Dion Dawkins’ idea for a yearly award that recognizes the league’s best offensive lineman is now a reality.
The league announced on Wednesday that the NFL would be giving out the Protector of the Year award starting in 2025. The winner will be selected by a panel of former offensive line greats each year.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent announced the creation of the award today and gave credit to the [Buffalo Bills](https://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/) left tackle.
Dawkins pitched the idea in late January after the league announced the NFL Honors finalists for 2024.
“Offensive linemen don’t have awards for being great,” Dawkins stated. “There’s not a Protector of the Year award. I’m knocking at so many doors now to get this award going. I’m gonna spearhead it and make sure it gets done before I’m done playing. Because there’s so many greats. There’s so many greats. We have great quarterbacks, we have great running backs, we have rushing titles, we have quarterback passing titles. All those titles are reflections on the O-linemen, which are the protectors.”
Dawkins could certainly vie for the award in 2025. The Bills have one of the league’s best offensive line units and Dawkins’ elite play is a big reason for their success.
Buffalo’s left tackle has played at an elite level through his career and has earned recognition via the Pro Bowl. Dawkins has been named to the NFL’s All-Star game four times in his career.
Regardless of whether or not Dawkins ever wins the award, Buffalo’s left tackle can say that his hard work paid off in the league creating an award to recognize offensive linemen.