Bears 2025 position preview: Offensive Line
Jul 11, 2025 at 09:04 AM
Gabby Hajduk
Writer
The following is the fifth of nine position previews in advance of training camp.
The new-look Bears offensive line features three veterans — guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson along with center Drew Dalman — that they acquired during the offseason.
Thuney and Jackson were acquired first via trade with the Chiefs and Rams, respectively, before Dalman signed with the Bears via free agency.
"I thought Ryan and Ben, with their guidance, we made a major statement about improving the competitive character in our room, improving the ability to play the game at a high level," offensive line coach Dan Roushar said. "I think in each of those guys we got smart, tough guys that love football and that's a big deal. They've shown for the most part to be durable up to a point, and having them available is big."
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As one of the Bears' most experienced players, Thuney brings a wealth of knowledge to not only the offensive line, but the entire locker room. The attention to detail, focus and passion he's sensed from players, coaches, management and staff members since coming to Chicago led to him inking a two-year extension with the Bears in May.
"As the days rolled into weeks, you realize this is a special place, special building, special history here and the people in the building just make it even more special," Thuney said at the time. "Pretty early on I could just tell this is something I want to be a part of, something that I think would be really cool going forward."
"We are looking forward to Joe being a member of the Chicago Bears for the years ahead," general manager Ryan Poles said after Thuney signed his extension. "Joe's leadership and experience have already positively impacted our organization, and we are fortunate that he will continue to lead our team, on and off the field."
Thuney joins the Bears having played nine NFL seasons with the Patriots (2016-20) and Chiefs (2021-24), which includes six Super Bowl starts and four Super Bowl wins — two with each team. With New England, the former third-round pick became the first NFL player to start in the Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the league (2016-19).
Thuney's personal accolades are just as impressive. The North Carolina State product earned first-team All-Pro honors each of the past two seasons and Pro Bowl bids each of the last three years.
"He's extremely humble," Roushar said. "He's really smart. He knows exactly how to play the game. He knows how to prepare. He's really got a great mind from a football standpoint. I feel like he is going to have a phenomenal presence with the group. Not a vocal guy. Very humble but true action. And just my observations of him interacting with our players, I already see a real positive impact."
Joe Thuney
#62 OL
- Height: 6-4=5
- Weight: 301 lbs
- College: N.C. State
After spending his first four NFL seasons with the Falcons, Dalman entered his first free agency period with a plethora of options before ultimately deciding to join the Bears. He cited "the culture that I'm playing in and the people I'm playing next to, the vision for the team as a whole" as key traits he was seeking in his new team, all of which the Bears matched.
Selected by the Falcons in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Dalman contributed in all 17 games as a rookie before going on to start each of his next 40 games at center and developing into one of the league's best at the position.
"He is going to be the quarterback of our offensive line," coach Ben Johnson said. "He'll be setting the protections in the run game for us, something he has done in the past. And I think we can put even more on his plate than what he has been exposed to previously. I'm excited about that.
"He is still learning. He's still growing as a player. He has not hit his ceiling either. He has already asked me several times, 'What did you see on tape that I can get better at?' That's the type of person we're getting."
Drew Dalman
#52 OL
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 301 lbs
- College: Stanford
Jackson joins the Bears after playing five NFL seasons with the Lions (2020-23) and Rams (2024), making starts at the center and both guard positions. Drafted by the Lions in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Jackson started his first 32 career games, all but two of those being at left guard. During his second NFL season in 2021, he earned a Pro Bowl invitation.
Through his career, Jackson has totaled 61 regular season starts as well as two playoff starts and four total playoff appearances. Now in Chicago, Jackson has reunited with Johnson, who was an offensive assistant in Detroit during the Jackson's first three NFL seasons.
"I had a great relationship with Ben," Jackson said. "He was with me when I was a young pup my rookie year and what he brings to the table is awesome. I couldn't be more excited.
"I feel like my best years were with Ben. He calls the game to our strengths and things we're good at. It's not just for one guy specifically. I felt like I was able to [thrive] in that system. I'm excited to get back into it and get back to what I was able to do and keep it rolling."
Jonah Jackson
#73 OL
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 319 lbs
- College: Ohio State
While the Bears completely revamped the interior of their offensive line this offseason, the unit will also include veteran tackles Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones.
