The NFL is all about making big-brain moves, but sometimes those moves leave fans straight-up shook. The Chiefs, fresh off another Super Bowl run, just made a decision that’s got everyone talking. Patrick Mahomes? Yeah, he just lost his best bodyguard. And KC? They’re gambling on a major switch-up.

Kansas City is officially shipping Joe Thuney to the Chicago Bears, clearing up around $16 million in cap space. Thuney isn’t just any lineman—he’s a four-time Super Bowl champ, two-time All-Pro, and, oh yeah, the reigning team MVP. Dude was so dominant that he literally ended Mahomes’ streak of winning the Derrick Thomas Award, KC’s version of an in-house MVP trophy. Mahomes had that on lock in 2018, 2022, and 2023, but Thuney came through in 2024 and snatched the crown, stopping Mahomes from a three-peat.

Joe Thuney was a straight-up wall for KC, locking down the O-line since 2021. But the Chiefs had a money problem, and right guard Trey Smith is next in line for the bag. Smith just got hit with the franchise tag at a whopping $23.4 million. Aka the biggest paycheck for a guard in NFL history. And with KC looking to lock him down long-term for around $20 million per year, they had to clear space. Translation: Thuney had to go.

Risky move, though. We already saw what happened when Thuney missed the AFC Championship Game—Mahomes was running for his life, and the Chiefs took an L at home, something that almost never happens. Now, KC’s rolling the dice, hoping their O-line can hold up without him.

Meanwhile, the Bears just finessed themselves a massive upgrade. Their O-line has been straight cheeks for years, so landing a guy like Joe Thuney is a W. With a rookie QB like Caleb Williams probably on the way, Chicago just made sure their franchise guy isn’t getting sacked into oblivion every week.

So, who really won this trade? The Chiefs are betting on the future and making room for Smith’s monster contract, but Mahomes just lost a key protector. And the fans aren’t happy either. The Bears, though? They just powered up in a big way. This move is about to shake things up next season, no doubt.

Bears Finesse blockbuster trade, giving their QB some protection

Bears GM Ryan Poles wasn’t about to sit around and wait for free agency to hand him mid-tier guards—nah, he went out and got himself some real dogs. Instead of rolling the dice on a weak free-agent class, he pulled off a trade for Joe freakin’ Thuney and grabbed Jonah Jackson from the Rams. We’ve seen this kinda energy from Poles before—he made a power move for Montez Sweat in 2023, and even though the Chase Claypool trade was a full-on disaster, at least he’s willing to take big swings. With the guard market looking dry after Trey Smith got franchise-tagged. Poles saw the Chiefs in a cap crunch and pounced. Fun fact: He was with KC when they first signed Thuney in 2021, so this is a full-circle moment.

And let’s keep it a buck—the Bears’ O-line has been cooked for years. In 2024, they ranked 24th and gave up a franchise-worst 68 sacks (yikes). The year before? Even worse at 27th. Yeah, right tackle Darnell Wright has been holding it down (shoutout to his 79.3 PFF grade). But one guy can’t carry an entire O-line. Now, with Thuney in the mix, the Bears finally have someone who can actually protect their QB.

But wait—there’s more. Jonah Jackson isn’t just a throw-in; he’s another legit upgrade at guard. That means the Bears are finally building a wall in front of their future QB (Caleb Williams, we see you). Poles isn’t trying to bet the house on rookie linemen or second-tier free agents—he’s making sure Chicago’s offense isn’t a sack factory anymore.

And here’s a wild stat: The Bears haven’t had an O-lineman make the Pro Bowl since 2018. Even worse? They haven’t had an All-Pro offensive lineman since 2006 (Olin Kreutz, you’re missed). That’s almost two decades of mediocrity. Thuney is exactly the kind of dude who can break that streak, and if he stays healthy, Chicago’s offense is about to level up big time.