The Chicago Bears made a concerted effort to improve their offensive line this offseason after quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times during his rookie season.
The Bears completely overhauled the interior, which started with the trades for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney and former Pro Bowl guard Jonah Jackson. They signed center Drew Dalman in free agency while drafting Ozzy Trapilo, who’s a contender to start at left tackle as a rookie.
But it’s the duo of Thuney and Jackson that’s garnering high praise from those around the league, where Pro Football Focus dubbed the pair the NFL’s best guard duo entering the 2025 season. While there’s no denying Thuney is one of the league’s best, PFF believes Jackson could find his stride, as he’s reunited with Ben Johnson in Chicago, and make this 1-2 punch the most formidable.
“The NFL seems to lack an elite guard duo right now, but the Bears’ offseason acquisitions on the interior profile as the league’s best,” writes Buday. “Jackson played only 267 snaps with the Rams in 2024 and was benched despite having signed a big contract last offseason. In previous years, he ranked among the top 30 guards in PFF overall grade multiple times under then-Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is now the Chicago Bears’ head coach. Slightly above-average play from Jackson could be enough to make this duo the best in the NFL.
“Joe Thuney is arguably the best pass-blocking guard in the NFL. Before moving to left tackle in 2024, he was playing some of the best football of his career. Between Week 5 and Week 12, he allowed only one pressure on 316 pass plays and earned a 95.6 PFF pass-blocking grade, which led all guards by a significant margin.”
Thuney is a two-time First-Team All-Pro, three-time Pro Bowler and four-time Super Bowl winner and one of the best guards in the entire NFL. Thuney’s an elite pass blocker and has been the best pass-blocking guard, per Pro Football Focus, since 2021 with a 90.2 grade. Jackson, a Pro Bowl selection in 2021, is a versatile offensive lineman who has played all three positions along the interior and brings experience alongside right tackle Darnell Wright.
If the Bears offensive line shows improvement this season, the sky’s the limit for this offense with Williams under center and Johnson calling the shots on offense.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears’ Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson dubbed NFL’s best guard duo
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
