It’s safe to say that after five NFL seasons, Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs is on his way to earning a gold jacket and an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There’s still a long ways to go and plenty of football to be played by Tristan Wirfs, but it’s been an eventful start.
An offensive lineman building a Hall of Fame resume is an interesting one. There’s not as many stats or tangible traits for those to look at or compare to with others at the position. Many of the time, offensive lineman get All-Pros and other awards based on previously built reputations. It’s tough to get into that inner circle of widely known and renowned offensive linemen in the league, but once a player is in, they pretty much stay there for the entirety of their career.
Luckily, Wirfs has quickly moved up the ranks as one of the best tackles in the league. He has the All-Pro’s and Pro Bowls to prove it, but he’ll have another opportunity to add to his bragging rights.
New NFL Award Could Help Tristan Wirfs
There were many news and notes coming out of the NFL meetings that took place in Minnesota. An announcement that came out of it from NFL Executive Troy Vincent was that there is going to be an “Protector Of The Year” Award that will be given out at the end of each season to the best offensive lineman.
NFL executive Troy Vincent announces a new end-of-the-year award — “Protector of the Year” — to recognize best offensive lineman each year.
Credit to Dion Dawkins and others for championing this cause.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 21, 2025
It’s a long overdue and deserving award for offensive lineman, who often get overlooked and don’t have stats that would ever put them in discussions like MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.
What will be interesting is who wins the inaugural award and goes down in history as the first lineman to win the award. It’s a high possibility that Wirfs can win the award. It wold catapult him even more up the Hall of Fame ranks if he won in the first year of the award’s existence, though would still be important if he wins it at any point in his career.
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
There’s a chance that the NFL could use the first year of this award as sort of a lifetime achievement award for long tenured lineman that have name recognition but will be out the league in a year or two. Trent Williams, who’s heading into his 15th season and Lane Johnson, who is entering his 13th season, are two players that come to mind. But with Wirfs’ skillset and ability, you can never rule him out of being in the conversation.
Tristan Wirfs Has Had An Amazing Start With Bucs
From immediately holding his own as a rookie at right tackle without any preseason games due to the pandemic and eventually winning Super Bowl LV, to moving to left tackle and continuing to thrive despite getting out of his comfort zone, Tristan Wirfs is on the road to the Hall of Fame.
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs and RB Rachaad White – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Wirfs became the first player in league history to earn First-Team All-Pro honors at both left and right tackle. Literally nobody else in the NFL can say they did that as well. So why not have Wirfs also say he’s the only player to win the Protector Of The Year award? He’s also coming from a great offense.
The Bucs had top-five offense in the NFL for a variety of reasons. This included a career year from Baker Mayfield, another 1,000-yard season from Mike Evans and a revived run game — featuring 1,000-yard rusher Bucky Irving — being among them. But the elite play of the Buccaneer offensive line can’t go unnoticed, and that’s a unit that has predictably been led by their left tackle and team captain.
Wirfs, who was also voted by his peers as an NFLPA All-Pro this week, has the lowest pressure rate allowed among all offensive tackles this season at just 2.0% (according to Pro Football Focus). With a league-leading 93.7 pass-blocking grade and zero sacks allowed over 638 pass-blocking snaps, Wirfs was also named a PFF award winner as the NFL’s best pass-blocker in 2024.
Bucs RT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
The four-time Pro Bowler was rewarded well this past offseason with a long-term contract extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in football. The five-year, $140.63 million deal will keep Wirfs in Tampa Bay through 2029, and it’s a good thing, too, as he’s exactly the type of player and person a team dreams of having as a franchise cornerstone — especially at the left tackle position.
There is already tons of excitement for the Bucs in 2025. The possibility of new award for Wirfs adds to it.