Over the past four seasons, Trey Smith and Joe Thuney have been arguably the best offensive guard duo in the NFL.

Both arrived to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021. Thuney was a five-year NFL veteran coming over from the New England Patriots, and Smith was a sixth-round draft pick entering the league as a rookie. Smith and Thuney were immediate starters for Kansas City, and helped anchor its offensive line through the 2024 season.

“I look back on that year, we had a little of a rebuild on the offensive line,” Smith said. “Bringing a lot of new guys in, Joe (Thuney), Creed (Humphrey), Orlando Brown, and myself, and just being able to come into this organization together and just learn from each other and grow with different tidbits. It was invaluable. And having a veteran guy like Joe Thuney, an All-Pro player and future Hall of Famer, being able to pick his brain, being able to come to him for insight and encouragement, it was amazing. It paid off in dividends for my career and not only who I am as a player, but how to be a pro off the field as well. So my time with Joe, it’s invaluable to me. He’s one guy that I regard as one of my closest friends and a brother.”

It’s a shame that the Chiefs had to move on from Thuney, but that’s business in the NFL. Perhaps they will draft his replacement later this month in the 2025 NFL Draft. Thuney won two Super Bowls and was named an All-Pro three times with K.C. As for Smith, hopefully he and the Chiefs can come to terms on a new contract extension sooner than later.