The trade came as a genuine shock. Teams generally don't move great players for any reason unless they're disgruntled or not performing well. Neither was the case with Joe Thuney in Kansas City. He was still fantastic for them at left guard and had never been a malcontent in any way. However, the Chiefs found themselves in a salary cap crunch. They wanted to extend Trey Smith, who was younger. That led to a tough decision. They needed to trade Thuney, and the Bears, who needed help up front, were quick to pounce. The two sides reached a deal quickly for a 4th round pick.
Initial reactions were mostly positive. If Thuney continued to show the same form he had for the past several years, then Chicago had itself a Pro Bowl guard. However, head coach Ben Johnson was quick to point out it wasn't the obvious future Hall of Fame talent that compelled the Bears to make the move. He wanted Thuney in the locker room as a leader. He'd heard many stories of the guard as an outstanding teammate, mentoring younger players, and maintaining a high standard of excellence.
Never was that more on display than during the Bears' thrilling comeback against New York on Sunday. Caleb Williams had just thrown a touchdown to make it 20-17. He was clearly exhausted. Who was right there to encourage him to hang in there? You can probably guess.
Joe Thuney does the little things.
Everybody can see he's an elite blocker. That has been the case all season. However, that moment, however short it was, demonstrated his understanding of the situation. Williams was gassed and probably hurting. He'd been running around avoiding Giants defenders all day. Joe Thuney recognized the effort his quarterback was putting in and understood that something as simple as a pat on the back and positive reinforcement could energize someone for the final push.
You can't say it didn't work. After the Bears got the ball back a few moments later, Williams drove the team straight down the field for a game-winning touchdown. This is what Johnson talked about with leadership. It isn't always the grandiose speeches. It is the personal support in times of crisis and letting a teammate know you have their back. Thuney is one of the best. Don't be surprised if that trade ends up being one of the best the Bears have made in a long time.
