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  "path": "/bears/2026/02/05/bears-joe-thuney-wins-protector-of-the-year-award-nfl-honors",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-06T02:41:23.402Z",
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  "textContent": "<p>SAN FRANCISCO — <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"_blank\" >Bears</a> coach Ben Johnson lost out to the Patriots’ Mike Vrabel for Coach of the Year at the NFL Honors on Thursday, but they still picked up a trophy as left guard <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/05/bears-players-in-san-francisco-for-super-bowl-lx-sick-about-being-so-close-yet-so-far-from-lombardi-trophy\" >Joe Thuney</a> won the league’s inaugural Protector of the Year for the top offensive lineman.</p><p>Thuney, always averse to attention, joked, “It’s kind of ironic talking about an award for unsung heroes.”</p><p>He earned his third consecutive All-Pro and fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection this season after the Bears acquired him in a trade with the Chiefs. He was instrumental in their overhaul of the offensive line, coming in with center Drew Dalman and right guard Jonah Jackson, and even filled in at left tackle in the playoffs when Ozzy Trapilo suffered a knee injury.</p><p>The group helped quarterback Caleb Williams cut his sacks from a league-high 68 as a rookie to just 24 this season.</p><p>Thuney already had a decorated career with the Patriots and Chiefs, winning two Super Bowls with each before coming to the Bears. This was a new challenge, though, in that they were counting on him to lead a turnaround.</p><p>“I just wanted to show the guys in the locker room what I’ve learned through my years and just perform well for the guy next to me,” Thuney said. “The offensive line in Chicago really grew close. I love those guys.</p><p>“It was surreal being at Soldier Field and feeling the fans and hearing it and seeing videos of families’ reactions after the games and they’re crying together and laughing and cheering. The city hasn’t felt that in a long time, so it was special.”</p><p>Johnson, meanwhile, had a strong candidacy by steering the Bears from 5-12 last season to 11-6 and their first playoff win in 15 years. Vrabel, though, pulled off an even more impressive flip by taking the 4-12 Patriots to a 14-3 record. All voting was done at the end of the regular season.</p><p>Williams and wide receiver DJ Moore also were honored for the Moment of the Year for Williams’ 46-yard touchdown pass to Moore to beat the Packers in overtime in December.</p><bsp-list-loadmore class=\"PageListH\" data-module data-hide-authors=\"true\" data-hide-categories=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-show-loadmore=\"true\" ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-bc0001\" name=\"list-bc0001\"></a><div class=\"PageList-header\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title-wrap\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"{borderColor=#dfdfdf, pageNumber=1, inverseColors=false, footerBgColor=#000000, bodyFont=font-3, showListNumbers=false, imagePositionHorizontal=null, rteBodyFont=font-3, headerBottomBorderColor=#111010, titleUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, subTitle=null, stickyHeader=true, listTitleColor=#000000, tableCellBorderColor=#ccd1d5, 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Football, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/b8/f1/5e0597e14658a0df9f0ddd04f839/ap26022849451681.jpg, width=5068, height=3379}}], imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, timestamp=1770339583000, authors=[{jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}], bio=[{items=[Jason Lieser covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser, media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/db/45/4fa7d0e60b81cf16ace05e7c41e9/f5kj4hj-400x400-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Headshot of Chicago Bears reporter Jason Lieser}], name=[{items=[Jason Lieser]}]}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, ampLink=null, publishDate=February 05, 2026 06:59 PM, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/05/bears-players-in-san-francisco-for-super-bowl-lx-sick-about-being-so-close-yet-so-far-from-lombardi-trophy, audio=[], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/05/super-bowl-lx-features-elite-wide-receivers-in-seahawks-jaxon-smith-njigba-patriots-stefan-diggs, publishDate=February 05, 2026 04:59 PM, _styledTemplate=null, title=Super Bowl LX features elite wide receivers in Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Patriots' Stefon Diggs, authors=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser, bio=[{items=[Jason Lieser covers the Chicago Bears for the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], name=[{items=[Jason Lieser]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}], 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threats are a must for championship-caliber teansm and the Bears hope Rome Odunze and DJ Moore bring that type of firepower to their offense next season.]}], audio=[], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {publishDate=February 05, 2026 10:45 AM, type=Image, timestamp=1770309954000, title=Mike Tirico, set to call his first Super Bowl, is still in awe of Rams-Bears playoff game, miracle TD, wordCount=902, _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2026/02/05/mike-tirico-super-bowl-lx-rams-bears-caleb-williams-cole-kmet-nbc-olympics, anchorId=promo-090002, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, category=[{items=[Sports Media]}], ampLink=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media, authors=[{authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jeff-agrest, jobTitle=[{items=[Deputy sports editor]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, name=[{items=[Jeff Agrest]}], bio=[{items=[Jeff Agrest is deputy sports editor at the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], media=[{alt=11-20-stewart-agrest-2-0.jpg, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/aa/7e/6765027c315652b7137576f04898/11-20-stewart-agrest-2-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/aa/7e/6765027c315652b7137576f04898/11-20-stewart-agrest-2-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}}]}], media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/d1/47/b8b1470245658251c923f003b9eb/nup-199039-00069.jpg, width=3000, height=2000}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/d1/47/b8b1470245658251c923f003b9eb/nup-199039-00069.jpg, width=3000, height=2000}, alt=NBC Sports - Events - Season 2022, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs}], audio=[], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, description=[{items=[“The whole moment just felt really, really vibrant to me,” Tirico said. “That was an all-time great moment. That was a play I will forever cherish being a part of.”]