Broncos have two finalists for NFL’s inaugural Protector of the Year Award

The Denver Broncos had a great offensive line once again this year.

And two key members of that unit are up for some hardware at NFL Honors next month.

The Broncos announced on Thursday that both left tackle Garett Bolles and guard Quinn Meinerz are finalists for the NFL’s inaugural Protector of the Year Award.

Dominant up front. 😤

Congrats to @gbolles72 and Quinn Meinerz on being named finalists for the Protector of the Year award! pic.twitter.com/MxFh4Ogt4l

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 29, 2026

The award, which will be presented annually beginning on Feb. 5, recognizes excellence along the offensive line by honoring the league’s most outstanding lineman and is determined by a selection committee of NFL Legends.

It’s cool that the league added this award, recognizing offensive lineman who are so critical in keeping their QB upright. There are plenty of honors for skill position players, so the NFL got this one right but beginning to hand out Protector of the Year.

Bolles earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press for the first time in his career this season. According to Pro Football Focus, he was 1-of-2 tackles with at least 1,000 snaps this season to not allow a sack.

Meinerz also earned first-team All-Pro recognition from the AP and was named to his first career Pro Bowl in 2025. This season, his 4.4 quarterback pressure percentage tied for the best mark among guards with at least 575 pass blocking snaps while his two sacks allowed were the fewest at his position, per NextGen Stats.

There’s no doubt both Bolles and Meinerz are worthy candidates to take this home. One of them could join defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who’s up for NFL assistant of the year, as a big winner next week.

Announcing the finalists for the inaugural Protector of the Year Award.

The award recognizes the NFL’s most outstanding lineman over a single season, chosen by an elite committee of NFL Legends. pic.twitter.com/edw6lxuj15

— NFL (@NFL) January 29, 2026

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