Joe Thuney’s Arrival Helped Unleash the Real Caleb Williams - and the Bears Took Off
Last season, Caleb Williams took more hits than any quarterback in the league - sacked 68 times behind a line that simply couldn’t hold up. It wasn’t just bad protection; it was a complete breakdown that kept the rookie from showing the dynamic playmaker we saw light up college football.
But Bears GM Ryan Poles didn’t sit on his hands. He went to work, and the results were dramatic.
A Rebuilt Wall Up Front
Poles didn’t just patch the offensive line - he rebuilt it. Four new starters came in, including one of the most impactful additions of the entire offseason: veteran guard Joe Thuney.
The Bears also landed Ben Johnson, the hottest coaching name on the market, to lead the offense. And while Johnson and Williams will rightly get a lot of credit for the turnaround, Thuney’s presence was just as crucial.
Thuney brought championship pedigree and instant credibility to the trenches. He didn’t just stabilize the interior - he elevated the entire unit.
The league took notice, too. Thuney was named a finalist for the NFL’s first-ever Protector of the Year award, a nod to just how dominant he was all season.
Dominance by the Numbers
Thuney anchored one of the league’s top offensive lines and was a massive reason why the Bears finished 11-6, won the NFC North, and knocked off the Packers in the Wild Card round. His resume from the 2025 season is as clean as it gets: zero sacks allowed, just one quarterback hit, and 15 pressures across 1,149 offensive snaps - the second-most of any guard in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
He was flagged only twice all year. That kind of consistency is rare, especially over a full 17-game slate.
The accolades followed. Thuney earned First-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection, and now he’s up for an award that recognizes exactly what he’s always done best - protect his quarterback.
A Quarterback’s Praise
Caleb Williams didn’t need a press conference to show his appreciation. He took to Instagram to celebrate Thuney’s award nomination, calling him the “Best in the world!” It’s the kind of praise that means something coming from a young quarterback who knows just how much his success depends on the guys up front.
Williams was the biggest beneficiary of the offensive line overhaul, which also included Jonah Jackson, Drew Dalman, and rookie Ozzy Trapilo. But Thuney was the tone-setter. Even in his 10th NFL season, he showed no signs of slowing down - and more importantly for the Bears, he’s locked in for the next few years.
Ben Johnson’s Impact, and the Return of USC Caleb
In Williams’ rookie year, the story was all about what could’ve been - a quarterback with elite traits stuck behind a line that couldn’t keep him upright. But this year, with a real offensive line and Ben Johnson calling the shots, we saw the version of Caleb Williams that had scouts buzzing at USC. Confident, creative, and dangerous - the kind of quarterback who can take over games.
And that confidence? It started with trust in his protection.
Williams still had to escape pressure at times - that’s part of his game - but he wasn’t running for his life. He was running the offense.
And when you give a talent like that time to operate, good things happen.
Thuney’s Championship Pedigree Still Shines
Joe Thuney has blocked for some of the best to ever do it - Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes - and now he’s protecting a young quarterback with the tools to join that elite company. If Caleb Williams keeps climbing, he could be the next great signal-caller to benefit from Thuney’s steady presence.
For Ryan Poles, drafting Williams was a franchise-altering move. But trading for Thuney?
That may have been just as important. Because without the foundation up front, none of this works.
And now, with a rebuilt line, a rising star at quarterback, and a sharp offensive mind in Ben Johnson, the Bears aren’t just better - they’re contenders.
The rest of the league should take notice. Caleb Williams finally has the protection he needs - and he’s making the most of it.