As the NFL season kicks off in a bit over three months, Yahoo Sports announced that the NFL will add another yearly award called the “Protector of the Year.” The award will go to the league’s best offensive lineman when it goes into effect next season.
A team’s offensive line is arguably the most important aspect in order to have success in the National Football League. If an offense doesn’t have a competent offensive line, it will be hard for it to run or pass the football effectively throughout a game.
In fact, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked a league-leading 68 times in 2024, and he struggled immensely throughout his rookie campaign. Furthermore, Williams, along with C.J. Stroud and Joe Burrow, were among the most pressured quarterbacks in 2024. The Bears, Bengals and Texans all have had evident issues with their respective offensive lines.
Moreover, star offensive linemen around the league, such as the Bears’ Joe Thuney (formerly on the Chiefs), Buccaneers’ Tristan Wirfs, Eagles’ Jordan Mailata and Colts’ Quenton Nelson, earned All-Pro honors last season. It is fair to say those men could be in the forefront for the award, along with future Hall of Fame offensive lineman Lane Johnson.
Yes, this award won’t be viewed as glamorously as Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Comeback Player of the Year or even Coach of the Year, but this honor should be regarded just as prestigiously as the other ones.
