Jacob Rodriguez Wins 2025 Lombardi Award™

 Rodriguez is the first player in Texas Tech history to claim the prestigious award.

HOUSTON – Texas Tech University linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has been named the recipient of the 2025 Lombardi Award™, presented to the nation’s best college football lineman or linebacker. Theannouncement was made Wednesday night at a ceremony held at the Hilton Americas–Houston indowntown Houston.

Rodriguez was selected from an elite group of four finalists that included David Bailey, Texas TechUniversity; Cashius Howell, Texas A&M University; and Kadyn Proctor, University of Alabama. 

This is an amazing honor. Everything that the Lombardi Award™ stands for is something very important to me, said 52nd Annual Lombardi Award Winner™, Jacob Rodriguez. 

Rodriguez becomes the first Lombardi Award™ winner in Texas Tech football history, further cementing a season that has placed him among the most accomplished linebackers in college football history. Earlier this week, he was also named the 2025 Butkus Award and Bronko Nagurski Award winner, honoring the nation’s top linebacker and top defender, respectively. He is also a candidate for the Heisman Trophy and a finalist for several other national awards.

Entering the postseason, Rodriguez has recorded 117 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven forcedfumbles, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries, leading all FBS defenders in forced fumbles.Since 2005, he is the only FBS player to record at least five forced fumbles, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in a single season. According to Pro Football Focus, Rodriguez is currently the highest-rated defensive player in college football, grading out at 93.4 overall this season.

Rodriguez, the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, has also contributed offensively as a Wildcat quarterback, becoming the only player nationally this season with both an offensive and defensive touchdown, including a 69-yard forced fumble return for a score against Oklahoma State. He has helped anchor a dominant Red Raider defense that ranks among the nation’s leaders in scoring defense, total defense, and takeaways.

The Lombardi Award™ honors the nation’s top college lineman or linebacker who displays exceptionalperformance and ability on the field and embodies the character and discipline that Vince Lombardichampioned throughout his life. 

The award has been presented annually in Houston since 1970. Just weeks after Coach Vince Lombardi'spassing that same year due to colon cancer, the Rotary Club of Houston established the award with theauthorization of his widow, Marie Lombardi, and his sister, Madeline Lombardi Werner. 

In accordance with the wishes of the Lombardi family, net proceeds from the awards gala sponsorships and table sales benefit cancer research and have raised more than $4 million since the award’s inception.