San Francisco 49ers tackle Trent Williams delivered another standout season, proving that even at 37, he remains one of the NFL's elite offensive linemen.
Williams earned a 91.5 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF) for the 2025 season, ranking third among all offensive linemen. His 92.8 run-blocking grade was second only to Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell. Despite these impressive numbers, Williams was not named a finalist for the NFL's inaugural Protector of the Year award.
The award, set to be presented at NFL Honors, recognizes the league's most outstanding offensive lineman each season.
Protector of the Year finalists:
- Garett Bolles, tackle, Denver Broncos
- Aaron Brewer, center, Miami Dolphins
- Creed Humphrey, center, Kansas City Chiefs
- Quinn Meinerz, guard, Denver Broncos
- Penei Sewell, tackle, Detroit Lions
- Joe Thuney, guard, Chicago Bears
The only potential blemish on Williams' 2025 season was his pass-blocking grade of 79.9. According to PFF, he allowed 32 pressures and four sacks. That grade marked his second-lowest in the past 12 seasons and ranked 17th among NFL offensive linemen, but wasn't far behind Penei Sewell's 80.3 grade in the same category.
The 49ers tackle played in 17 games this season and earned both Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, further cementing his reputation as one of the league's premier blockers.
According to NFL Communications, the judging panel evaluated players using the following criteria while determining the finalists for the annual award:
- Quality of competition (quality and consistency of defensive fronts faced)
- Availability to teammates (presence on the field, leadership)
- Durability (ability to meet the physical demands of the season)
- Weekly consistency (sustained performance across the full schedule)
- Video validation (film review confirming execution, technique, and situational impact)
- Football analytics (advanced metrics tied to pass protection, run blocking, discipline, and team efficiency)
While Williams didn't make the final cut, his 2025 campaign reaffirmed his status as one of the NFL's top offensive linemen and a cornerstone of the 49ers' offensive line.
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