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The NFL announced on Wednesday at league meetings in Minnesota that it will be introducing the “Protector of the Year� Award, an honor that Dawkins has asked for in the past.

The award will be given to the league’s best offensive lineman, and it will be decided on by a panel that includes former standout offensive linemen.

In Minnesota, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Troy Vincent credited Dawkins, the Bills left tackle, and Andrew Whitworth, a former Rams and Bengals tackle, for promoting the idea.

“History was made today,� Dawkins posted on X. “Something that starting with an Idea and a Conversation and Now the ‘Protector Of The Year’ Award is Here and Here to Stay. Thank you to Everyone involved. Today WE made History.�

In late January at a news conference in Buffalo, Dawkins made his case for the award.

“Offensive linemen don’t have awards for being great,� Dawkins said at the time. “You know, there’s not a ‘Protector of the Year’ award. I’m knocking at so many doors now to get this award going. I’m gonna (spearhead) it and make sure that this gets done before I’m done playing.�

Dawkins was adamant that the success of other offensive players is a reflection of a strong offensive line, a group that has long been underrecognized.

“There’s so many greats,� Dawkins continued. “We have great quarterbacks, we have great running backs, we have rushing titles, we have quarterback passing titles – all those titles are reflections on the o-linemen, which are the protectors.