A Long-Awaited Recognition for the Offensive Line
At long last, offensive linemen are getting their due recognition. Beginning in 2025, the NFL will introduce a new award called the Protector of the Year, created to honor the league’s best offensive lineman. The award will be determined by a panel of former standout NFL linemen.
Voices Behind the Movement
“I’m going to give credit to Dion Dawkins from Buffalo,” said NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent during the Spring League Meeting on Wednesday. “He was truly instrumental, him and Andrew Whitworth, of just making sure that we recognize the big fellas.”
“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,” Vincent added.
The panel responsible for selecting the award recipient includes LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O’Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields, and Andrew Whitworth.
A Shift from Traditional Awards
In contrast to college football, where position-specific awards are more common, the NFL has traditionally limited individual honors to broader categories such as Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year. Recognition for top performers at each position typically comes through All-Pro selections rather than individual accolades.
The Origins of the Award
The Protector of the Year award represents a milestone in a campaign led by current and former offensive linemen, especially Andrew Whitworth and Dion Dawkins, who pushed for a specific recognition for the position. In April, Whitworth shared his views with Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, emphasizing the importance of such an award.
He explained that he believed offensive linemen deserved to be acknowledged with an honor that highlights excellence within their unit. Whitworth also noted the potential impact on future players, suggesting the award could help elevate the appeal of playing offensive line and offer a new goal for younger athletes.
Now offensive linemen have a new form of recognition to strive for, one that honors their critical and often underappreciated role in protecting their teammates and anchoring the offense.
