Finally, the years of waiting are over. In 2025, the NFL will present an inaugural award for the best NFL offensive lineman.

The question is, what took the NFL so long to recognize the blockers? For years, the offensive line has been vital to winning multiple Lombardi trophies.

For example, the 1991 Washington Redskins’ offensive line, or the Hogs, was a big reason for the team’s defeat of the high-powered “K Gun” Offense of the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl 26.

In 2024, even with center Jason Kelce retired, the Philadelphia Eagles still returned the biggest and most physical offensive line in league history.

The one that made Jalen Hurts run the“tush push” so effectively that it even caught Chris Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs off guard, winning Super Bowl 59 this past season.

How The NFL Offensive Lineman Award Came To Be

As of 2025, the NFL will present a new award dedicated to the league’s top offensive lineman. The Protector of the Year award will be determined by a collective representing prior top NFL linemen.

NFL Offensive Linemen
Bills (LT) Dion Dawkins gives (QB) Josh Allen a lift in celebration of a scoring drive

The Protector of the Year award highlights the sport’s most underrecognized yet vital position. It’s also the creation of an idea presented by two coveted linemen, Andrew Whitworth and Dion Dawkins.

NFL Offensive Lineman
Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, Analyst Andrew Whitworth

Whitworth pitched the idea in early April, stating that the offensive linemen earned the right to be honored as the best of the starting five.

He also thinks adding this accolade may motivate the next group of offensive lineman to try harder and earn an award for their outstanding play.

Adding Recognition With The Walter Payton “Man Of The Year Award”

Before this award debuted in 2025, the only recognition offensive linemen seemed to receive was winning the “Man of the Year Award” in honor of the late NFL running back and humanitarian, Walter Payton.

Just like Payton, this award requires toughness and grit to win, which is why NFL teams usually nominate a lineman for it.

Whitworth won the Man of the Year Award in 2021, and while this is a nice award, he wanted to do something to give back to his position group.

Now, he can watch it all come together at the 2026 NFL Honors in February, as his NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year Award will make its debut.

Some Eligible NFL Offensive Lineman Candidates

Here are some early eligible NFL Offensive linemen candidates for the Protector of the Year Award in 2025:

  1. Dion Dawkins– (OT) Buffalo Bills- “You already, Shnnnow” why Dawkins earns it here. He’s been a staple on the left side of the Buffalo Bills’ O-line since 2017, and since 2023, he’s been instrumental in the Bills’ version of the tush push play with Josh Allen. He’s Canton-bound, so he should be one of the first nominated for “NFL Offensive Lineman Protector of the Year”.
  2. Lane Johnson– (OT) Philadelphia Eagles- There’s no stopping this beast on the Eagles. One of the stalwarts on that big and nasty Eagles o-line, Johnson, should be one of the favorites to hoist this honor. He’s famous for assisting Hurts in their “tush push play,” which has elevated that play into the modern spotlight of the NFL.
  3. Andrew Thomas (OT) New York Giants- Thomas is a monster at left tackle for the Giants on a line that improved last year, even in a 3-14 season. Yes, the former Georgia Bulldog has dealt with and battled back from injuries, but he will always be remembered as the Giants’ most consistent offensive tackle, who always led his play on the field by example.

End Of My NFL Offensive Lineman Rant

2025 will be the year that offensive linemen will finally earn their recognition for all their hard work and dues they’ve had to pay when putting their bodies on the line for this great game of football.

No longer will their success or achievements be ignored by the NFL. With the help of past linemen and even a current one, the NFL has come a long way in debuting this new honor this season.

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