Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; NFL Hall of Fame member and former Wisconsin Badgers offensive tackle Joe Thomas waves to the crowd as he s honored during a game between Wisconsin Badgers and Iowa Hawkeyes at Camp Randall Stadium. Tork Mason-Imagn Images

NFL launches new award that former Wisconsin Badgers would have dominated in years past

Originally posted on Wisconsin Badgers on SI
By Lorin Cox | Last updated May 21, 2025 5:04 PM ET

Offensive linemen never get enough credit for the dirty work they do up front to ensure their team's success.

The NFL is finally looking to change that.

The league announced Wednesday that it is creating a new award called Protector of the Year that will be handed out to the top offensive lineman each season.

History was made today. Something that starting with an Idea and a Conversation and Now the “Protector Of The Year” Award is Here and Here to Stay. Thank you to Everyone involved. Today WE made History #YouAlreadyShnow #ProtectorOfTheYear #history pic.twitter.com/qzYl7rY8xZ
— Dion Dawkins (@DDawkins66) May 21, 2025

If that award had existed over the last 50 years, Wisconsin Badgers would have dominated it.

Hall of Fame center Mike Webster would have won it plenty in the 1970s and 80s with the Pittsburgh Steelers as he started establishing UW as an offensive line factory.

In the 90s and 2000s, offensive tackles Paul Gruber and Mark Tauscher would have had an argument for it, though their lack of Pro Bowl honors indicated a further lack of proper recognition for their talent.

But it's unquestionable that Joe Thomas would have brought the trophy home multiple times in his illustrious 11 year career as arguably the best linemen in the league year-in and year-out for the Cleveland Browns.

4 minutes of Joe Thomas dominance pic.twitter.com/fv3f0YNuGu
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) May 11, 2025

Wisconsin doesn't have any current linemen in the league that quite rise to that level, though New Orleans Saints tackle Ryan Ramczyk would have been a candidate after his All-Pro 2019 season.