Dion Dawkins, the always outspoken offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills, now has concrete evidence of making his voice heard.
When the NFL announced Wednesday at the Spring League Meeting that it will debut the Protector of the Year award for the league's best offensive lineman during the 2025 season, executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent specially made sure to credit Dawkins as an instrumental figure in bringing the need for such an honor to the fore.
In recent years, Dawkins consistently championed providing some type of recognition to offensive linemen, who make the whole game go despite widespread underappreciation. He even took it upon himself to speak to commissioner Roger Goodell about the issue.
As he has so often protecting Josh Allen or blocking for Buffalo's venerated run game, Dawkins found traction. His and others' words took hold, and the new award is something that will last beyond whenever the O-lineman's prolific career comes to and end.
"It's very cool that my domino piece makes noise when it falls," Dawkins said, via The Athletic's Tim Graham. "Just to be a regular kid from Jersey, go to Temple, be a second-round pick to Buffalo, to having a voice so big that it reaches all 32 teams and then some.
"This is a part of my legacy now, and I stand on it."
The eventual recipient of the award in the upcoming season will be determined by a panel made up of six former All-Pro offensive linemen: LeCharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O'Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields and Andrew Whitworth.
And now that it's in play, next on Dawkins' docket is to try to go and win it.
Despite still seeking his first All-Pro selection, the 31-year-old possesses the track record to put capturing the honor within arm's reach in the coming years. He's never missed more than a single game in any of his eight seasons and is currently riding a streak for four consecutive Pro Bowls.
Regardless of whether or not he ever wins the award he helped make possible, though, Dawkins' name will -- at the very least -- remain forever linked to it.
"This Protector of the Year award is finally giving the big boys up front the respect we deserve," he said, per a release by the NFL regarding the award. "I've been knocking on doors and spearheading this movement because offensive linemen are the true foundation of every team's success. We might not have all the fancy stats as the skinnies or end up on a highlight reel every week, but without us, there's no rushing titles, passing titles, or touchdowns. This award is for all the unsung heroes who put in work every snap. I won't stop fighting to give offensive linemen the respect and recognition we deserve."
