North Carolina State University Athletics
Thuney to be Installed in Football Ring of Honor
4/7/2026 1:00:00 PM | Football
RALEIGH, N.C. - Former Wolfpack All-American offensive lineman Joe Thuney, who has played on six Super Bowl teams and earned four championship rings during his NFL career, will be inducted into NC State Football's Ring of Honor, Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan and head coach Dave Doeren announced today.Â
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"Joe was the true definition of a team player during his time at NC State," said Doeren. "He was willing to start wherever he was needed and he excelled at each position. He established a standard on the Wolfpack offensive line that players for the last decade have worked to live up to, which is one reason we've had two offensive linemen drafted in the first-round since then and have six on NFL rosters today. He worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the field and truly deserves to have his name enshrined among other NC State stars."
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As a senior in 2015, Thuney became the first Wolfpack offensive lineman in almost four decades to earn All-America honors, dating all the way back to Jim Ritcher in 1979. That season, he played every single snap in games versus ACC opponents (589) and did not allow a single sack from his left tackle spot in those contests. A veteran of 40 games played, he got the nod at both tackle spots and both guard positions in his 32 starts. He earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2015 - a first for a Wolfpack player in a dozen years.Â
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An outstanding performer in the classroom as well, the Centreville, Ohio, native graduated cum laude from NC State with a B.S. in accounting/financial analysis prior to his junior year. He was a two-time first-team Academic All-ACC performer and was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll all four years in which he played. In 2015, he was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, which honors academics, community service, and performance on the field. Since leaving NC State, he has earned his MBA.
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"Joe Thuney was not only an excellent player for NC State, but he was an outstanding and dedicated student," said McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan. "We are so proud of all that he's accomplished during his NFL career and excited to have him enshrined beside other Wolfpack greats in Carter-Finley Stadium."
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After being drafted in the third round by the New England Patriots, Thuney earned the starting job at left guard in preseason camp and started every game that season, including Super Bowl LI. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team.
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He would go on to become the first player in NFL history to start a Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the league, winning two with the Patriots. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021, winning another Super Bowl in his first year. He was a first-team All-Pro performer in 2023 and won another Super Bowl ring (even though he didn't play in the game itself due to an injury) followed by another All-Pro season in 2024. In 2025, he was traded to the Chicago Bears, where he once again won All-Pro honors and earned the NFL's inaugural Protector of the Year award.
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In his 11 years in the NFL, Thuney has played on four Super Bowl Champion teams (LI, LIII, LVII, LVIII), has been a three-time first-team All-Pro (2023, '24, '25), a two-time second-team All-Pro (2019, '22), and a four-time Pro Bowler (2022, '23, '24, '25). He was named to the Patriots' All-2010s Team and the franchise's All-Dynasty team.
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A date for Thuney's official induction will be set after NFL schedules are released in May.
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"Joe was the true definition of a team player during his time at NC State," said Doeren. "He was willing to start wherever he was needed and he excelled at each position. He established a standard on the Wolfpack offensive line that players for the last decade have worked to live up to, which is one reason we've had two offensive linemen drafted in the first-round since then and have six on NFL rosters today. He worked just as hard in the classroom as he did on the field and truly deserves to have his name enshrined among other NC State stars."
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As a senior in 2015, Thuney became the first Wolfpack offensive lineman in almost four decades to earn All-America honors, dating all the way back to Jim Ritcher in 1979. That season, he played every single snap in games versus ACC opponents (589) and did not allow a single sack from his left tackle spot in those contests. A veteran of 40 games played, he got the nod at both tackle spots and both guard positions in his 32 starts. He earned first-team All-ACC honors in 2015 - a first for a Wolfpack player in a dozen years.Â
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An outstanding performer in the classroom as well, the Centreville, Ohio, native graduated cum laude from NC State with a B.S. in accounting/financial analysis prior to his junior year. He was a two-time first-team Academic All-ACC performer and was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll all four years in which he played. In 2015, he was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, which honors academics, community service, and performance on the field. Since leaving NC State, he has earned his MBA.
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"Joe Thuney was not only an excellent player for NC State, but he was an outstanding and dedicated student," said McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan. "We are so proud of all that he's accomplished during his NFL career and excited to have him enshrined beside other Wolfpack greats in Carter-Finley Stadium."
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After being drafted in the third round by the New England Patriots, Thuney earned the starting job at left guard in preseason camp and started every game that season, including Super Bowl LI. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie team.
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He would go on to become the first player in NFL history to start a Super Bowl in each of his first three seasons in the league, winning two with the Patriots. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021, winning another Super Bowl in his first year. He was a first-team All-Pro performer in 2023 and won another Super Bowl ring (even though he didn't play in the game itself due to an injury) followed by another All-Pro season in 2024. In 2025, he was traded to the Chicago Bears, where he once again won All-Pro honors and earned the NFL's inaugural Protector of the Year award.
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In his 11 years in the NFL, Thuney has played on four Super Bowl Champion teams (LI, LIII, LVII, LVIII), has been a three-time first-team All-Pro (2023, '24, '25), a two-time second-team All-Pro (2019, '22), and a four-time Pro Bowler (2022, '23, '24, '25). He was named to the Patriots' All-2010s Team and the franchise's All-Dynasty team.
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A date for Thuney's official induction will be set after NFL schedules are released in May.
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Coach Doeren Signing Day Presser (Dec. 3rd)
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Coach Doeren Weekly Press Conference (Nov. 24)
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