Two Rams legends will be on the panel for the NFL's new Protector of the Year Award
Two Rams legends will be on the panel for the NFL's new Protector of the Year Award
The NFL is introducing a new award this year called the Protector of the Year. It recognizes the best offensive lineman in the league each season, rewarding a position that rarely gets the credit it deserves from fans and analysts.
Andrew Whitworth and Dion Dawkins spearheaded the movement, campaigning for the NFL to create an award that will be handed out annually at the NFL Honors alongside MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and others.
Not only did Whitworth campaign for the award, but he'll also be one of the people voting on it each year, as will another Rams legend: Orlando Pace. The NFL announced the six-person panel that will decide the winner, picking the top five nominees before selecting one winner from the list.
Here's the complete panel, according to the NFL's official site:
LeCharles Bentley – center/guard (New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns, 2002-2007), two-time Pro Bowl Selection and first-team All-Pro
Jason Kelce – center (Philadelphia Eagles 2011-2023), seven-time Pro Bowl Selection, six-time First Team All-Pro, named to NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team, and Super Bowl LII champion
Shaun O'Hara – center (Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, 2000-2010), three-time All-Pro and Super Bowl XLII champion
Orlando Pace – tackle (St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears 1997-2009), five-time All-Pro, named to NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team, and Super Bowl XXXIV champion
Will Shields – guard (Kansas City Chiefs, 1993-2006), 12-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time First-Team All-Pro, 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2015)
Andrew Whitworth – tackle (Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams, 2006-2021), two first-team All-Pro Selections, 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, and Super Bowl LVI champion
This is an award Whitworth probably would've won at least once in his career, given his sheer dominance as a pass-blocking left tackle. The Rams could have a couple of candidates up for the honor in 2025, including Alaric Jackson, Kevin Dotson and Rob Havenstein.
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