NFL Announces Protector of the Year Award for Best Offensive Lineman

Minneapolis – In a significant move for the league, the NFL announced at the Spring League Meeting that it will introduce a new award in 2025 to honor the best offensive lineman in the game, titled the Protector of the Year. This decision aims to shine a spotlight on an often-overlooked but crucial position in football.

The award will be determined by a panel of former NFL linemen, which includes notable names like LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O’Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields, and Andrew Whitworth. NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent praised Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills for his role in advocating for the recognition of offensive linemen. “He was truly instrumental, along with Andrew Whitworth, in making sure that we recognize the big fellas,” Vincent mentioned during the meeting.

The panel will assess nominees based on several criteria, including skills, metrics, impact, leadership, durability, and the strength of opponents faced. Vincent confirmed that this assessment would be tracked quarterly. The intention behind creating the Protector of the Year award is to elevate the prestige of the offensive line position, which traditionally lacks dedicated year-end honors.

Despite being crucial to a team’s success, only the quarterbacks often receive the spotlight when it comes to awards like MVP. This new accolade is inspired by efforts from Whitworth, who initially proposed the idea earlier this year, pointing out how impactful such recognition could be on future generations of offensive linemen.

In other NFL news, the league is mourning the loss of Jim Irsay, who passed away at 65 after owning the Indianapolis Colts since 1997. Meanwhile, Cam Ward, the 2025 NFL Draft No. 1 overall pick, has officially signed his rookie contract with the Tennessee Titans.

In a nod to popular culture, the upcoming season of the HBO docuseries Hard Knocks will feature the Buffalo Bills. The divisional spotlight will further extend in the 2025 season, focusing on the NFC East during the series Hard Knocks: In Season.

Additionally, the Green Bay Packers’ proposal to ban the tush push play, which gained traction thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles, did not pass in the recent voting. The Detroit Lions also withdrew their playoff reseeding proposal during the meeting.

In coaching news, Chip Kelly has returned to the NFL after a stint in college football, now serving as the offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders. Early reactions from quarterback Geno Smith indicate that he is optimistic about Kelly’s plans for the offense as the season approaches.

As the league continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these changes and announcements impact teams and players heading into the next season.