Since becoming Bears general manager in January 2022, Ryan Poles has learned to expect the unexpected and be prepared to act quickly.
Those lessons served him well this week when he was able to land two Pro Bowl starting guards in Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson via trades. The Bears dealt a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Chiefs in exchange for Thuney and a 2025 sixth-round selection to the Rams for Jackson.
“Obviously that wasn’t part of the plan back when we were getting ready for free agency,” Poles said Wednesday on the first day of the new league year. “I’ve always learned just over the last few years you’ve got to be on your toes for those things that pop up, so when you match the flexibility in doing good stuff with our salary cap with opportunities, we were able to jump on it.”
Thuney arrives having played nine NFL seasons with the Patriots (2016-20) and Chiefs (2021-24). He has won four Super Bowls—two with New England and two with Kansas City—has been named to the last three Pro Bowls and was chosen first-team All-Pro in 2023 and 2024.
Jackson has started 61 games in five seasons with the Lions (2020-23) and Rams (2024), earning a Pro Bowl invitation with Detroit in 2021.
As soon as the two veteran guards became available on the trade market, the Bears jumped at the opportunity to acquire them because they knew exactly what type of players and people they were getting. Poles was the Chiefs’ executive director of player personnel when Kansas City signed Thuney in 2021, while new Bears coach Ben Johnson was a Lions offensive assistant during Jackson’s first three NFL seasons in Detroit.
“They’re two guys we’re really familiar with that we know can help us not only from a leadership perspective, but also on the field,” Poles said.
In addition to their talent, Thuney and Jackson possess the intangibles the Bears are seeking in offensive linemen.
“We want some tough, some gritty, some dirty individuals, and we feel pretty good about the two guys we got,” Johnson said. “‘Smart’ is a word that comes to mind, particularly with the interior players. We would love to have some versatility to our scheme, some multiplicity if you will. We’ve got a couple guys in the building now that we feel strongly can handle a variety of different concepts and schemes that we might want to employ each and every week.
“Beyond that, their play speaks for themselves in terms of what the tape says. The character, the integrity, it’s top notch. I can speak firsthand with Jonah and Ryan can speak firsthand with Joe. I’m really, really excited to get these guys in the room. Combined with the coaches that we’ve already put together for that room, I feel really good about the style of play we’ll have this year.”
Poles has already witnessed the impact that Thuney can make when joining a new team.
“It feels like yesterday where we were signing [Thuney] in Kansas City when we were trying to get our offensive line right so we can make a push and win championships—and that’s exactly what he brought,” Poles said. “He’s seen a lot of different things, played with a lot of different players. So there’s a level of maturity and leadership that is definitely going to enhance not only just the offensive line room but our entire roster.”
Thuney revealed at his introductory press conference Wednesday that he was “a little surprised” about being traded to the Bears but described it as “a great fit.”
“Just so excited to be here,” Thuney said. “Knowing Ryan from Kansas City and coach Johnson, just couldn’t be more excited. This is just a special place here and I’m excited to do what I can to contribute and get going.”
After missing all but four games in his only season with the Rams last year due to a shoulder injury, Jackson is ecstatic to reunite with Johnson in Chicago.
“It’s awesome,” Jackson said. “I had a great relationship with Ben. He was with me when I was a young pup my rookie year and what he brings to the table is awesome. I couldn’t be more excited.
“I feel like my best years were with Ben. He calls the game to our strengths and things we’re good at. It’s not just for one guy specifically. I felt like I was able to [thrive] in that system. I’m excited to get back into it and get back to what I was able to do and keep it rolling.”
In Johnson’s three seasons as offensive coordinator, the Lions led the NFL in scoring with 28.2 points per game. Last year they topped the league with 33.2 points per contest.
“Just watching Detroit’s offense over the years, every week it’s 30, 40 points with really great, creative plays,” Thuney said. “It’s just an offense you want to be a part of. He has such a clear communicative way of describing what he wants, and you can just tell the passion and the love for the game (he has). It’s infectious. I think everyone around him feels it. It’s a coach you want to play for.”