During Kansas City’s dynastic run, few have anchored the offensive line with more grit and fire than Trey Smith. The 6’6″ behemoth, once a sixth-round draft gamble, has become one of Patrick Mahomes‘ most reliable protectors.
At the core of his transformation into a two-time Super Bowl champion stands one man: Joe Thuney.
The Kansas City Chiefs were faced with a salary cap dilemma this offseason, and despite all Thuney brought to the team, the front office made the painful call to move on. Thuney is now a Chicago Bear. For fans, it was a business decision. For Trey Smith, it was something far deeper.
Smith recently joined Jason Kelce on the New Heights podcast and, for the first time, spoke publicly about what Thuney‘s departure really meant to him. The 26-year-old didn’t sugarcoat it.
“Oh Joe… he’s not in the building no more,” Smith said, the weight of the moment still fresh. “But you gotta show love. He was there when I came in.”
That was in 2021, when Smith entered the league as a raw, talented rookie out of Tennessee. Kansas City took a chance on him in the sixth round. It paid off. But Smith is the first to admit he didn’t do it alone.
“As a young cat, wide-eyed, freaked out… Joe’s the reason I survived,” he told Kelce.
Over the next four seasons, the duo would become synonymous with Kansas City’s offensive identity, brutal in the run game, reliable in pass protection, and always consistent.
Together, they helped Kansas City win back-to-back Super Bowls and protect Mahomes during countless highlight-reel moments. Thuney was the rock, and Smith was the rising star molded in his shadow.
“Heartbreaking, bro. Just… yeah,” Smith admitted. “He’s gonna thrive in Chicago. I love him. But man, having him there to teach me? The nuances? How to manipulate bodies even when you’re not the biggest?” He paused. “That was incredible.”
Thuney‘s resume is decorated with rings from New England and Kansas City. He’s been a pillar of excellence for nearly a decade, and now he brings that same presence to the Bears’ locker room. But the void he leaves behind in Kansas City isn’t just tactical-it’s emotional.
“Future Hall of Famer. And my brother,” Smith said.
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