It is long overdue, and the men in the trenches are getting some much-deserved love, recognition and respect.
The NFL has come up with and is debuting a new piece of hardware for the league’s best offensive lineman in 2025. Known as the Protector of the Year award, the honor will be voted and decided upon by a panel that includes several former standout NFL linemen.
“I’m going to give credit to Dion Dawkins from Buffalo,” NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said Wednesday from the Spring League Meeting in Minnesota. “He was truly instrumental, him and Andrew Whitworth, of just making sure that we recognize the big fellas. LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O’Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields and Andrew Whitworth will be the panel. … They’ve come up with a criteria on skills, metrics, impact, leadership, durability and strength of the opponent. We’ll be tracking that quarterly with this group.”
“This award means everything to the big guys up front. The Protector of the Year isn’t just about stats-it’s about the mindset, grit, and leadership it takes to be the foundation of a football team,” Whitworth posted on social media. “It’s time the men who lead, protect, and never ask for credit are recognized as the backbone of this game!”
Position-specific awards are the norm in collegiate football, but despite the MVP’s tendency to favor quarterbacks in the NFL, the league does not label or address top players at each position, leaving it to just two categories: Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Instead, that honor goes along with selection to the annual All-Pro team.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Protector of the Year award is intended to shine a massive light on the most overlooked, yet essential position in the sport. It is also the culmination of an effort that began as a brainchild pushed by two accomplished linemen of past and present: Whitworth and Dawkins.
Whitworth advocated the idea in early April, telling the Los Angeles Times Sam Farmer he believed the position group deserved an accolade to recognize the best of the starting five. Whitworth added such an honor might also influence the next generation of future offensive linemen, highlighting the position that is traditionally omitted and passed over for year-end awards.
“Having an award like this would let an individual stand up there as the best of the best. Every young kid in high school that may be teetering as to whether he wants to be an offensive lineman or not can say, ‘Wow, look at [the San Francisco 49ers’] Trent Williams. Look at [the Philadelphia Eagles’] Lane Johnson.’ It’s an inspiration to want to be great.”
Now, they will have a new trophy to go after and place in their trophy case, all while preventing the opposition from reaching their most important teammates.
