Earlier in Chicago Bears training camp, defensive tackle Gervon Dexter approached guard Joe Thuney after practice. “I’m trying to figure you out,” Dexter said.
Dexter explained the challenge of facing Thuney in drills. “He’s obviously still able to move, but he has the mind game to where he’ll close off one side and stick to another side, or vice versa,” Dexter said. “He’s very smart, so you have to try to beat him there and then beat him with technique. He’s one of the best guards I’ve faced, if not the best.” Dexter admitted that some of Thuney’s techniques have left him wondering how he can compete.
The Chicago Bears have not had an All-Pro guard since Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Stan Jones in 1959. Their last All-Pro offensive lineman was Olin Kreutz in 2006, and Jay Hilgenberg was their last lineman with multiple All-Pro selections in 1989. It has been seven years since a Bears offensive lineman made a Pro Bowl.
Joe Thuney brings credentials as a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time first-team All-Pro, and four-time Super Bowl champion. Offensive line coach Dan Roushar described his reliability: “He’s the same guy every day, how he walks in, how he does his job, there’s a consistency over and over and over (… ) And there’s something about the player that does it over and over and over consistently like he does that you have so much trust in and it builds around the group.”
Rookies Ozzy Trapilo and Luke Newman look up to Thuney’s example on the field. Trapilo stated, “Just watching him work and sort of lead by example is pretty inspiring (… ) Just going out there every day with the same attitude, doing the right thing, being in the right place, always hustling, putting his max effort in every day.”
Roushar encourages young players to observe Thuney closely: “Watch how he does everything from the minute he enters the building to how he goes into the meeting to what he does on the field (…) whether it be a walk-through or any team rep (…) It’s invaluable to have him.”
Tight end Cole Kmet noted Thuney’s presence: “Just the presence of it (…) When you’ve won four Super Bowls with two different franchises, that really sticks out. He has that poise to him every practice. He’s so consistent.”
Fellow guard Jonah Jackson shared his observation: “He’s been doing it at a high clip for so long (… ) I’ve really honestly not seen him lose. He’s undefeated.” Left tackle Theo Benedet pointed out specific technical lessons learned from Thuney about leverage.
Kmet expressed high praise for his teammate: “Seeing him up close and watching him work (… ) no doubt in my mind I think he’s a Hall of Fame guard (…) It’s so spectacular to watch. He’s just so precise on everything he does with his technique, his finish (…) just everything you’d want in an offensive guard (… ) That’s what everyone should aspire to be on the football field in their own regard.”
During practices designed to test discipline on offsides calls, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo noted how veteran moves by Thuney demanded extra focus: “Some of the things he was doing to try to get you to jump offsides were some veteran moves (…) He makes you lock in with your eyes your hands everything else.”
Defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett highlighted hand usage as one element setting Thuney apart at his position; matchups against two-time Pro Bowler Grady Jarrett were considered ideal competitive situations by Garrett.
Jarrett himself noted working against such an experienced opponent each week benefits all involved: “I couldn’t be in a better situation right now working against a Hall of Fame guard every week whether it’s in pass rush or run game (… ) Thuney is someone that I’ve played against a lot of times so respect that I have for him as competitor is through roof.”
When Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver competed against Thuney during HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” Oliver reacted audibly after struggling through hand-fighting battles: “Damn,” Oliver said after one rep—then added during another attempt,“Bro you’re so f—ing deceptively … Bro what the f—?”
Despite rarely making headlines off-field or drawing attention during games due either penalties or big mistakes—his teammates see value daily simply having such experience guiding them.
Thuney continues setting standards within Halas Hall—in ways noticed both directly by peers tasked with beating him each snap—and by those looking up hoping eventually they might meet similar marks set decades ago by names like Stan Jones.
