Detroit Lions Shut Out at NFL Honors, Penei Sewell Snubbed

Lions right tackle Penei Sewell was a finalist for the new Protector of the Year award but lost out to Bears guard Joe Thuney.

Feb. 5, 2026 at 9:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Detroit Lions were nominees for three different awards at the 2025 NFL Honors, but none of their players walked away as winners. While it wasn't a surprise that Aidan Hutchinson lost out on Defensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year, the biggest snub of the night was Penei Sewell losing the inaugural Protector of the Year award to Bears guard Joe Thuney.

Why it matters

The Lions' lack of recognition at the NFL Honors highlights the ongoing challenges the team faces in gaining national attention, even when they have elite-level talent like Sewell on the offensive line. The Protector of the Year award snub is particularly frustrating, as Sewell was statistically one of the best offensive tackles in the league.

The details

Hutchinson finished second in Comeback Player of the Year voting behind 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, while Garrett Garrett was the unanimous choice for Defensive Player of the Year. But the biggest disappointment was Sewell losing out on the new Protector of the Year award to Thuney, despite Sewell's dominant season in pass protection and run blocking.

  • The 2025 NFL Honors ceremony took place on February 6, 2026.

The players

Penei Sewell

The Detroit Lions' standout right tackle, who was a finalist for the inaugural Protector of the Year award.

Joe Thuney

The Chicago Bears' guard, who won the first-ever Protector of the Year award over Sewell.

Aidan Hutchinson

The Detroit Lions' defensive end, who was a finalist for both Defensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

Myles Garrett

The Cleveland Browns' defensive end, who won the Defensive Player of the Year award after setting the NFL single-season sack record.

Christian McCaffrey

The San Francisco 49ers' running back, who won the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Now, admittedly, it's impossibly hard to compare two players at two entirely different positions. Additionally, I don't want to take anything away from Thuney—a three-time First Team All-Pro player and a four-time Super Bowl champion. However, this does feel like it's more of a legacy award for a player who has been playing at a very high level for a decade.”

— Jeremy Reisman, Author (yahoo.com)

The takeaway

The Lions' shutout at the 2025 NFL Honors, particularly the Protector of the Year snub for Penei Sewell, underscores the ongoing challenges the team faces in gaining national recognition, even when they have elite-level talent on their roster. This serves as a reminder that the Lions must continue to prove themselves on the field in order to earn the respect and accolades their players deserve.