 Thuney with the New England Patriots in 2017 | |||||||
| No. 62 – Chicago Bears | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Guard | ||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | November 18, 1992 Centerville, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 301 lb (137 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio) | ||||||
| College | NC State (2011–2015) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2016: 3rd round, 78th overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| |||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||
| |||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||
| |||||||
Joseph Thuney (/ˈtuːni/ TOO-nee; born November 18, 1992[1]) 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.[2] He was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round (78th overall) in 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.[3]
Early life
Thuney was born to Mike and Beth Thuney in Centerville, Ohio. He was raised in Centerville along with his brother Eric and sisters Monica and Megan.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] He later earned Master of Business Administration from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington.[9]
Professional career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 4+5⁄8 in (1.95 m) |
304 lb (138 kg) |
32+1⁄4 in (0.82 m) |
9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) |
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
4.95 s | 1.70 s | 2.84 s | 4.54 s | 7.47 s | 28.5 in (0.72 m) |
9 ft 2 in (2.79 m) |
28 reps |
| All values from NFL Combine[10][11][12] | ||||||||||||
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.[13] 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.[14][15] The PFWA named Thuney to its 2016 All-Rookie Team at guard.[16] 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.[3] The Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13–3 to win their second Super Bowl in three years.[17] Thuney played every offensive snap for the team and helped contain Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.[18]
The Patriots placed the franchise tag on Thuney on March 16, 2020.[19] He signed the franchise tag on March 20, 2020.[20]
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.[21]
Kansas City Chiefs
Thuney signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 18, 2021.[22] 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.[23] 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.[24]
On July 17, 2024, Thuney was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.[25] He was activated off of the list on July 28, 2024.[26] 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.[27]
Chicago Bears
On March 12, 2025, Thuney was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft.[28] On May 20, Thuney signed a two-year, $35 million contract with Chicago that runs through the 2027 season.[29]
In Thuney's first season as a Bear, the offensive line went from allowing 68 sacks in 2024 to just 24.[30] 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.[31][32] 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.[33] At the 15th NFL Honors, Thuney received the inaugural NFL Protector of the Year Award.[34]
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 | 1 | ||
| 2025 | CHI | 17 | 17 | 1,149 | 100% | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
| Career | 163 | 163 | 11,033 | — | 19 | 11 | 2 | 33 | |||
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Offense | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Snaps | Pct | Holding | False Start | Decl/Pen | Acpt/Pen | ||||
| 2016 | NE | 3 | 3 | 241 | 94% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | NE | 3 | 3 | 221 | 93% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2018 | NE | 3 | 3 | 252 | 94% | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2019 | NE | 1 | 1 | 61 | 95% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2021 | KC | 3 | 3 | 210 | 92% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2022 | KC | 3 | 3 | 192 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | KC | 2 | 2 | 116 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | KC | 3 | 3 | 173 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2025 | CHI | 2 | 2 | 159 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career | 23 | 23 | 1,625 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||
References
- ^ "Joe Thuney". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved March 23, 2021.
- ^ "Thuney stands out on NC State's offensive line | News & Observer". Archived from the original on June 2, 2016.
- ^ a b "Patriots' Joe Thuney will be first player to start 3 Super Bowls in first 3 seasons". January 27, 2019.
- ^ Hartman, Marcus (February 6, 2019). "Thuney family celebrates another Super Bowl victory". Journal-News.com. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ "Joe Thuney". Patriots.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
- ^ "Joe Thuney – 2015 – Football – NC State University Athletics".
- ^ "Joe Thuney | New England Patriots". Archived from the original on May 1, 2016.
- ^ Jordan Heck (July 30, 2019). "Patriots player avoided Wonderlic questions so he wouldn't 'scare teams off' with his intelligence". Sporting News.
- ^ "Four NFL players are pursuing the Vince Lombardi Trophy and a Kelley School master's degree". Kelley School of Business. January 30, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2025.
- ^ "Joe Thuney Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ^ "Combine Player Profiles – Joe Thuney". National Football League. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- ^ "Joe Thuney, DS #68 OG, North Carolina State". DraftScout.com. The Sports Xchange. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- ^ "2016 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ "Super Bowl LI – New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons – February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
- ^ Mason, Chris (January 29, 2017). "Patriots notebook: Rookie guard Joe Thuney plays it cool". BostonHerald.com.
- ^ Hill, Rich (January 17, 2017). "Patriots LG Joe Thuney named to PFWA 2016 All Rookie Team". PatsPulpit.com.
- ^ Shpigel, Ben (February 4, 2019). "Patriots Win in Lowest-Scoring Super Bowl Ever". The New York Times. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
- ^ Sullivan, Tyler (February 11, 2019). "Joe Thuney dominated Aaron Donald on Patriots' TD drive". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ "Patriots Designate OL Joe Thuney as Franchise Player". Patriots.com. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ Reiss, Mike (March 19, 2020). "Patriots guard Joe Thuney signs franchise tender". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
- ^ Jaillet, Danny (September 28, 2020). "Patriots OL Joe Thuney showed his value by changing positions". patriotswire.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
- ^ Shook, Nick (March 15, 2021). "Chiefs signing former Patriots OL Joe Thuney to 5-year, $80M deal". NFL.com. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Trotter, Jim (February 13, 2023). "Chiefs' offensive linemen 'handled business' against Eagles' vaunted defensive front after week of doubts". National Football League. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Maaddi, Rob (February 12, 2024). "Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime". AP News. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Foote, Jordan (July 17, 2024). "Chiefs Announce Slew of Roster, Injury Moves to Begin Training Camp". SI.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Bush, Jared (July 28, 2024). "Chiefs OL Joe Thuney passes physical; removed from PUP list". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
- ^ Heckman, Ryan (February 13, 2025). "Former Super Bowl winning lineman explains why Joe Thuney struggled so badly for Chiefs". Arrowhead Addict. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
- ^ "Roster Moves: Bears acquire Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson via trade". Chicago Bears. March 12, 2025.
- ^ Shook, Nick (May 20, 2025). "Bears, OL Joe Thuney agree to terms on two-year, $35 million extension". NFL.com.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (January 10, 2026). "Three Bears players earn AP NFL All-Pro honors". Chicago Bears. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Noble, Kole (January 10, 2026). "Three Bears earn 2025 AP All-Pro honors, including one long-overdue correction after a surprising Pro Bowl snub". A to Z Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Fishbain, Kevin (January 8, 2026). "Bears swung big to improve their O-line. Here's how the additions have paid off". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Vitale, Benedetto (January 18, 2026). "Bears' Joe Thuney to start at left tackle vs. Rams with Ozzy Trapilo sidelined". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
- ^ Shook, Nick (February 5, 2026). "Bears OL Joe Thuney wins first-ever NFL Protector of the Year award". National Football League. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
External links
- 1992 births
- Living people
- American football offensive linemen
- NC State Wolfpack football players
- New England Patriots players
- Kansas City Chiefs players
- People from Centerville, Ohio
- Players of American football from Greene County, Ohio
- American Conference Pro Bowl players
- Chicago Bears players
- Kelley School of Business alumni
- Indiana University Bloomington alumni
- NFL Protector of the Year winners
