LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Veteran guard Joe Thuney has won the Super Bowl four times in nine NFL seasons, lifting the Lombardi Trophy twice with the Patriots and twice with the Chiefs. Fellow guard and new teammate Jonah Jackson was part of a remarkable turnaround in Detroit as the Lions emerged as a perennial contender.
There’s a common theme to the success that Thuney and Jackson enjoyed before they were both traded to the Bears recently. Jackson didn’t hesitate when considering what it takes to win in this league.
“Definitely the investment in the trenches,” Jackson said.
The Bears are making that significant investment as they forge ahead with lofty goals. It’s why they targeted Thuney and Jackson in trades last week and then reached a three-year deal with center Drew Dalman on Monday.
The Bears have overhauled 60% of their starting offensive line from a disappointing 2024 season, revamping the interior with two new starting guards and a fresh center. It’s a critical development for the future of 23-year-old quarterback Caleb Williams, who was sacked an NFL-high 68 times as a rookie last season.
As he pondered how he could fix the offensive line, Bears general manager Ryan Poles scouted the free-agent market and came to the conclusion that Chicago was better off leaning heavily into the trade market.
Jackson, 28, was made available by the Rams after a tumultuous lone season in Los Angeles. He played just four games in 2024 while shifting from guard to center and also struggling through a shoulder injury. Prior to that, Jackson had played at a high level during four seasons with the Lions, who had Johnson on the coaching staff at the time.
Poles scouted Jackson carefully – his time with the Rams, the Lions and even at Rutgers – while Johnson offered his endorsement to back up the trade.
“The guy's a Pro Bowl-caliber guard,” Johnson said. “So, that's what we're going to get out of him.”
The Chiefs sought to trade Thuney due to salary cap constraints. They tendered Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith the franchise tag and are working to sign him to a long-term contract. Thuney carries a $16-million salary cap hit in 2025, after which his contract is set to expire.
Thuney, 31, is a three-time Pro Bowl player who played his first five seasons with the Patriots and the last four with the Chiefs. He has protected superstar quarterbacks Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, two of the greatest to ever play the position.
Thuney has played in the playoffs in each of the last eight seasons, and he hopes to be part of a shift in Chicago.
"It's a team effort, it's a group effort,” Thuney said. “I just want to do what I can, just try to be myself and whatever experiences or times I've had with other players or coaches, just try to share that with the guys. It's a group effort. I think it's a special place. It's the coaches I've been meeting, our management, the owners. Everything has just been unbelievable. The NFL is hard. It's hard. But I'm excited to get going. I really believe in this and excited to get going.
“You’re obviously very proud of (winning). I just want to keep going. I love this game and want to play for my teammates, the guys in the locker room. Excited to start building those relationships and excited to get going.”
Dalman didn’t officially sign his contract Wednesday, which meant Poles and Johnson couldn’t comment publicly on him. Dalman is expected to arrive in Lake Forest later this week.
The Bears feel strongly about starting right tackle Darnell Wright, the No. 10 overall pick in 2023. Braxton Jones, a three-year starter at left tackle, is presently slated to remain in that position in the 2025 season.
During Poles’ first three offseasons leading the Bears, he struggled to solidify the starting offensive line, particularly on the interior. Now, he hopes to have created stability.
“Being in those places, it felt like everyone was pulling in the same direction. Everyone,” Thuney said. “All that mattered was winning. And really you can feel that here.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.