For the first time since 2016, the NFL is adding a new end-of-year award to its slate.
NFL Executive Vice President Troy Vincent announced Wednesday the addition of a Protector of the Year award, which will recognize the league's best offensive lineman. Vincent credited Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins and former NFL tackle Andrew Whitworth for championing the cause of adding the award.
According to ESPN's Brooke Pryor, "a panel that includes a number of former OL greats" will vote on the winner of the new annual award.
The Protector of the Year will be the first new award introduced to the end-of-year NFL Honors show since the Offensive Line of the Year award the league introduced in 2016 – before discontinuing it in 2018.