Earlier than the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles meet at Caesars Superdome New Orleans for Tremendous Bowl LIX (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), the perfect of the NFL gathered at Saenger Theatre for Thursday’s NFL Honors.
Buffalo Payments quarterback Josh Allen delivered the most important shock of the ceremony by edging out Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson for NFL Most Priceless Participant. Eagles working again Saquon Barkley gained Offensive Participant of the 12 months in his first season in Philadelphia. Denver’s Patrick Surtain II is the primary cornerback in 5 years to seize Defensive Participant of the 12 months. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels accomplished one of the vital spectacular debut seasons with the Offensive Rookie of the 12 months award. Go-rusher Jared Verse turned the primary Rams participant since Aaron Donald in 2014 to win Defensive Rookie of the 12 months. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was voted Coach of the 12 months after his third season in Minnesota. And Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was Comeback Participant of the 12 months.
This is a take a look at who took house the awards and why:
MVP
Josh Allen | QB | Buffalo Payments
Allen has defied the percentages in successful his first MVP award, changing into the third participant to obtain it regardless of not being named first-team All-Professional because the award was first given in 1957.
In so some ways, Allen performed a vital position within the Payments successful 13 video games and advancing to the AFC Championship Sport.
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 model — 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 most important purpose why we did what we did this season,” coach Sean McDermott mentioned. “So, anyone that tries to say in any other case, I do know higher. I’ve seen it.” — Alaina Getzenberg
Coach of the 12 months
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 complete in at the very least a decade. The lowered expectations had been largely as a result of O’Connell and the remainder of the crew’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 crew was in higher place to compete than the general public understood. The consequence: They exceeded that win complete by Week 9.
Within the course of, O’Connell turned the second coach in NFL historical past to supply 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 12 months
Jared Verse | Edge | Los Angeles Rams
Verse was the Rams’ first first-round decide since 2016, and the No. 19 choice out of Florida State made an influence in his rookie season for a protection that was taking part in with out not too long ago 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 mentioned 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 subsequent rookie on the listing. 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 amazing charisma,” head coach Sean McVay mentioned. “He has an amazing toughness about himself. I believe he is persevering with to make use of all these experiences as he matures and grows.”
Verse was considered one of two Rams finalists for Defensive Rookie of the 12 months, becoming a member of their second-round decide, defensive deal with Braden Fiske, within the class. — Sarah Barshop
Comeback Participant of the 12 months
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 Whole 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 honour 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 mentioned he could be happy with successful Comeback Participant of the 12 months a second time.
“It isn’t precisely an award you wish to be up for,” Burrow mentioned. “However for those who’re up for it, you may as effectively attempt to win it.” — Ben Child
Offensive Participant of the 12 months
Saquon Barkley | RB | Philadelphia Eagles
Barkley is having among the finest seasons for a working again in NFL historical past.
He turned the ninth participant to succeed in 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 in a single season. The Eagles determined throughout their Week 5 bye to characteristic a extra ground-dependent, Barkley-centric offense, and so they proceeded to win 10 straight video games en path to a 14-3 file.
“I might prefer to say he is exceeded expectations, however he is at all times been among the finest gamers I’ve ever seen each time I’ve watched him, and I’ve at all times identified about what sort of individual he’s as a result of it is not exhausting to search out that out,” Eagles normal supervisor Howie Roseman mentioned.
“So I am actually not stunned by any of this, and I do not say that in an smug method, it is primarily based on who he’s, nothing to do with me, as a result of that is who he is at all times been.” — Tim McManus
Defensive Participant of the 12 months
Pat Surtain II | CB | Denver Broncos
Whether or not it was merely the attention check or a swirl of analytics, take your decide. By any measure, Surtain was ridiculously good all season. He matched up in opposition to 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 ranking 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 mentioned, “Pat is on the middle of all the pieces we do. … He offers us an opportunity plenty of defenses haven’t got. We will dictate some issues simply by the place we line him up.” — Jeff Legwold
Offensive Rookie of the 12 months
Jayden Daniels | QB | Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels set one file after one other throughout his first NFL season.
He turned solely the sixth rookie quarterback to steer his crew 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 complete 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 successful drives, together with one within the playoffs; three ended with landing passes. And he threw extra landing passes within the fourth quarter and additional time (12) than any rookie in historical past.
In September, he turned the primary quarterback in NFL historical past to finish at the very least 85% of his throws in consecutive video games. — John Keim
Assistant Coach of the 12 months
Ben Johnson | Detroit Lions | Offensive Coordinator
Johnson, who’s now the pinnacle coach of the Chicago Bears, was a giant a part of the Lions’ record-setting season in 2024, by 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 artistic playcalling. Lions large receiver Jameson Williams was impressed with Johnson’s data 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 mentioned. “Nevertheless it’s completely different. It is sort of completely different. He performed the sport, however some individuals 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 already know what to name for a sure protection. It is sort of like taking part in Madden.” — Eric Woodyard
