Kansas City Chiefs lose four-time Super Bowl winner and key Patrick Mahomes protector in surprise $26 million decision
THE Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly shipped a major Patrick Mahomes protector in a stunning development.
The Chiefs lost a four-time Super Bowl champion offensive lineman on Wednesday.
APKansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has seen one of his main protectors depart from the team[/caption]
APAndy Reid and the Chiefs are coming off a heartbreaking 40-22 Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last month[/caption]
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Chicago Bears traded for a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for two-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney.
The trade can’t be processed until the beginning of the NFL‘s new league year, which is on March 12.
The move comes as a surprise as Thuney was selected as the team’s MVP last season by his teammates, earning the Derrick Thomas Award due to moving to left tackle at the end of the campaign.
He also earned his third straight Pro Bowl selection and was an AP first-team All-Pro for the second season in a row.
NFL fans were stunned by the Chiefs’ decision to move on from the four-time Super Bowl champion Thuney.
“This came out of nowhere,” one wrote on X.
“Definitely wasn’t expecting this,” another commented.
“I’m shocked the Chiefs are doing this. I’d like to hear an explanation,” a third added.
It was the Bears’ second trade in the past 24 hours to address their offensive line to give more protection for soon-to-be second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.
On Tuesday, the Bears agreed to a trade with the Los Angeles Rams to obtain guard Jonah Jackson’s services.
The departure of Thuney means the Chiefs will take on $10.9 million in dead cap and save $16 million in cap space with the trade, per Spotrac.
Kansas City already made center Creed Humphrey the league’s highest-paid player at his position last season, and guard Trey Smith is expected to receive more than $23 million if he returns to the team on his non-exclusive franchise tag in 2025.
It’s likely those two contracts priced the Chiefs out of paying Thuney for his next contract.
Thuney was expected to earn an extension worth at least $20 million per season.
Thuney played his first five seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots, winning two Super Bowls during that span.
He joined the Chiefs in 2021 and also won two Super Bowls with the franchise.
During his nine-year career, Thuney has missed just two games and started 146 games.
Unfortunately for him, the 32-year-old struggled along with the rest of the Chiefs’ offensive line during their Super Bowl 59 loss, allowing six sacks to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Former second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia is expected to get the first shot at replacing Thuney at left guard.
GettyOffensive lineman Joe Thuney will be a Chicago Bear at the start of the 2025 NFL league year after being a Chief for the last four seasons – winning two Super Bowls during that span[/caption]
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