Now Reading: 2 players snubbed for NFL’s newest award
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2 players snubbed for NFL’s newest award
2 players snubbed for NFL’s newest award
Feb. 5, 2026, 7:32 p.m. MT
The NFL’s inaugural Protector of the Year award was given to Chicago Bears guard Joe Thuney during NFL Honors in San Francisco on Thursday evening.
Denver Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles and right guard Quinn Meinerz were also finalists for the award. Bolles was named Pass Blocker of the Year by Pro Football Focus last month, and he and Meinerz both earned AP All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors following the 2025 season.
Bolles led all NFL tackles with a 90.8 pass blocking grade from PFF this season, and he was not credited with allowing a single sack in 2025. Meinerz led all NFL guards with a 90.9 overall grade from PFF, and his 92.1 run blocking grade also ranked first.
With Bolles and Meinerz anchoring the offensive line, quarterback Bo Nix only took 22 sacks, the fewest among 17-game starters in 2025. Denver’s offense also topped 2,000 rushing yards for the first time since 2021.
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