In early March, a week before NFL free agency officially began, fans of the Chicago Bears were treated to a big surprise when it was announced the team had acquired All-Pro guard Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick. The move answered a pressing question when it came to the interior offensive line and gave the Bears a proven protector for quarterback Caleb Williams without having to break the bank.
The news excited fans immediately, who were stunned to see the move happen. It turns out general manager Ryan Poles was surprised himself, seeing as he didn't think he had a strong enough offer for the star lineman.
Poles sat down with the Hoge and Jahns podcast this week during the annual NFL owners meetings and discussed a variety of topics as they relate to the Bears, including the trade for Thuney. Poles admits he initiated the trade talks for Thuney but didn't believe he had a strong enough offer to warrant consideration. "I thought it was going to get turned down, to be honest with you, and they were just going to find a way [to keep him]," Poles said.
Ryan Poles on @HogeAndJahns about the Joe Thuney trade proposal to Kansas City:
— Brendan Sugrue (@BrendanSugrue) April 3, 2025
"I thought I was going to get turned down."
For weeks leading up to free agency, it was the worst-kept secret that the Bears were looking to bolster their offensive line. The solution at the time appeared to be Chiefs guard Trey Smith, the Pro Bowl guard who was set to hit free agency. But when the Chiefs opted to use the franchise tag on him, the Bears needed to improvise. That's when Poles moved to the trade market, where he set his focus on Thuney and Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams.
Both players were acquired for mid-round draft picks, though Thuney is only under contract through the 2025 season. Still, the Bears got him at a discount—one that Poles thought might be too good to be true. "To have him on board has been special," Poles said. "There was a little bit of shock when he was walking through the building." Poles, like many Bears fans, may still be pinching himself to make sure Thuney really is part of the team.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ryan Poles thought his trade request for Joe Thuney would get denied
