The connections extend beyond coaches Thomas Brown, Ashton Grant, Jason Houghtaling, Charles London and Isaiah Ford.
Between the active rosters, practice squads and reserve lists, three former New England Patriots and four former Chicago Bears find themselves in the fold Thursday’s primetime meeting at Soldier Field.
Here’s a glance through those on-field ties heading into the 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.
CHICAGO
Joe Thuney, guard — A future inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Thuney’s NFL run began in Foxborough
in the third round of the 2016 draft at No. 78 overall. The North Carolina State All-American earned Super Bowl LI and LIII rings during his versatile stay on the offensive line and made the cut for the Patriots’ All-2010s and All-Dynasty teams. A five-year deal brought Thuney to the Kansas City Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent in 2021 after playing on the franchise tag. And last March, after adding Super Bowl LVII and LVIII rings to his collection, the 33-year-old ironman was traded into quarterback Caleb Williams’ pass protection and signed a two-year extension. Thuney has started 167 games in the regular season and 23 games in the postseason during his career. The four-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro stands as the reigning NFL Protector of the Year and a captain.
Garrett Bradbury, center — Before NFL free agency opened in March, Bradbury’s stay at Gillette Stadium reached its end with one year remaining on his contract. The Patriots agreed to trade the 31-year-old center to the Bears in exchange for a fifth-round draft choice in 2027 on the heels of Pro Bowler Drew Dalman’s retirement. Bradbury had started every game for the reigning AFC champions from September into February, handling 98 percent of the offensive snaps. Signing in 2025 after being released by the Minnesota Vikings, he received the organization’s Ron Hobson Good Guy Award on the way to Super Bowl LX. The former Rimington Trophy winner out of North Carolina State has started all 111 of his appearances in the regular season since being selected in the first round at No. 18 overall in 2019.
Jamree Kromah, defensive end — A 26-year-old former transfer from Rutgers to James Madison, Kromah entered the NFL with Chicago as an undrafted rookie in 2024. The defensive end agreed to depart from the Bears’ practice squad for a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster in September of his rookie campaign. And after spending three weeks among the team’s inactives, which marks the league’s minimum requirement for poaching, he was waived and soon circled back to his previous club. Kromah made initial 53-man roster for the first time out of training camp and debuted last Sunday.
NEW ENGLAND
Lorenz Metz, offensive tackle — The Patriots signed the 29-year-old Metz to the practice squad ahead of the AFC divisional round in January. A futures contract followed. And after the 53-man roster deadline passed in August, so did a return to the practice squad as an exempt 17th member via the NFL International Pathway. Born in Bavaria, Germany, the offensive tackle played collegiately at Cincinnati and went undrafted in 2023. The Bears marked his first stop in the league. After being waived at the start of his rookie training camp, Metz went on to spend two campaigns on the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Matt Pryor, guard — Signed off the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals, Pryor landed on the 53-man roster in Foxborough as the calendar turned to October and checked in at guard last week. The veteran out of Texas Christian has appeared in 111 games, including 40 starts, since being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft at No. 206 overall. He has also been an Indianapolis Colt and a San Francisco 49er. And in 2024, Pryor became a Bear on a one-year deal. The 31-year-old saw action in every game that campaign in the NFC North while making 15 starts.
Kindle Vildor, cornerback — After serving as a standard elevation amid attrition at cornerback, the Patriots signed Vildor to the 53-man roster in early October. The 28-year-old’s time in the AFC East has included six tackles, including one for loss, to go with one pass deflection and one forced fumble. Signed in March and retained on the practice squad in August, Vildor originally entered the league with the Bears in the fifth round of the 2020 draft at No. 163 overall. The Georgia Southern product spent time with five other organizations before heading to Foxborough. Through 83 appearances, including 27 starts, he has had a hand in 146 tackles, one sack, two forced fumble and two interceptions.
Kevin Byard III, safety — Voted a team captain following the preseason, the 33-year-old Byard reunited with a familiar staff in March after leading the NFL with seven interceptions with the Bears in 2025. A three-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro, he has appeared in 170 games and made 161 starts since entering the league out of Middle Tennessee State in the third round of the 2016 draft. Setting out with head coach Mike Vrabel’s former Tennessee Titans before being dealt to Philadelphia ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, the veteran safety has amassed 998 tackles, 36 interceptions, six sacks, four forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and two touchdowns off turnovers to the tune of 424 return yards.
