Earlier than the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles meet at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans for Tremendous Bowl LIX (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET, FOX), the perfect of the NFL gathered on the close by Saenger Theatre for Thursday’s NFL Honors.
This is a have a look at who took house the awards and why:
MVP
Josh Allen | QB | Buffalo Bills
Allen has defied the percentages in profitable his first MVP award, turning into the third participant to obtain it regardless of not being named first-team All-Professional for the reason that award was first given in 1957.
In so some ways, Allen performed a vital function within the Payments profitable 13 video games and advancing to the AFC Championship Recreation.
The seventh-year quarterback made it a precedence to show over the ball much less, ending with a career-low six interceptions and two fumbles with these the one turnovers the Payments’ offense had. He nonetheless performed his signature type — dashing for 12 touchdowns and throwing for 28 — and led an offense that tied an NFL file with 13 gamers catching landing passes. He prolonged his personal NFL file for consecutive seasons with 40 passing/dashing touchdowns (5).
“Josh Allen’s management, his constant management, was the largest purpose why we did what we did this season,” coach Sean McDermott stated. “So, anyone that tries to say in any other case, I do know higher. I’ve seen it.” — Alaina Getzenberg
Coach of the Yr
Kevin O’Connell | Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings entered 2024 projected to win 6.5 video games, in response to ESPN Analytics — their lowest projected win whole in no less than a decade. The lowered expectations had been largely as a result of O’Connell and the remainder of the staff’s decision-makers had launched a quarterback transition from Kirk Cousins to Sam Darnold, with rookie J.J. McCarthy recovering from a season-ending knee damage. O’Connell inspired gamers to look previous these expectations, expressing his confidence that the staff was in higher place to compete than the general public understood. The outcome: They exceeded that win whole by Week 9.
Within the course of, O’Connell turned the second coach in NFL historical past to provide two seasons of 13 or extra wins in his first three seasons. The Vikings went 9-1 in one-score video games, elevating O’Connell’s profession file in such video games to 26-9. His .743 win share in these video games is increased than each coach in NFL historical past besides Man Chamberlin, a Twenties-era Corridor of Fame participant/coach. — Kevin Seifert
Defensive Rookie of the Yr
Jared Verse | Edge | Los Angeles Rams
Verse was the Rams’ first first-round choose since 2016, and the No. 19 choice out of Florida State made an affect in his rookie season for a protection that was taking part in with out just lately retired star Aaron Donald. Verse had 4.5 sacks, 66 tackles, 2 compelled fumbles and a couple of fumble recoveries. He was the Rams’ lone Professional Bowl choice, one thing defensive coordinator Chris Shula stated exhibits “how a lot he influences and impacts the sport.” Verse ranked fourth within the NFL in quarterback pressures. His 76 pressures had been 20 greater than the following rookie on the checklist. Shula known as Verse a “true three-down participant” and praised his development from the beginning of the season by the Rams’ playoff run.
“He is an thrilling man that has an incredible charisma,” head coach Sean McVay stated. “He has an incredible toughness about himself. I believe he is persevering with to make use of all these experiences as he matures and grows.”
Verse was one in every of two Rams finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Yr, becoming a member of their second-round choose, defensive sort out Braden Fiske, within the class. — Sarah Barshop
Comeback Participant of the Yr
Joe Burrow | QB | Cincinnati Bengals
When the season began, there have been many questions on how Joe Burrow would reply from a season-ending damage in 2023. Burrow ruptured the scapholunate ligament in his throwing wrist. Throughout his restoration course of, he was unable to search out one other quarterback or perhaps a baseball pitcher who had that damage. It took a while, however not solely did Burrow play effectively in 2024, he ended up having the perfect season of his profession.
He led the league in passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43) and completed third in Complete QBR (74.7). Burrow joins Chad Pennington as the one gamers to win the award twice because it was reintroduced in 1998. Burrow gained the respect in 2021 by main the Bengals to an AFC North title and a Tremendous Bowl berth after struggling a season-ending knee damage his rookie season. In December, Burrow stated he could be happy with profitable Comeback Participant of the Yr a second time.
