Let’s get this out of the way: the 2024 Chicago Bears offensive line was a flaming dumpster. Caleb Williams might still be seeing ghosts of edge rushers in his sleep after getting sacked 68 times — third-most in NFL history, per Pro Football Reference. That’s not just bad, it’s malpractice. The guy was basically auditioning for a life insurance commercial every time he dropped back.
So when Pro Football Focus dropped the bomb that Chicago now has the best guard duo in the NFL, it wasn’t just shocking — it was redemptive. This isn’t a hot take. This is a fact backed by performance data, league context, and straight-up common sense.
Let’s break down how GM Ryan Poles and HC Ben Johnson went from NFL meme material to potentially fielding the best interior O-line pairing in the game.
The 2024 Wreckage: A Quarterback’s Worst Nightmare
The Bears' line wasn’t just bad. It was historically awful:
- 68 sacks allowed on Williams — only David Carr (76) and Randall Cunningham (72) had worse single-season beatdowns.
- 27 different starting OL combos. That’s not a line — it’s speed dating.
- Ranked 24th in PFF’s OL grades, which somehow felt generous.
- Finished dead last in total offense.
This wasn’t just a weak link — it was an entire chain snapped in half.
Enter Joe Thuney: The Best Damn Guard in Football
Joe Thuney isn’t just a nice addition. He’s the gold standard of pass-blocking guards.
The resume (PFF):
- 4× Super Bowl champ (Brady and Mahomes era)
- 2× First-team All-Pro, 3× Pro Bowl (2022-2024)
- 80+ PFF pass-block grade since 2021 – #1 among guards
- Allowed 1 pressure in 316 snaps from Weeks 5–12 in 2024
- Missed only 2 games in 9 seasons
This dude’s a human firewall. He doesn’t just hold the line — he erases defenders from tape. His 2024 tape with Kansas City was so clean, you could eat off it.
Jonah Jackson: Ben Johnson’s Prodigal Son
Now let’s talk Jonah Jackson. His 2024 stint in L.A. sucked — no denying it. He got shoved into a center role he never played and predictably floundered. But under Ben Johnson in Detroit? Different beast.
The highlights (PFF):
- Pro Bowl in 2021 (under Johnson)
- Started 57 straight games (2020–2023)
- Only 2 sacks allowed in 928 pass-blocking snaps (2022–2024)
- When playing guard, his pressure rate was top-tier.
Jackson isn’t a reclamation project — he’s a proven player misused by a team that didn’t know what the hell they were doing.
Why This Duo Matters More Than You Think
PFF nailed it when they said the NFL lacks elite guard tandems. Here’s what Chicago now has:
- Thuney’s rock-solid floor + Jackson’s high ceiling
- System fit with Ben Johnson
- Immediate stability for Caleb Williams
Compare this with the rest of the league:
| Team | Guard Duo | Combined PFF Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Bears | Thuney + Jackson | 81.1 (projected) |
| Falcons | Lindstrom + ??? | 74.7 |
| Browns | Bitonio + Teller (aging) | 70.3 |
| Lions | Glasgow + replacement-level | 68.9 |
| Chiefs (post-Thuney) | Smith + Rookie | 65.2 |
Everyone else either has one star or two decent starters. Nobody’s got two guys who’ve both played at an All-Pro or Pro Bowl level in the last four years, per PFF.
Chicago Put Its Money Where Its Mouth Is
The Bears didn’t just luck into this. They committed real capital:
- Thuney: 2-year, $35M extension ($17.5M AAV, $33.5M guaranteed)
- Jackson: Traded for a 6th-rounder and signed through 2027
- Total OL Investment in 2025 FA: ~$50M
That’s not patchwork — that’s a damn renovation.
What It Means for Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson
This is about more than pass protection. This is about unlocking the #1 overall pick’s potential and letting Ben Johnson run his wide-open system without watching his QB die on every other drive.
Williams now has:
- A clean pocket to work from
- Leadership and communication from two veteran guards
- Scheme continuity with Johnson + Jackson familiarity
If the Bears fail now, it won’t be because the interior line couldn’t hold up.
Final Verdict
When PFF crowned the Bears’ guard pairing as the best in the NFL, they weren’t hyping Chicago — they were stating the obvious. You’ve got the best pass-blocking guard alive and a Pro Bowl-caliber talent returning to a coach/system where he thrived. That’s not projection — it’s precedent.
For a franchise that’s mostly bungled offensive line decisions for the last two decades, this feels different. It’s smart. It’s strategic. And it might be the most important thing the Bears have done to protect their investment in Caleb Williams.
So yeah, PFF got it right. Chicago has the best guard duo in the league. And for once, the Bears didn’t screw it up.
