SAN FRANCISCO — Offensive linemen usually only get screen time when they hold, false start, or let their quarterback get buried. That changed last week at the NFL Honors. In a move long overdue, the league finally shone a spotlight on the trenches, awarding the inaugural Protector of the Year title. The winner wasn’t a surprise to anyone paying attention to the NFC North this season.
Joe Thuney, the man who turned the Chicago Bears’ offensive line from a turnstile into a brick wall, took home the hardware. And honestly? It wasn’t even close.
More Than Just a blocker
The criteria for the new award were specific: dominate your opponent and elevate your teammates. Thuney checked both boxes with a permanent marker. A panel of legends—Andrew Whitworth, LeCharles Bentley, and Will Shields—broke down the film and saw exactly what Bears fans saw all year: a force multiplier.
Thuney didn’t allow a single sack this season. Not one. But his stat sheet isn’t the only reason he won. He walked into a locker room reeling from a 2024 season where the Bears allowed a league-worst 68 sacks. That number is horrifying. It was the second-most sacks a rookie quarterback has ever eaten in NFL history. Caleb Williams spent more time running for his life than throwing the football.
Fast forward one year. With Thuney anchoring the left side, that number plummeted to just 24 sacks—the third-fewest in the league. That is a staggering 65% reduction year-over-year.
The “Thuney Effect”
Critics might point to the other additions. Sure, GM Ryan Poles brought in Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman and guard Jonah Jackson. Yes, Darnell Wright made the leap to All-Pro status. But watch the tape. Thuney was the glue.
The left tackle position was a disaster zone for Chicago due to injuries. Braxton Jones and Theo Benedet struggled, and the position became a revolving door. When it mattered most, in the Divisional Round against the Rams, Thuney kicked out to play Left Tackle against rookie sensation and Pro Bowler Jared Verse.
The result? Verse was erased. Caleb Williams stayed clean. The Bears marched on.
“You look at his hand placement, his leverage… it’s like watching a clinic every Sunday. I stopped worrying about my blind side about Week 2. He doesn’t just block; he directs traffic. He’s the computer of that line.”
— Caleb Williams, Bears Quarterback
The Greatest Trade of the Decade?
It’s hard to ignore the robbery Ryan Poles pulled off last offseason. Trading a fourth-round pick for a surefire Hall of Famer who still has elite tread on the tires? That’s the kind of move that gets executives promoted.
Thuney now has four Super Bowl rings, four Pro Bowls, and five All-Pro nods. He has started every game of his ten-year career. He is a perennial winner who drags teams to the finish line. The Chiefs might have their reasons, but in Chicago, that fourth-round pick looks like the bargain of the century.
While the Bears didn’t hoist the Lombardi this week, the foundation is set. They have the quarterback, and now, officially, they have the Protector.
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
The Bears are now firmly in the Super Bowl window for the 2026-2027 season. With Thuney locked in and the line chemistry solidified, the focus shifts to retaining depth. The front office must address the left tackle spot permanently so Thuney can stay at guard where he is most dominant. If they plug that final hole in the draft this April, this offense goes from “improved” to “unstoppable.”