}]}], carouselSpeed=null, buttonHoverBgColor=#a91d23, rteHeadingFont=font-1, secondaryColor=#656565, hideCategories=true, _template=/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs, font3=Arial, font4=Source-serif-4, ctaUrl=null, hideImage=false, suppressPagination=true, footerLinkHoverColor=#d3242c, hideAudioPlayback=false, description=[], showSecondItemMedia=false, listColumns234=null, footerTextColor=#ffffff, title=Latest on the Bears, headerSecondaryBgColor=#000000, pagination=[{body=[Next Page], href=?p=2, _template=/link/Link.hbs, contentId=null, pianoSectionSlug=null, target=null}], primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, hideDescriptions=false, showActionBar=true, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, anchorId=list-bc0001, promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, primaryColor=#d3242c, slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, ratingCardFont=font-1, titleTarget=null, count=20444, tableCaptionColor=#626262, mobileCarousel=false, tableEvenRowsBgColor=#f9f8f3, containerTitleFont=font-2, listBorderColor=#dfdfdf, pageCount=6815, defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}\">Latest on the Bears</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items\" data-with-borders data-list-loadmore-items> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Bears players in San Francisco for Super Bowl LX 'sick' about being so close, yet so far from Lombardi Trophy\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/05/bears-players-in-san-francisco-for-super-bowl-lx-sick-about-being-so-close-yet-so-far-from-lombardi-trophy\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d80abd6/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5048x3379+20+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb8%2Ff1%2F5e0597e14658a0df9f0ddd04f839%2Fap26022849451681.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6230e41/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5048x3379+20+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb8%2Ff1%2F5e0597e14658a0df9f0ddd04f839%2Fap26022849451681.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Rams Bears Football\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6230e41/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5048x3379+20+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb8%2Ff1%2F5e0597e14658a0df9f0ddd04f839%2Fap26022849451681.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/05/bears-players-in-san-francisco-for-super-bowl-lx-sick-about-being-so-close-yet-so-far-from-lombardi-trophy\" >Bears players in San Francisco for Super Bowl LX 'sick' about being so close, yet so far from Lombardi Trophy</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">At least eight starters have been in San Francisco this week, and there’s a clear sense that as good as this season was for the Bears, it won’t be enough going forward.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1770339583000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser\" >Jason Lieser </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"610\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Super Bowl LX features elite wide receivers in Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Patriots' Stefon Diggs\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/05/super-bowl-lx-features-elite-wide-receivers-in-seahawks-jaxon-smith-njigba-patriots-stefan-diggs\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/00bd0fc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3932x2632+4+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd0%2Fe9%2F6fb5922b4b9d84ac1a49da934827%2Fap26034111732866.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d83579a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3932x2632+4+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd0%2Fe9%2F6fb5922b4b9d84ac1a49da934827%2Fap26034111732866.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Super Bowl Football\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d83579a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3932x2632+4+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd0%2Fe9%2F6fb5922b4b9d84ac1a49da934827%2Fap26034111732866.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/05/super-bowl-lx-features-elite-wide-receivers-in-seahawks-jaxon-smith-njigba-patriots-stefan-diggs\" >Super Bowl LX features elite wide receivers in Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Patriots' Stefon Diggs</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Explosive deep threats are a must for championship-caliber teansm and the Bears hope Rome Odunze and DJ Moore bring that type of firepower to their offense next season.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1770332380000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jason-lieser\" >Jason Lieser </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"848\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Mike Tirico, set to call his first Super Bowl, is still in awe of Rams-Bears playoff game, miracle TD\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2026/02/05/mike-tirico-super-bowl-lx-rams-bears-caleb-williams-cole-kmet-nbc-olympics\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8fbc61c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2988x2000+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd1%2F47%2Fb8b1470245658251c923f003b9eb%2Fnup-199039-00069.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c41288e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2988x2000+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd1%2F47%2Fb8b1470245658251c923f003b9eb%2Fnup-199039-00069.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"NBC Sports - Events - Season 2022\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c41288e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2988x2000+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd1%2F47%2Fb8b1470245658251c923f003b9eb%2Fnup-199039-00069.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media\" >Sports Media</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports-media/2026/02/05/mike-tirico-super-bowl-lx-rams-bears-caleb-williams-cole-kmet-nbc-olympics\" >Mike Tirico, set to call his first Super Bowl, is still in awe of Rams-Bears playoff game, miracle TD</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">“The whole moment just felt really, really vibrant to me,” Tirico said. “That was an all-time great moment. That was a play I will forever cherish being a part of.”</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1770309954000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/jeff-agrest\" >Jeff Agrest </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"902\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageList-footer\"> </div> </bsp-list-loadmore><p></p>",
  "title": "NFL Honors: Bears' Joe Thuney wins Protector award; Mike Vrabel beats Ben Johnson for Coach of the Year",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-06T03:24:02.479Z"
}