Joe Thuney was named Protector of the Year.
Thuney wins the NFL’s inaugural offensive linemen award in his first season with the Bears, who acquired him in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick in March 2025. Although the left tackle position remains one of the most important positions in football, Thuney, a left guard, winning the award proves that Protector of the Year will not simply be handed to the NFL’s best left tackle.