Joe Thuney
{{Short description|American football player (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Joe Thuney
| image = Joe Thuney.JPG
| alt =
| caption = Thuney with the New England Patriots in 2017
| current_team = Chicago Bears
| number = 62
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|11|18}}
| birth_place = Centerville, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 304
| high_school = Archbishop Alter
(Kettering, Ohio)
| college = NC State (2011–2015)
| draftyear = 2016
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 79
| pastteams = * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2024}})
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights = * 4× Super Bowl champion (LI, LIII, LVII, LVIII)
- 2× First-team All-Pro (2023, 2024)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (2019, 2022)
- 3× Pro Bowl (2022–2024)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2016)
- New England Patriots All-2010s Team
- New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team
- First-team All-American (2015)
- First-team All-ACC (2015)
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 146
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 146
| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = ThunJo00
}}
Joseph Thuney ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|uː|n|i}} {{Respell|TOO|nee}}; born November 18, 1992{{cite web |title=Joe Thuney |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/29312/ |website=Yahoo Sports |access-date=March 23, 2021}}) 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.{{cite web| url = http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article45383220.html| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160602021436/http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article45383220.html| archive-date = June 2, 2016| title = Thuney stands out on NC State's offensive line {{!}} News & Observer}} He was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round (77th overall selection) in the 2016 NFL draft.
Early life
His parents Mike and Beth Thuney raised him and their other three children, Monica, Eric and Megan in Centerville, Ohio.{{Cite web |last=Hartman |first=Marcus |date=February 6, 2019 |title=Thuney family celebrates another Super Bowl victory |url=https://www.journal-news.com/sports/thuney-family-celebrates-another-super-bowl-victory/ZLjXtsEVHI4GREDqbjwFpI/#:~:text=It%20was%20awesome.%E2%80%9D,Rams%20in%20Super%20Bowl%20LIII. |access-date=October 1, 2020 |website=Journal-News.com}} There 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.{{cite web
| title = Joe Thuney
| url = https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/joe-thuney/
| website = Patriots.com
| access-date = October 1, 2020
| archive-date = September 23, 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200923074918/https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/joe-thuney/
| url-status = dead
}}
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.{{cite web| url = http://gopack.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2892| title = Joe Thuney - 2015 - Football - NC State University Athletics}} 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.{{cite web| url = http://www.patriots.com/team/players/roster/joe-thuney| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160501110852/http://www.patriots.com/team/players/roster/joe-thuney| archive-date = May 1, 2016| title = Joe Thuney {{!}} New England Patriots}} 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 just three years. NFL reporter Matt Verderame claims that when Thuney took the Wonderlic Personnel Test he avoided answering many of the questions so he would not come off as too smart.{{cite web|title=Patriots player avoided Wonderlic questions so he wouldn't 'scare teams off' with his intelligence|language=en|author=Jordan Heck|date=July 30, 2019|website=Sporting News|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/patriots-player-avoided-wonderlic-questions-so-he-wouldnt-scare-teams-off-with-his-intelligence/ar-AAF4lUm?ocid=spartanntp}}
Professional career
{{nfl predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4+5/8
| weight = 304
| dash = 4.95
| ten split = 1.71
| twenty split = 2.84
| shuttle = 4.54
| cone drill = 7.47
| vertical = 28+1/2
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 2
| bench = 28
| arm span = 32+1/4
| hand span = 9+5/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/joe-thuney?id=2555281 |title=Combine Player Profiles – Joe Thuney|publisher=National Football League|date= |access-date=February 14, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=95672&draftyear=2016&genpos=OG|title=Joe Thuney Draft Profile|work=NFLDraftScout.com|publisher=The Sports Xchange|access-date=February 14, 2017}}
}}
=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.{{Cite web |title=2016 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2016/draft.htm |access-date=May 17, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201702050atl.htm|title=Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|access-date=September 2, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Patriots notebook: Rookie guard Joe Thuney plays it cool|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/patriots/2017/01/patriots_notebook_rookie_guard_joe_thuney_plays_it_cool|author=Mason, Chris|website=BostonHerald.com|date=January 29, 2017}} The PFWA named Thuney to its 2016 All-Rookie Team at guard.{{cite web|title=Patriots LG Joe Thuney named to PFWA 2016 All Rookie Team|url=http://www.patspulpit.com/2017/1/17/14300058/patriots-lg-joe-thuney-named-to-pfwa-2016-all-rookie-team|author=Hill, Rich|website=PatsPulpit.com|date=January 17, 2017}} 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. According to Mike Reiss of ESPN, that makes Thuney the first player in NFL history to start in the Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons.{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/patriots-joe-thuney-will-be-first-player-to-start-3-super-bowls-in-first-3-seasons | title=Patriots' Joe Thuney will be first player to start 3 Super Bowls in first 3 seasons | date=27 January 2019 }} The Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13–3 to win their second Super Bowl in three years.{{Cite web |last=Shpigel |first=Ben |date=February 4, 2019 |title=Patriots Win in Lowest-Scoring Super Bowl Ever |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/03/sports/patriots-super-bowl.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US}} Thuney played every offensive snap for the team and helped contain Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.{{Cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Tyler |date=February 11, 2019 |title=Joe Thuney dominated Aaron Donald on Patriots' TD drive |url=https://247sports.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/Article/Joe-Thuney-dominated-Aaron-Donald-on-Patriots-TD-drive--128985869/ |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=247sports.com}}
