Total Pro Sports
As NFL fans continue to monitor the votes on proposed rule adjustments for 2025, another significant change is coming this season: The introduction of the Protector of the Year Award.
According to a report from ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the NFL will debut the Protector of the Year Award this season. The award will be presented annually to the NFL’s best offensive lineman, with Pryor adding that the votes will come from a panel including “a number of former OL greats.”
The NCAA has numerous awards for its best linemen, including the Jacobs Blocking Trophy (handed annually to the best offensive lineman in the SEC) and the Lombardi Award, presented to the nation’s best offensive or defensive lineman.
The NFL is introducing the Protector of the Year Award given to the league's best offensive lineman, as decided by a panel that includes a number of former OL greats.
Troy Vincent gives credit to Bills OL Dion Dawkins and Andrew Whitworth for pushing this idea.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) May 21, 2025
Speaking to Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, former Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams star OT Andrew Whitworth made the case for the NFL to present an award to the league’s best offensive lineman. Lo and behold, the Protector of the Year Award is finally upon us.
Offensive linemen in general hardly get the recognition they deserve in today’s pass-happy NFL. Fans and pundits naturally give most of the credit to quarterbacks and their skill position weapons, but find us the last time a team won a Super Bowl with a mediocre or below-average offensive line.
When it comes to debating the NFL’s best all-around offensive lineman, every conversation must start with San Francisco 49ers star Trent Williams. Had the award been introduced by the time he turned pro in 2010, Williams would probably have at least three by now, and likely more.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs Jr., Philadelphia Eagles OT Jordan Mailata, Detroit Lions OT Penei Sewell and Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson are among the other top candidates that should be in the mix this season.
