​CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 28: Joe Thuney #62 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after a touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Soldier Field on September 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images 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.CHICAGOJoe 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 l