Joe Thuney might just be the NFL’s best-kept secret on the offensive line. The guy’s been the backbone for two of the best quarterbacks in league history. Was a guard to Tom Brady at the Patriots before switching reigns in 2021 to protect Patrick Mahomes in Kansas. But what makes Thuney so special? It’s not just the rings, though he’s got four of those. It’s the consistency, the grit, and the quiet dominance that makes him stand out in a league filled with stars.

Entering his age-32 season, Thuney’s accolades only continue to stack up. He was recently ranked as the No. 2 guard in the NFL, just behind Atlanta’s Chris Lindstrom, by CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr. The reason? Thuney’s long-term excellence and his 2023 All-Pro honors. With 698 pass-blocking snaps last season, Thuney allowed just three sacks and 29 pressures. Talk about a bulldozer in the trenches. Kerr summed it up best: “Thuney has been the model of consistency for the guard position over the past five seasons.”

Getting so many plaudits and appreciation, you only wonder what are his roots. Well, we have got you. Joe Thuney is the youngest of Mike and Beth Thuney’s four children. He was born on November 18, 1992, in Centerville, Ohio. His other sibling? Two sisters are Monica and Megan, and the eldest of them all is Eric: all-in-all 2 sisters and 2 brothers.

There’s one thing, however, that’s little known about the Chiefs’ star. Step into the Thuney household in Washington Township, and you won’t hear the family calling their youngest ‘Joe’. Mike and Beth have a different name for their star son. “Yeah, he’s Joseph. I mean, that’s what he was — Joseph Evan Thuney. So that’s what we call him. But his professional name is Joe,” Dad shared in a February interview.

Though Mike and Beth Thuney’s personal lives might not make headlines, their devotion to Joe is front and center. From his Alter High days to his four Super Bowl wins, they’ve been his biggest supporters. The thrill of Super Bowl LI still stands out. As the Patriots pulled off a jaw-dropping comeback against the Falcons, Mike, witnessing his son’s first championship live, told Fox45, “It felt like meeting the President,” amid the deafening roar of the crowd present at the NRG Stadium on February 5th, 2017. In the meantime, on the night, Beth explained her emotions and said, “We were hugging, crying, covered in confetti, shouting, ‘Can you believe it?'” Their pride in Joe’s rise to NFL glory is as palpable as a game-winning touchdown.

Now, 7 years later, as their two-time Pro Bowler son prepped for his fifth Super Bowl appearance, Mike and Beth couldn’t help but feel immense pride. The Thuneys were ready to reflect on what it meant to see their son on the grand stage yet again!

Joe Thuney’s Super Bowl LVIII: From Parents’ “great” seat to victory

Speaking to News Center 7’s John Bedell back in February, Mike and Beth shared how proud they were of their son. “Joseph is kind of the secret ingredient,” Mike said with a father’s pride on his face and in his tone. And why not? He recounted how both the Patriots and Chiefs sought out Thuney after tough losses, knowing he was the missing piece on their offensive lines. Well, you might be thinking he had a bias in saying that. But aren’t all fathers?

However, bias or not, Mike might not be entirely wrong in putting that narrative. Rewind to 2015—the Patriots were knocked out of the AFC Championship by the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. Enter Joe Thuney in 2016, selected by New England in the 3rd Round (78th overall) of the NFL Draft. And suddenly, the Patriots were hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LI. Fast forward to Kansas City. After losing Super Bowl LV to the Bucs, the Chiefs brought in Thuney in 2021. The result? Two Super Bowl victories in the three seasons since his arrival. Coincidence? Maybe. But as the saying goes, great teams are built in the trenches, and Thuney’s presence has been nothing short of game-changing.

Meanwhile, when the parents were interviewed, Joe was dealing with a pectoral injury, casting doubts on his appearance. But his parents were confident. Mike noted, “If he can get out there, he’ll get out there.” And whether he played or not, the Thuneys were just proud to be there, cheering on their son. Beth captured the emotion perfectly: “We’re hoping for that ending [sweet]. And if not, we’re glad to be there. Proud to be there regardless.” And Mama got what she hoped for in the end. Not just that! She witnessed it from her great seat as she said, “Joseph got us tickets. I think we’re row 11 and close to the 40-yard line. So we have great tickets.”

Both Mike and Beth couldn’t have imagined the pride they’d feel when Joe secured his fourth championship ring. Now, with the 2024 season on the horizon, the Thuneys are surely hoping for another Super Bowl run. And it also brings another question to mind. Could this be the year Joe Thuney and the Chiefs pull off the elusive three-peat? Let us know!