Tristan Wirfs can be taken for granted sometimes. I do it. I think many people do. He walked into the NFL in 2020 as a rookie and established himself as a top 10 tackle in the NFL from the jump. Over the following two seasons he turned that top 10 status to top five. Over his first three seasons, among qualifying tackles he ranked 9th, 6th and 7th by Pro Football Focus’ grading metrics as he played at his natural position of right tackle. Looking at just pass protection those ranks improve to 10th, 5th and 4th, respectively.

Bucs LT Tristan Wirfs – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Over that time period Tristan Wirfs allowed just 45 pressures in 2,348 pass blocking reps. That’s a minuscule pressure rate allowed of just 1.9%! Then in 2023 the Bucs asked him to move from right tackle to left. The transition was far from a guaranteed success in theory. Some players are naturally dominant on one side and cannot train their bodies to mirror to the other. It did not seem to affect Tristan Wirfs in the least.

His 83.1 PFF grade in 2023 on the left side was identical to his 2022 grade on the right. He did allow a bit more pressure, 24 pressures on 777 pass block snaps for a 3.1% rate, but it was still one of best rates in football. Among all tackles with at least 550 pass block snaps last year, Tristan Wirfs allowed the third lowest number of pressures.

And in his second year on the left side, Tristan Wirfs is once again leveling up. He is currently ranked fifth overall by PFF in pass block grade at 86.6. If that number holds it will be the best overall grade of his career. His 92.7 pass block grade from the evaluation site would also be a career high.

His seven pressures surrendered in 434 pass block snaps creates a pressure rate allowed of just 1.6%. That is below the obscene standard he set over his first three seasons on the right side. But Wirfs is also ascending as a run blocker this year. He plays a critical role in Tampa Bay’s suddenly dominant rushing attack that currently ranks eight in yards per game and ninth in EPA/rush. Wirfs was recently named by offensive line analyst Brandon Thorn a mid-season first team All-Pro by his evaluation methods.

And Tristan Wirfs does all of this with little-to-no-help. For years, Bucs offensive coordinators have left him on an island with very little help from tight ends or running backs.

offensive tackle island rate and performance when on an island pic.twitter.com/sVwTRx9ZKa

— Timo Riske (@PFF_Moo) November 21, 2024

In short, Wirfs has become the most dominant left tackle in football.

The Block By Tristan Wirfs

That brings us to the Bucs’ week 13 victory on the road against Carolina. Down six, midway through the fourth quarter on third and six, the Bucs dialed up a perimeter screen to receiver Sterling Sheperd. And Wirfs does the most beautiful thing you can ever imagine.

Block of the year candidate right here by Tristan Wirfs.

4th quarter on a bum knee lol. This is the kind of stuff that only the true OL freaks can pull off pic.twitter.com/YjRu7H3VVt

— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 4, 2024

Carolina safety Jordan Fuller correctly read out the play and was driving down on Sheperd to make a tackle for a loss when Wirfs sends him clear into South Carolina with one of the most physically devastating blocks any of us will see in our lifetimes. It helped spring Sheperd for a first down that eventually led to a go-ahead touchdown.

A fully healthy lineman pulling this off would be impressive. But considering Tristan Wirfs is not far removed from an MCL sprain, in his first game back no less, makes it all the more special. We shouldn’t be surprised that someone as physically gifted as him with the core body strength to jump out of pools can execute a high-level clear out on the move against a speeding target. But we should also not take it for granted. This is Trent Williams type stuff from someone who is just entering the prime of his career.

It’s no coincidence that the Bucs winning window coincided with Tristan Wirfs’ arrival. He has been an integral part of their largely successful offense over the past five years. And given his current trajectory we may not even be able to imagine what the ceiling is for his performance. But we should enjoy it. This block is just the latest, although perhaps the greatest, in a long line of impressive blocks from the future Hall-of-Famer. So take it in.