Retired Los Angeles Rams four-time Pro Bowler Andrew Whitworth, now part of the Prime Video “Thursday Night Football” crew, is advocating for a change, pushing for the NFL to acknowledge the league’s top offensive linemen with a dedicated annual award.
Los Angeles Rams’ Andrew Whitworth Wants OL Award
“For an offensive lineman, just because you play in a group, the reality on most plays is that it’s one on one,” Whitworth explained to the L.A. Times’ Sam Farmer. “Having an award like this would let an individual stand up there as the best of the best. Every young kid in high school that may be teetering as to whether he wants to be an offensive lineman or not can say, ‘Wow, look at [the San Francisco 49ers’] Trent Williams. Look at [the Philadelphia Eagles’] Lane Johnson.’ It’s an inspiration to want to be great.”
Whitworth, leveraging his experience as a two-time All-Pro and his influence within the football community, is championing the creation of the “Shield Award,” a proposed accolade to celebrate the NFL’s premier offensive lineman. Currently, the annual NFL Honors ceremony, held during Super Bowl week, largely overlooks offensive linemen, who rarely have the opportunity to take the stage.
While Whitworth himself received the prestigious 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, recognizing his contributions both on and off the field, offensive linemen have been consistently excluded from other major NFL awards. They have never been named AP Comeback Player of the Year, AP Offensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, or even AP Most Valuable Player.
Whitworth’s advocacy raises a pertinent question: Why not establish an award dedicated to recognizing the exceptional talent and crucial role of offensive linemen? Such an award would not only honor their contributions but also inspire future generations of players to embrace the position.
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s Los Angeles Rams YouTube Channel