Thuney signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 18, 2021. Thuney continued to play left guard for the Chiefs during the 2022 NFL season. The Chiefs would go on to Super Bowl LVII where Thuney helped to hold the Philadelphia Eagles defense in check, as the offensive line gave up zero sacks and the Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38–35. This was his third Super Bowl ring and first with the Chiefs. In 2023, Thuney was named First-team All-Pro. In the Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills, Thuney had a pectoral injury that sidelined him for the rest of the playoffs. Without Thuney, the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII 25–22 against the San Francisco 49ers to give Thuney his fourth Super Bowl championship.

On July 17, 2024, Thuney was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. He was activated off of the list on July 28, 2024. In Week 15, following an injury to newly signed tackle D. J. Humphries, Thuney switched to playing left tackle. Mike Caliendo took Thuney's place at left guard, and this arrangement continued throughout the postseason. In the 2024 NFL season, Thuney helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LIX, but he gave up 7 pressures and a sack, and the team lost 40–22 to the Eagles.

Chicago Bears On March 12, 2025, the Chiefs traded Thuney to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 125, which was traded to his former Patriots) in the 2026 NFL draft. On May 20, Thuney signed a two-year, $35 million contract with Chicago that runs through the 2027 season.

In Thuney's first season as a Bear, the offensive line went from allowing 68 sacks in 2024 to just 24. He was named first-team All-Pro for a third consecutive season and to his fourth Pro Bowl roster; Thuney was the team's first interior offensive lineman to receive the former honor since center Jay Hilgenberg in 1989 and their first guard since Dick Barwegen in 1951. In the Divisional Round against the Los Angeles Rams, Thuney was moved to left tackle following an injury to Ozzy Trapilo, with Jordan McFadden taking his place at left guard. At the 15th NFL Honors, Thuney received the inaugural NFL Protector of the Year Award.

Regular season statistics Legend Won the Super Bowl AP NFL Protector of the Year Bold Career high

Year Team Games Offense GP GS Snaps Pct Holding False Start Decl/Pen Acpt/Pen 2016 NE 16 16 1,114 100% 6 3 1 9 2017 NE 16 16 1,134 100% 2 0 0 3 2018 NE 16 16 1,119 100% 3 1 0 4 2019 NE 16 16 1,140 99% 0 0 0 0 2020 NE 16 16 979 97% 3 0 0 3 2021 KC 17 17 1,185 99% 4 3 1 7 2022 KC 15 15 999 98% 1 1 0 2 2023 KC 17 17 1,087 97% 0 1 0 2 2024 KC 17 17 1,117 97% 1 0 0 12025 CHI 17 17 1,149 100% 0 2 0 2 Career 163 163 11,033 — 19 11 2 33

Postseason