The Patriots placed the franchise tag on Thuney on March 16, 2020.{{cite news |title=Patriots Designate OL Joe Thuney as Franchise Player |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-designate-ol-joe-thuney-as-franchise-player |website=Patriots.com |date=March 16, 2020 |access-date=March 16, 2020}} He signed the franchise tag on March 20, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Reiss |first=Mike |date=March 19, 2020 |title=Patriots guard Joe Thuney signs franchise tender |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28926246/patriots-guard-joe-thuney-signs-franchise-tender |access-date=March 22, 2020 |website=ESPN.com}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Jaillet |first1=Danny |title=Patriots OL Joe Thuney showed his value by changing positions |url=https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/28/patriots-ol-joe-thuney-showed-his-value-by-changing-positions/ |website=patriotswire.com |date=September 28, 2020 |access-date=September 28, 2020}}
=Kansas City Chiefs=
File:Joe Thuney At White House 2023.jpeg
Thuney signed a five-year, $80 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 18, 2021.{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Nick |date=March 15, 2021 |title=Chiefs signing former Patriots OL Joe Thuney to 5-year, $80M deal |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-signing-former-patriots-ol-joe-thuney-to-5-year-80m-deal |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=NFL.com}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Trotter |first=Jim |date=February 13, 2023 |title=Chiefs' offensive linemen 'handled business' against Eagles' vaunted defensive front after week of doubts |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-offensive-linemen-handled-business-against-eagles-vaunted-defensive-front |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=National Football League}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Maaddi |first=Rob |date=February 12, 2024 |title=Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime |url=https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2024-score-chiefs-49ers-49b5dca51c05ab0f259cef0d7da76c2d |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}
On July 17, 2024, Thuney was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.{{cite web | last=Foote | first=Jordan | title=Chiefs Announce Slew of Roster, Injury Moves to Begin Training Camp | website=SI.com | date=2024-07-17 | url=https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/news/chiefs-announce-slew-of-roster-injury-moves-to-begin-training-camp | access-date=2024-10-30}} He was activated off of the list on July 28, 2024.{{cite web | last=Bush | first=Jared | title=Chiefs OL Joe Thuney passes physical; removed from PUP list | website=Yahoo! Sports | date=2024-07-28 | url=https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-ol-joe-thuney-passes-220531061.html | access-date=2024-10-30}} In 2024, Thuney helped the Chiefs reach Super Bowl LIX but the team lost 40-22 to the Eagles.
= 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/chicago-bears-acquire-joe-thuney-jonah-jackson-trade-kansas-city-chiefs-los-angeles-rams-offensive-line|title=Roster Moves: Bears acquire Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson via trade |work=Chicago Bears|date=March 12, 2025}}
=Regular season statistics=
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the Super Bowl |
| Bold
| Career high |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="8"| Offense | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Snaps | Pct | Holding | False Start | Decl/Pen | Acpt/Pen | |
| 2016 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|NE
| 16 || 16 || 1,114 || 100% || 6 || 3 || 1 || 9 | |||||||
| 2017 | NE
| 16 || 16 || 1,134 || 100% || 2 || 0 || 0 || 3 | |||||||
| 2018 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|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 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|KC
| 15 || 15 || 999 || 98% || 1 || 1 || 0 || 2 | |||||||
| 2023 | style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|KC
| 17 || 17 || 1,087 || 97% || 0 || 1 || 0 || 2 | |||||||
| 2024 | KC
| 17 || 17 || 1,117 || 97% || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 | |||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThunJo00.htm Career] | 146 | 146 | 9,884 | — | 19 | 9 | 2 | 31 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.chicagobears.com/team/players-roster/joe-thuney/ Chicago Bears bio]
- [http://gopack.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=2892 North Carolina State Wolfpack bio]
{{Chicago Bears roster navbox}}
{{Navboxes|title=Joe Thuney awards, championships, and honors|list=
{{Patriots2016DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl LI}}
{{Super Bowl LIII}}
{{Super Bowl LVII}}
{{Super Bowl LVII}}
{{Patriots2010s}}
{{PatriotsAllDynasty}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thuney, Joe}}
Category:American football offensive linemen
Category:NC State Wolfpack football players
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:Kansas City Chiefs players
Category:People from Centerville, Ohio
Category:Players of American football from Ohio