“It isn’t precisely an award you wish to be up for,” Burrow stated. “However if you happen to’re up for it, you may as effectively attempt to win it.” — Ben Child
Offensive Participant of the Yr
Saquon Barkley | RB | Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley is having probably the greatest seasons for a operating again in NFL historical past.
He turned the ninth participant to achieve 2,000 dashing yards and completed simply 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s single-season dashing file (2,105) after the Eagles opted to relaxation their starters within the regular-season finale in opposition to the Giants. Barkley has seven 60-plus yard landing runs, essentially the most ever in a single season. The Eagles determined throughout their Week 5 bye to change into a extra ground-dependent, Barkley-centric offense, and proceeded to rattle off 10 straight wins en path to a 14-3 file.
“I would wish to say he is exceeded expectations, however he is all the time been probably the greatest gamers I’ve ever seen at any time when I’ve watched him and I’ve all the time recognized about what sort of individual he’s as a result of it isn’t exhausting to search out that out,” stated normal supervisor Howie Roseman.
“So I am actually not stunned by any of this, and I do not say that in an smug method, it is based mostly on who he’s, nothing to do with me, as a result of that is who he is all the time been.” — Tim McManus
Defensive Participant of the Yr
Pat Surtain II | CB | Denver Broncos
Whether or not it was merely the attention check or a swirl of analytics, take your choose. By any measure, Surtain was ridiculously good all season. He matched up on a who’s who of receivers, and Ja’Marr Chase‘s three receptions for 27 yards (on 43 routes in opposition to Surtain) and DK Metcalf‘s three catches for 29 yards (on 24 routes) had been the perfect anybody did in opposition to these star wideouts.
Surtain, in response to NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, surrendered the fewest receiving yards (306) of anybody at his place this season (minimal 375 protection snaps), allowed the second-lowest passer score when focused and had the bottom anticipated factors added per goal (minus-0.43). He tied his profession excessive in interceptions (4) and led the league in interception return yards (132). As defensive coordinator Vance Joseph stated “Pat is on the middle of all the pieces we do … he offers us an opportunity quite a lot of defenses haven’t got, we will dictate some issues simply by the place we line him up.” — Jeff Legwold
Offensive Rookie of the Yr
Jayden Daniels | QB | Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels set one file after one other — from early within the season till late.
He turned solely the sixth rookie quarterback to steer his staff to a convention championship recreation — the earlier 5 all performed with defenses ranked within the high three; Washington was 18th. He rushed for extra yards (891) than another rookie quarterback in historical past and mixed that with 3,568 passing yards. He was the NFL’s fourth-ranked passer in whole QBR and threw for 25 touchdowns (15 coming in his final 5 full video games) with solely 9 picks, and he ran for six scores. Daniels led 5 profitable drives, together with one within the playoffs; three ended with landing passes. And he threw extra landing passes within the fourth quarter and extra time (12) than any rookie in historical past.
In September, he turned the primary quarterback in NFL historical past to finish no less than 85% of his throws in consecutive video games. — John Keim
Assistant Coach of the Yr
Ben Johnson | Detroit Lions | Offensive Coordinator
Johnson, who’s now the top coach of the Chicago Bears, was a giant a part of the Lions’ record-setting season in 2024, through which they gained a franchise-best 15 video games whereas incomes the NFC’s No. 1 seed and a second consecutive NFC North title.
Johnson is extensively revered by his gamers for his offensive brilliance and inventive playcalling. Lions vast receiver Jameson Williams was impressed with Johnson’s information of the sport.
“I discuss to him so much on the aspect after we’re not on offense. He simply breaks down some issues to me and a few issues I by no means knew taking part in the sport,” Williams stated. “Nevertheless it’s totally different. It is type of totally different. He performed the sport, however some folks have a ardour for teaching and as soon as they get a really feel for the sport, and perceive the sport very effectively, it turns into simple. You recognize what to name for a sure protection. It is type of like taking part in Madden.” — Eric Woodyard