The Bears' first-round selection in 2023, Wright has started 33 games at right tackle in his first two NFL seasons. In his rookie season, Wright started all 17 games and played 99.56% of the team's offensive snaps, the most of any Bears player on either side of the ball.
Darnell Wright
#58 OL
- Height: 6-5
- Weight: 325 lbs
- College: Tennessee
Jones is entering his fourth NFL season after being selected by the Bears in 2022 out of Southern Utah. He started all 17 games as a rookie and was the only Bears player on either side of the ball to play every snap. After starting at left tackle in 33 games between 2023 and 2024, Jones underwent season-ending ankle surgery in December and continues to recover from the injury ahead of training camp.
Braxton Jones
#70 OL
- Height: 6-5
- Weight: 303 lbs
- College: Southern Utah
Competing with Jones at the left tackle position will be second-year pro Kiran Amegadjie and rookie Ozzy Trapilo.
Amegadjie, who the Bears selected out of Yale in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, played in six games during his rookie season, including one start at left tackle.
"We think that guy is going to do nothing but get better," Roushar said. "He's got a great mindset. My interactions, he has been in my office, we've sat, we've kind of looked at some things, got a plan of action for the spring to attack it. We've got to build his confidence. We've got to build him fundamentally. He seems to be really willing and I am excited about that."
Kiran Amegadjie
#72 OL
- Height: 6-5
- Weight: 326 lbs
- College: Yale
Trapilo was selected by the Bears in the second round of the draft after he spent five seasons at Boston College, playing in 44 games with 36 starts.
Trapilo is a two-time All-ACC selection, including a First-Team nod in 2024 after starting all 24 games at right tackle in his final two collegiate seasons.
"Ozzy is dependable, disciplined, a technician and very, very intelligent," Poles said. "He's tough, strong. We look at lean mass for the bigs, and he is a very dense player who can get movement at the point of attack. He can anchor well. He's a tall player who needs to continue to bend. But, he is going to do a really good job. He's just a very reliable player for us."
Ozzy Trapilo
#75 OL
- Height: 6-8
- Weight: 312 lbs
- College: Boston College
The Bears are returning two key backups in Bates and Kramer who contributed at various points last season. Bates, a seven-year pro, has spent the last two seasons with the Bears after beginning his career in Buffalo, appearing in 76 career games with 21 starts.
Ryan Bates
#71 OL
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 306 lbs
- College: Penn State
Kramer is entering his fourth NFL season. He played in 16 games last year, contributing on offense and special teams.
Doug Kramer Jr.
#68 OL
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 300 lbs
- College: Illinois
Along with Trapilo, sixth-round selection Luke Newman out of Michigan State is the only other rookie offensive lineman on the roster. Newman spent his first four collegiate seasons at Holy Cross, where he was an FCS First-Team All-American at left tackle in 2022 and 2023. With the Spartans in 2024, Newman transitioned to left guard and received an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
Luke Newman
#65 OL
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 308 lbs
- College: Michigan State
More returning players also competing for a spot on the offensive line include Bill Murray, Chris Glaser, Theo Benedet and Ricky Stromberg.
Murray heads into his third season with the Bears after spending three seasons with the Patriots.
Bill Murray
#60 OL
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 321 lbs
- College: William & Mary
Glaser spent time with the Chiefs (2022), Jets (2022-23) and Cowboys (2023) before signing with the Bears practice squad after training camp last season and appearing in three games.
Chris Glaser
#63 OL
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 308 lbs
- College: Virginia
Benedet spent last year – his rookie season – on the practice squad.
Theo Benedet
#79 OL
- Height: 6-7
- Weight: 304 lbs
- College: University of British Columbia
Stromberg began his career with the Commanders in 2023 before joining the Bears practice squad in Week 11 last season.
Ricky Stromberg
#67 OL
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 313 lbs
- College: Arkansas
The Bears also added veterans Jordan McFadden and Joshua Miles in the offseason.
McFadden previously played for the Chargers (2023-24), appearing in 13 career games with a pair of starts.
Jordan McFadden
#74 OL
- Height: 6-2
- Weight: 306 lbs
- College: Clemson
Miles entered the league in 2019 with the Cardinals and spent four seasons in Arizona before splitting time between the Falcons and Giants practice squads in 2023. He appeared in one game for New York last season.
Joshua Miles
#78 OL
- Height: 6-5
- Weight: 318 lbs
- College: Morgan State
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