PALM BEACH, Fla. — Chiefs coach Andy Reid almost ran out of superlatives when trying to describe new Bears guard Joe Thuney.
“You getting a phenomenal guy, a great human being, an all-pro player,” he said Monday at the NFL’s annual meeting. “Doesn’t say a whole lot. He’s a good leader in that room. He’s experienced. He’s being doing it quite a while. He gets it.”
A skeptic would point out that the Chiefs, of course, decided to trade Thuney to the Bears earlier this month. The was a product of his age (32) and the fact he has one year left on a contract with a $16 million salary cap hit.
Thuney has won four Super Bowls, been to three Pro Bowls and been a first-team all-pro twice. He was voted MVP of a Chiefs team that won the AFC last year.
The Bears are betting that his skills won’t dim with age, and that he can be of benefit to quarterback Caleb Williams.
“He’ll help him,” Reid said. “He’s a good player.”