Tom Krasovic: 'Control-Alt-Delete' key to Chargers' Super Bowl chances

Tom Krasovic, The San Diego Union-Tribune on Sep 17, 2025

Published in Football

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

SAN DIEGO — Because the NFL MVP award goes to a quarterback in most years, as it should, there’s also an award for Offensive Player of the Year.

No blocker ever won that honor, however. So in March, the NFL created the NFL Protector of the Year award.

Shouts of “about time!” emanated in the football heavens from the likes of Vince Lombardi, Chuck Noll, John Madden, Bill Walsh and Tom Landry.

It’s not too early to hype up the inaugural race.

Among the top contenders are these tackles: the Eagles’ Lane Johnson, 35, the 49ers’ Trent Williams, 37, and the Lions’ Penei Sewell, 24.

Each one has landed on multiple All-Pro first teams. Johnson and Williams were the best players on a Super Bowl club or two. Sewell did a lot to rescue quarterback Jared Goff’s career and transform the pitiful Lions into annual Super Bowl contenders.

Tristan Wirfs, for sure, belongs in the same class.

The Buccaneers’ tackle, never missing a snap in 20 games, was pivotal to Tampa’s Super Bowl-winning season five years ago as a rookie. Whatever Whirfs, 26, wants in the way of a new vehicle, or even a new home, Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield should foot the bill for it.

Keep an eye on a young Southern Californian, too.

Joe Alt has a shot here, and that’s kind of nuts, as Alt’s only 22, and his start in Monday night’s 20-9 win over the Raiders was just the 19th of his NFL career.

His catchy nickname — Control-Alt-Delete — earns style points. In substance, Alt is the biggest reason Justin Herbert may be headed to his best season — and not only because Alt’s 6-foot-8 1/2 and 322 pounds.

“I’m telling you, Joe Alt, watch what he does this year,” said Greg Roman, the Chargers’ offensive coordinator, early in training camp. “He’s on his way to being a special, special player.”

Alt had a fine rookie season last year. In this season’s first game, a victory over the Chiefs in which Herbert played very well, Alt indeed showed improvement in allowing no hurries or hits in 41 pass-blocking snaps.

But that wasn’t all. The shutout came at left tackle, where Alt moved after Rayshawn Slater suffered a season-ending injury on Aug. 7.

It’s not a stretch to think Alt, who played mostly left tackle at Notre Dame but spent his rookie year at right tackle, has preserved the Chargers’ bid for the Super Bowl by pulling off the position change so well.

Well over 20 other QBs would love to have an Alt take over at left tackle for their team.

It’s hard to overstate how fortunate the Chargers were to lose their way into the fifth pick of the 2024 draft, enabling coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Joe Hortiz to select Alt.

No disrespect to Marvin Harrison Jr., the Ohio State receiver who went fourth to the Cardinals as the first non-QB taken. But Harbaugh and Hortiz, given their backgrounds, likely viewed Alt as an easy choice of all the non-QBs.

A former NFL quarterback, Harbaugh has shown throughout his coaching career that he appreciates the value of blockers and linemen in general more than many team-builders do. Hortiz spent most of his career with the Ravens, a franchise that’s dedicated to building strong lines on both sides.

Entering this year’s draft, none of the tackle prospects earned grades as high as Alt’s from the analysts connected to NFL teams. Arguing for a smoother transition to the NFL, Alt’s father, John, was a longtime Chiefs left tackle who reached two Pro Bowls.

If Herbert prospers, he’ll generate some attention for the NFL’s MVP award.

Just don’t forget about the large man who protects his blind side and improves the odds of a good rookie season from running back Omarion Hampton.

____