Latest news with #ProtectoroftheYearAward
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New NFL Award Could Favor Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Lineman
In the interest of finally marketing the big guys who work the hardest in the trenches and finally putting offensive linemen on center stage, the NFL has announced a new league award. And it seems like something Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Tristan Wirfs should be up for each and every season he's in the league. Advertisement The Protector of the Year Award will be handed out each year at the NFL Honors presentation show and will recognize the best offensive lineman that season. Former Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth described the award best. 'This award means everything to the big guys up front,' said Whitworth. 'The Protector of the Year isn't just about stats – it's about the mindset, grit, and leadership it takes to be the foundation of a football team. It's time the men who lead, protect, and never ask for credit are recognized as the backbone of this game.' A press release by the NFL noted, "The award honors individual excellence and spotlights offensive linemen, whose contributions are often overlooked in the highlight-driven nature of football. It cements their role as the foundation of every great offense. Currently, offensive linemen are the only players who aren't eligible for most on-field awards." Advertisement The winner will be selected by a panel of former offensive linemen based on skill metrics, impact, leadership, durability and strength of opponent. The initial panel includes former players, LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O'Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields and Whitworth. As the Bucs' current left tackle, Wirfs is the only player to make the Pro Bowl as a right tackle and a left tackle, and he's been voted to the Pro Bowl in four of his first five seasons in the NFL. The former Iowa Hawkeye has also received two First-Team All-Pro honors and one Second-Team All-Pro honor. Related: Bucs Predicted To Cut Fan-Favorite from Loaded Receivers Room Related: Ex Buccaneers Assistant GM Discusses Tampa Bay Draft Hits and Misses New NFL Award Could Favor Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offensive Lineman first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buccaneers Offensive Lineman Favored for NFL's New Protector of the Year Award
Buccaneers Offensive Lineman Favored for NFL's New Protector of the Year Award originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last month, the NFL announced a new postseason award geared toward giving the best offensive linemen in the league a little national media attention. Advertisement The Protector of the Year Award will be handed out each year at the NFL Honors presentation show and will recognize the best offensive lineman that season. Former Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth described the award best. 'This award means everything to the big guys up front,' said Whitworth. 'The Protector of the Year isn't just about stats – it's about the mindset, grit, and leadership it takes to be the foundation of a football team. It's time the men who lead, protect, and never ask for credit are recognized as the backbone of this game.' As we approach 2025, it seems that the oddsmakers favor Buccaneers standout protector Tristan Wirfs for the award, making him an 8-1 favorite with third-beat odds behind Detroit's Penei Sewell at 3-1 and San Francisco's Trent Williams at 7-1. Advertisement A press release by the NFL noted, "The award honors individual excellence and spotlights offensive linemen, whose contributions are often overlooked in the highlight-driven nature of football. It cements their role as the foundation of every great offense. Currently, offensive linemen are the only players who aren't eligible for most on-field awards." The winner will be selected by a panel of former offensive linemen based on skill metrics, impact, leadership, durability and strength of opponent. The initial panel includes former players, LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O'Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields and Whitworth. As the Bucs' current left tackle, Wirfs is the only player to make the Pro Bowl as a right tackle and a left tackle, and he's been voted to the Pro Bowl in four of his first five seasons in the NFL. The former Iowa Hawkeye has also received two First-Team All-Pro honors and one Second-Team All-Pro honor. Advertisement Related: Haason Reddick Absent from Buccaneers Voluntary OTAs ... So What? Related: Buccaneers' Todd Bowles Announces Two Joint Practices Ahead of Preseason Games This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.


USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bills' Dion Dawkins honored to have impact on Protector of the Year Award
Bills' Dion Dawkins honored to have impact on Protector of the Year Award It was announced that the NFL will be introducing a new player award for the upcoming season, the Protector of the Year award, which will be given to the league's best offensive lineman at the NFL Honors following the season. The big guys up front are finally getting some recognition. For Buffalo Bills guard Dion Dawkins (2017-present), this award coming to fruition means a lot, and he was a big reason why it came about. He spent the last few years spreading awareness of the importance of his position, expressing that the o-line is the backbone of every team. "This Protector of the Year award is finally giving the big boys up front the respect we deserve,' Dawkins said. 'I've been knocking on doors and spearheading this movement because offensive linemen are the true foundation of every team's success. We might not have all the fancy stats as the skinnies or end up on a highlight reel every week, but without us, there's no rushing titles, passing titles, or touchdowns. This award is for all the unsung heroes who put in work every snap. I won't stop fighting to give offensive linemen the respect and recognition we deserve.' For the NFL, it's about time they show the big guys love. Right now, there are probably a lot of retired greats who played offensive line that are upset they never got a chance to take home this award. But, they have to be happy about the introduction of the award, and it's better late than never. The league definitely got it right, and Dawkins deserves a lot of the credit. "We've been talking about this for the last three years," Dawkins said to the media during Bills OTAs. "Me having meetings with Roger [Goodell] and Troy [Vincent] and some of these other guys... that's what did it. I'm honored that no matter what, that's a part of my legacy... and that's what I wanted. "I'm honored to change football... we changed football," he continued. "There will be an award for offensive linemen now. Now all the kids... they don't have to be fast... they'll be happy with something to push after and achieve." Dawkins has been extremely vocal regarding him and his fellow offensive linemen getting the love they deserve. Now, after years of knocking down doors and spreading awareness, Dawkins was the major force behind getting this award into the NFL. As for the award itself, it will be based on five categories of performance from offensive linemen: skill metrics; impact; leadership; durability; strength of opponent. The panel who will select the recipient of the award features six former NFL offensive linemen: LeCharles Bentley; Jason Kelce; Shaun O'Hara; Orlando Pace; Will Shields; Andrew Whitworth. Watch below to get Dawkins' full thoughts regarding the Protector of the Year award from this week's Bills OTAs:


USA Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Two Raiders offensive lineman with a real shot at new NFL Protector of the Year Award
Two Raiders offensive lineman with a real shot at new NFL Protector of the Year Award It's a pretty widely accepted concept that a football team's offense is only as good as the offensive line. Quarterbacks talk about how without time to throw, they can't scan the field and the wide receivers can't get open. And running backs credit linemen for opening holes for them while the rest of us give credit and lay blame for the whether they have room to run. Despite these commonly held beliefs, offensive linemen are never considered for awards like offensive player of the year or MVP and there has never been an individual award that recognized the work the offensive line. Until now. The NFL unveiled the Protector of the Year Award last week. Giving a few Raiders offensive linemen something to strive for. For the past few years, left tackle Kolton Miller has been the Raiders top offensive lineman. So it would seem he would have the best shot at the award. Though, obviously, it would require him to have his best season. Despite being a full time starter since his rookie season and a solid left tackle fo the Raiders the past six years, he has never made the Pro Bowl. And you'd have to figure those who are already established as being the best at their position would have the inside track on being recognized for their efforts. Mainly because it isn't like there are solid stats that come into play for linemen the same way there are for most other positions. Jackson Powers-Johnson would figure to have a decent shot being that he was the top drafted center in last year's draft and is entering his first season as the full time starter at the position. Should he excel right away, he could earn recognition. None of the other offensive line spots for the Raiders have a sure starter. That isn't to say there isn't one on the team, but just who will start where has yet to be decided.


USA Today
25-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
49ers should have an easy favorite for NFL's newest award
49ers should have an easy favorite for NFL's newest award At the NFL league meetings this week, the league announced a bunch of news and notes, including that the league will not be banning the "Tush Push," the modified quarterback sneak that the Philadelphia Eagles have made famous in recent years. Among the other announcements from the league meetings was the NFL's executive vice president of football operations, Troy Vincent, sharing that the league will be introducing a new Protector of the Year Award following the 2025 season. According to the league, the winner will be decided by a panel that will include some of the greatest offensive linemen in the history of the game. This is great news as it will give some recognition to the big men in the trenches who usually only hear their names mentioned when they mess up. With this voted on by some former players, it also may mean more to winners than those who are named All-Pro by the Associated Press. While there will certainly be quite a few offensive linemen in the running for the league's newest award, San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams should be among the early favorites for the honor. Williams, 36, has been one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL since Washington took him with the fourth-overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft out of Oklahoma. Since then, he's made 11 Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams (three first-teams and one second-team). In 2024, Williams was limited to just 10 starts at left tackle due to an ankle injury that kept him out for the final six weeks of the season. Despite missing time, Pro Football Focus still gave him an 85.6 overall grade for his performance, ranking him sixth out of 140 qualified offensive tackles. He also earned an 84.5 pass-blocking grade (ninth) and an 81.4 run-blocking grade. If Williams is healthy and on the field, he'll be one of the best offensive linemen in football, even as he creeps into his later 30s, and if that's the case, he should be in consideration for the first Protector of the Year Award. More 49ers: 49ers veteran has eyes on one specific matchup on 2025 schedule