Buffalo Bills' Pro Bowl tackle Dion Dawkins' Quest for a New Offensive Lineman of the Year Award

By John Turney 

Bills' tackle Dion Dawkins

Buffalo Bills' Pro Bowl tackle Dion Dawkins' goal is to win an NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year award before he retires, and that's admirable. Only one question: Who offers that award and where can you find one?

Ah, that's why I'm here

There's a long and checkered list to it, and it starts in 1964 when linemen were recognized with the Outstanding Blocker of the Year award by a newly formed civic club in Wisconsin. Then, in 1967, the NFL Players’ Association began polling its members and holding an annual banquet to honor the winners.

That award ran until the 1999 season.

In 1970, the Wisconsin Chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association started recognizing an Offensive Lineman of the Year, while Football Digest added its own award in 1973, chosen by the magazine’s editors. The Seagram’s Seven-sponsored award debuted in 1974, determined by a poll of NFL assistant coaches.

The NFL Alumni Association also got involved in 1982, naming an NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year through the 2010 season. Then in 2015, the analytics site, Pro Football Focus introduced what it dubbed as "The Bruce Matthews Award," given to the highest-graded offensive lineman. It's the only current offensive lineman of the year award from what could be considered a recognized organization.

However, none of those citations were (or are) as widely recognized as, say, the MVP or Offensive or Defensive Player-of-the-Year awards. Furthermore, unless you're a hardcore NFL fan or historian, you probably didn't know they existed. Granted, the motives were pure and the methodology of selections legitimate, but none of the awards ever got much notice. 

In the mid-1980s the NFLPA struck a deal with USA Today, and there was a two-three-page spread featuring the winners and voting results. That's about as big as any of these awards ever got, with most people not knowing they existed or were discontinued. You had to dig through NFL media guides to find them, and putting together a complete list took a lot of work.

Trust me, I know. I did it, stopping by the NFLPA offices in Washington, D.C., to fill in some gaps. 

But it was then that I learned that its awards had been canceled because the NFLPA couldn't find a sponsor for its charity dinner. I suggested it keep the polling and publish the awards on the Internet, but my suggestion was declined. And that was that.

Or so I thought. But now NFL writer Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News has an intriguing idea, naming a "John Madden Award" for offensive linemen, which feels fitting given Madden’s legacy and his love for blockers. If that were endorsed, maybe it could be tied to the NFL, with the winner added to the annual NFL Honors show. Then it would have the gravitas it lacked in the past and give it something previous awards lacked -- staying power.

Plus, it would provide an extra accolade for players to display on their walls or trophy shelves and could support a Hall-of-Fame hopeful's case. Imagine a voter saying, "He went to five Pro Bowls and was twice named winner of the annual John Madden Award for Offensive Linemen." 

Don't laugh. That happened with the NFLPA award. When Rams' tackle Jackie Slater was presented as a finalist to Hall voters, he was cited for his four NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year nods. If that could happen again, it would be a positive ... at least in my mind. 

"I think it would be cool, for sure," Chiefs' center Creed Humphrey said this week in New Orleans. "Offensive line guys don't get too many awards. To be able to set up something like that would be really cool."

Finally, in case you're not familiar with the previous NFL or NFC/AFC Offensive Lineman of the Year Award winners, here they are:

NFLPA Offensive Lineman of the Year

Based on votes cast by NFL Players

1967—Forrest Gregg, T, Packers (NFL).

1968—Bob Brown, T, Eagles (NFL).

1969—Bob Brown, T, Rams (NFL); Jim Tyrer, T, Chiefs (AFL).

1970—Larry Little, G, Dolphins (AFC); Bob Brown, T, Rams (NFC).

1971—Larry Little, G, Dolphins (AFC); Gale Gillingham, G, Packers (NFC).

1972—Larry Little, G, Dolphins (AFC); Rayfield Wright, T, Cowboys- NFC(NFC).

1973—Gene Upshaw, G, Raiders (AFC); Ron Yary, T, Vikings - NFC(NFC).

1974—Gene Upshaw, G, Raiders (AFC); Ron Yary, T, Vikings (NFC).

1975—Joe DeLamielleure, G, Bills (AFC); Ron Yary, T, Vikings (NFC).

1976—George Kunz, T, Colts (AFC); Dan Dierdorf, T, Cardinals (NFC).

1977—Art Shell, T, Raiders (AFC); Dan Dierdorf, T, Cardinals (NFC).

1978—John Hannah, G, Patriots (AFC); Dan Dierdorf, T, Cardinals (NFC).

1979—John Hannah, G, Patriots (AFC); Doug France, T, Rams (NFC).

1980—Leon Gray, T, Oilers (AFC); Jeff Van Note, C, Falcons  (NFC).

1981—John Hannah, G, Patriots (AFC); Mike Kenn, T, Falcons (NFC).

1982—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals (AFC); Mike Kenn, T, Falcons (NFC).

1983—Dwight Stephenson, C, Dolphins (AFC); Jackie Slater, T, Rams (NFC).

1984—Dwight Stephenson, C, Dolphins( AFC); Russ Grimm, G, Redskins (NFC).

1985—Dwight Stephenson, C, Dolphins (AFC); Jimbo Covert, T, Bears NFC).

1986—Dwight Stephenson, C, Dolphins (AFC); Jackie Slater, T, Rams (NFC).

1987—Dwight Stephenson, C, Dolphins (AFC); Jackie Slater, T, Rams (NFC).

1988—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals (AFC); Gary Zimmerman, T, Vikings (NFC).

1989—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals(AFC); Jackie Slater, T, Rams (NFC).

