Bears OL Joe Thuney wins first-ever NFL Protector of the Year award

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History was made Thursday night by a Chicago Bears offensive lineman.

Joe Thuney was awarded the inaugural Protector of the Year at NFL Honors in San Francisco.

Thuney beat out Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz, Broncos offensive tackle Garett Bolles, Miami Dolphins center Aaron Brewer, Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey and Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell .

Championed by former Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth and Buffalo Bills tackle Dion Dawkins, the Protector of the Year Award recognizes excellence along the offensive line by honoring the league’s most outstanding lineman over a single NFL season.

The winner was determined by an elite selection committee of NFL Legends: two-time Pro Bowler and position-specific training expert LeCharles Bentley, six-time All-Pro Jason Kelce, three-time Pro Bowler Shaun O’Hara, 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and Super Bowl LVI champion Whitworth, and Pro Football Hall of Famers Orlando Pace and Will Shields.

Around the NFL will have more shortly.

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