From inauspicious start at NC State, Chiefs’ Joe Thuney on verge of fifth Super Bowl title

Joe Thuney wasn’t supposed to go to NC State. He wanted to go to Ohio State or Notre Dame but the programs didn’t feel the same way.

He was “too skinny” to play offensive line, they felt.

Now the four-time Super Bowl champion is looking to be part of history Sunday with a chance to be part of the NFL’s first-ever three-peat if the Kansas City Chiefs can defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59.

‘I wasn’t that good’

Joe Thuney grew up in Centerville, Ohio, one of four siblings. He loved football, but was overlooked by most coaches in high school because of his size. But N.C. State took a chance on him and Thuney took a leap of faith by going to a school 500 miles from his hometown.

“Coach Tom O’Brien was the head coach at N.C. State and he’s from Cincinnati, Ohio, and I’m from Dayton, Ohio, so he was recruiting in Ohio a little bit and I didn’t have a ton of offers because I was pretty skinny and I wasn’t that good,” Thuney said. “But the coaching staff believed in me. I visited Raleigh and I just loved it. I loved the city, loved the people, team, culture and so glad I went there.”

After being redshirted in his freshman year, he slowly earned more and more playing time, earning the Jim Ritcher Award as the team’s most valuable offensive lineman in his redshirt sophomore season. He made memories that have lasted far beyond his playing days in Carter-Finley Stadium, and made friends from his recruiting class with whom he still stays in touch.

However, he left college without any ACC or national awards to his name.

Professional start with Patriots

Thuney was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and he wasted no time on working his way to a starter on the Patriots’ depth chart, working to protect Tom Brady.

Not only did he start his rookie year in the Super Bowl, but he also became the first player in NFL history to start in the Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, starting at left guard in Super Bowls 51, 52 and 53 for New England.

After playing his first five seasons in Massachusetts, Thuney went from one superstar quarterback to another. In March 2021, Thuney signed a 5-year, $80 million contract with the Chiefs.

But no matter what the uniform, Thuney is a leader both on and off the field.

“I love Joe, he’s awesome to have around,” fellow Chiefs offensive lineman Creed Humphrey said. “Coming into my rookie year, the relationship has just grown so much. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s moved to a new position and is playing really well right now.”

Making history

He has started every game in his NFL career, and didn’t allow a sack on QB Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl 57 against the Philadelphia Eagles, who had recorded the most sacks in the regular season (70) up until that game.

But with more Super Bowl rings came more changes. The guard position that he knew so well would no longer be his spot on the line. Tackle would be instead. This new offensive role didn’t come without hurdles.

“You’re out in so much more space and you’re just kind of blocking different style guys,” Thuney said about the position change. “They have a different set of skills, so just trying to deal with that.”

Considering the switch, Thuney adapted quickly and efficiently to what Andy Reid’s offense needed this season. Starting week after week, Thuney helped the team win multiple one-score victories, notch a 15-2 record and secure another top seed for the AFC playoffs.

While Thuney’s work ethic and contribution to the offense might go unnoticed by some, that’s not the case with his quarterback.

“He’s such a tremendous player and tremendous teammate,” Mahomes said. “He’s won Super Bowls, he can play any position on the offensive line, and he’ll do whatever it takes, sacrifice to win. You need those guys, so to have him jump out to left tackle this year and have a lot of success just shows the type of player that he is.”

Thuney’s two sisters, brother and parents will be in New Orleans to support him, something special that never gets old for the veteran lineman. But the Eagles’ defensive line will be anything but a cakewalk.

“It’ll be a great challenge for him,” Mahomes said. “This d-line has great players at all of the positions and they rotate in and stay fresh because they have so many good guys. So just going out and trusting those guys and let them go up as a unit and play their best football on the biggest stage.”

If Thuney can help lead the offensive line to a productive day, he has the chance to be in rare company with Brady and Charles Haley as the only players in NFL history to have five rings.

Regardless, he will never forget where he came from and the little boy who dreamed of accomplishing big things.

“It’s hard to imagine I would be here,” Thuney said. “But I would say (to my younger self), ‘Enjoy the journey, keep working hard, and try to stay positive.’”

Anna Laible is a student with UNC Media Hub, a program with the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, reporting from the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Laible hosts the Speak Up Sports Podcast. Follow her journey covering her first Super Bowl on her Instagram (@anna_laible).