1990—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals (AFC); Jim Lachey, T, Redskins (NFC).

1991—Steve Wisniewski, G, Raiders (AFC); Jim Lachey, T, Redskins (NFC).

1992—Bruce Matthews, C, Oilers (AFC); Randall McDaniel, G, Vikings (NFC).

1993—(tied) Richmond Webb, T, Dolphins, Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers (AFC); Randall McDaniel, G, Vikings (NFC).

1994—Richmond Webb, T, Dolphins - AFC Willie Roaf, T, Saints (NFC).

1995—Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers - AFC Willie Roaf, T, Saints (NFC).

1996—Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers (AFC); Larry Allen, G, Cowboys (NFC).

1997—Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers (AFC); Larry Allen, G, Cowboys (NFC).

1998—Tony Boselli, T, Jaguars (AFC); Larry Allen, T, Cowboys (NFC).

1999—Tony Boselli, T, Jaguars (AFC); Larry Allen, G, Cowboys (NFC).

The NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year

Based on votes cast by members of the NFL Alumni Association

1982—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals.

1983—Mike Webster, C,  Steelers.

1984—John Hannah, G, Patriots.

1985—Dwight Stephenson, C, Dolphins.

1986—Bill Fralic, T, Falcons.

1987—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals.

1988—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals.

1989—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals.

1990—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals.

1991—Jim Lachey, T, Redskins.

1992—Randall McDaniel, G, Vikings.

1993—Bruce Matthews, C, Oilers.

1994—Nate Newton, G, Cowboys.

1995—Willie Roaf, T, Saints.

1996—Dermontti Dawson, C, Steelers.

1997— Larry Allen, G, Cowboys.

1999—Tony Boselli, T, Jaguars 

2000— Bruce Matthews, G, Titans.

2001—Kevin Mawae, C, Jets.

2002—Jonathan Ogden, T, Ravens.

2003—Tom Nalen, C, Broncos.

2004—Alan Faneca, G, Steelers.

2005—Walter Jones, T, Seahawks.

2006—Steve Hutchinson, G, Vikings

2007—Jeff Saturday, C, Colts.

2008— Alan Faneca, G, Jets.

2009—Steve Hutchinson, G, Vikings.

2010—Josh Sitton, G, Packers.

National 1,000 Yard Club NFL Outstanding Blocker of the Year

1964—Jim Parker, G, Colts.

1965—Forrest Gregg, T, Packers.

1966—Bob Brown, T, Eagles.

1967—Jerry Kramer, G, Packers.

1968—Gene Hickerson, G, Browns.

1969—Mick Tingelhoff, C, Vikings

1970—Jim Otto, C, Raiders.

1971—Walt Sweeney, G, Chargers,

1972—Larry Little, G, Dolphins.

1973—Buffalo Bills Offensive Line

1974—Ray Mansfield, C, Steelers.

1975—Ron Yary, T, Vikings.

1976—Gene Upshaw, G, Raiders and Len Hauss, C, Redskins.

1977—Chicago Bears Offensive Line.

PFWA Wisconsin Chapter

Forrest Gregg Award  (NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year)

Based on vote of PFWA members

1970—Gale Gillingham, G, Packers.

1971—John Niland, G, Cowboys.

1972—Larry Little, G, Dolphins.

1973—Reggie McKenzie, G, Bills.

1974—Ron Yary, T, Vikings.

1975—Dan Dierdorf, T, Cardinals.

1976—Joe DeLamielleure, G, Bills.

1977—Russ Washington, T, Chargers.

1978—Mick Tingelhoff, C, Vikings.

1979—John Hannah, G, Patriots.

1980—Leon Gray, T, Oilers.

1981—Mike Webster, C, Steelers.

1982—Marvin Powell, T, Jets.

Football Digest Offensive Lineman of the Year

Chosen by magazine's editors

1973—Ron Yary, T, Vikings.

1974—Larry Little, G, Dolphins.

1975—Dan Dierdorf, T, Cardinals.

1976—John Hannah, G, Patriots.

1977—Art Shell, T, Raiders.

1978—John Hannah, G, Patriots.

1979—John Hannah, G, Patriots.

1980—John Hannah, G, Patriots.

1981—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals.

1982—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals.

1983—John Hannah, G, Patriots.

1984—Russ Grimm, G, Redskins.

Seagram's Seven Crowns of Sports NFL Awards Offensive Lineman of the Year

Based on vote of NFL assistant coaches

1974—Rayfield Wright, T, Cowboys.

1975—Dan Dierdorf, T, Cardinals.

1976—George Kunz, T, Colts.

1977—George Kunz, T, Colts.

1978—John Hannah, G, Patriots.

1979—Leon Gray, T, Oilers.

1980—John Hannah, G, Patriots.

1981—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals.

1982—Marvin Powell, T, Jets.

1983—Dwight Stephenson, C, Dolphins.

1984—Dwight Stephenson, C, Dolphins.

1985—Dwight Stephenson, C, Dolphins.

1986—Anthony Munoz, T, Bengals.

Pro Football Focus Bruce Matthews Award -  Best Offensive Lineman

Based on the site's highest-graded offensive lineman

2015—Joe Thomas, T, Browns.

2016—Marshal Yanda, G, Ravens.

2017—David DeCastro, G, Steelers.

2018—Mitchell Schwartz, T, Chiefs

2019—Brandon Brooks, G, Eagles.

2020—Trent Williams, T, 49ers.

2021—Trent Williams, T, 49ers.

2022—Lane Johnson, T, Eagles.

2023—Penei Sewell, T, Lions.

2024—Jordan Mailata, T, Eagles.