The best quality an offensive lineman can have is that no one notices him. Bears left guard Joe Thuney has taken that to an extreme.
With four Pro Bowl selections and four Super Bowl rings, he’s a likely Hall of Famer, but hardly anyone thinks about him. No. 62 jerseys never sell out. He’s averse to the spotlight in every way, from politely declining all interview requests to bashfully accepting the initial NFL Protector of the Year Award.
Even his coaches overlook him during film sessions.
‘‘I’ve got to remember to watch Joe because nothing pops,’’ offensive coordinator Press Taylor said. ‘‘You’ve got to go back and really appreciate what he just did there.’’
What a crazy thing to say about someone who is probably better at his job than anyone else on the roster.
In the big picture, however, the Bears know what they have, and acquiring Thuney from the Chiefs was one of general manager Ryan Poles’ best moves in his five years on the job.
There was risk in committing $51 million over three seasons to a player in his 30s, but Thuney is worth every penny. He instantly improved the line, which bolstered the running game and made life easier for quarterback Caleb Williams.
Review: Five stars, would sign again.
Thuney’s steadiness has mitigated the effect of the Bears’ ‘‘revolving door’’ at left tackle the last two seasons, as coach Ben Johnson put it. And when their desperation peaked last season, Thuney stepped over and played left tackle himself in the playoff game against the Rams.
There was more instability at the tackle spot Tuesday. Presumptive starter Braxton Jones did limited work, with Theo Benedet on the first team next to Thuney. Kiran Amegadjie left with an injury, and Johnson said Ozzy Trapilo is ‘‘on his own timeline’’ while recovering from a major knee injury. Jedrick Wills is in the mix, too.
It’s hectic enough that Thuney said he sometimes doesn’t immediately realize who’s next to him, though he predictably dismissed it as a non-issue.
‘‘[But] Joe would like some clarity on who he can build a rapport with,’’ Johnson said.
Nonetheless, the Bears know they can count on Thuney. As he approaches 34 in November, he’s as good, if not better, in his 30s than he was in his physical prime. He looks and sounds as though he has a lot left in the tank going into his 11th season.
‘‘You gain more experience, but your body is different than what you were at 23,’’ Thuney said. ‘‘But I just try to hold myself to a high standard, still.’’
When pressed about how much longer he wants to play, Thuney said he’s hungry for more hardware. He won two Super Bowls with the Patriots while blocking for Tom Brady, who called him ‘‘just the perfect guard,’’ and two with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. He said he still loves ‘‘working to get wins.’’
When Johnson sought to launch the Bears out of the listless Matt Eberflus era, he not only needed a massive upgrade on the offensive line but also a champion whose presence would remind the locker room that the Lombardi Trophy is all that matters. The guy with four rings doesn’t take a victory lap merely for winning the NFC North.
‘‘There were a lot of cool moments last year, but I don’t think anybody in this building is satisfied,’’ Thuney said. ‘‘That’s what’s so cool: There’s still a very, very strong burning hunger and desire to push more and keep going, keep improving.
‘‘There’s a lot still left to do.’’
That’s true for Thuney, too.
He has played 186 out of a possible 188 games and gone more than 11,000 snaps in his career, and he’s still dominant. In the thick August heat, he has taken only one veteran day off. He just steps in and does his work, whether anybody sees it or not.