2025 NFL HONORS: Who won the league’s biggest awards?

On By Littum

Before Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles meet at Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans for the Super Bowl Lix (Sunday at 6 pm one, FOX), gathered the best of NFL on the nearby Saenger Theater for Thursday’s NFL Heading Certificate.

Here’s a look at who took the prices home and why:

MVP

Josh Allen | QB | Buffalo Bills

Allen has defied the odds of winning his first MVP award and became the third player to receive it, despite not being named First Team All-Pro since the award was given in 1957.

In so many ways, Allen played a crucial role in the bills that won 13 games and went on to the AFC championship.

The seventh year quarterback made it a priority to turn the ball less and end with a career-low six interceptions and two fumbles with them the only turnover the violation had. He still played his signature style – rushing after 12 touchdowns and threw 28 – and led an offense that tied an NFL record with 13 players caught touchdowns. He extended his own NFL record for consecutive seasons with 40 passers -by/rushing touchdowns (five).

“Josh Allen’s leadership, his consistent leadership, was the biggest reason we did what we did this season,” said coach Sean McDermott. “So anyone who tries to say otherwise, I know better. I’ve seen it.” — Alaina Getzenberg

Coach of the Year

Kevin O’Connell | Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings went into 2024, who expected to win 6.5 games, according to ESPN Analytics – their lowest projected victory in total for at least a decade. The lowered expectations were largely because O’Connell and the rest of the team’s decision makers had launched a quarterback transition from Kirk Cousins ​​to Sam Darnold, with Rookie JJ McCarthy, who rose from a season-ending knee injury. O’Connell urged players to look past these expectations and express his confidence that the team was in better position to compete than the public understood. The result: They exceeded that win in total in week 9.

In the process, O’Connell became the second coach in the NFL story to produce two seasons of 13 or more wins in his first three seasons. The Vikings went 9-1 in one-score games and raised O’Connell’s career record in such games to 26-9. His .743 victory percentage in these games is higher than any coach in the NFL story except Guy Chamberlin, a Hall of Fame player/coach from the 1920s. — Kevin Seifert

Defensive rookie of the year

Jared verse | Kant | Los Angeles Rams

Verse was Rams’ first choice of the first round since 2016, and election # 19 had an influence in his rookie season for a defense that played without recently retired star Aaron Donald. Verses, a rookie from Florida State, had 4.5 sacks, 66 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recovery. He was Rams’ Lone Pro Bowl selection, something defensive coordinator Chris Shula said shows “how much he affects and affects the game.” Verses ranked fourth in NFL in Quarterback -Press. His 76 pressure was 20 more than the next rookie on the list. Shula called Verse a “real three-down player” and praised his growth from the start of the season through Rams’ playoffs.

“He is an exciting guy who has a great charisma,” said head coach Sean McVay. “He has a great toughness about himself. I think he continues to use all these experiences as he matures and grows.”

Verse was one of two Rams finalists for defensive rookie of the year and joined their second round, defensive tackle, DT Braden Fiske, in the category. — Sarah Barshop

This year’s comeback player

Joe Burrow | QB | Cincinnati Bengals

When the season started, there were many questions about how Joe Burrow would respond from a seasonal ending injury in 2023. Burrow jumped the scapholunate ligament in his caste. During his recovery process, he was unable to find another quarterback or pitcher that had that harm. It took some time, but not only played Burrow well in 2024, he ended up having the best season of his career.

He led the league in passers -by yards (4,918) and passers -by touchdowns (43) and ended in third place in total QBR (74.7). Burrow joins Chad Pennington as the only player who won the award twice since it was reinstated in 1998. Burrow won the honor in 2021 by leading Bengals to an AFC North title and a Super Bowl-Kaj after suffering a season ending knee injury its rookie season. In December, Burrow said he would be proud to win this year’s comeback player another time.

“It’s not exactly a price you want to be ready for,” Burrow said. “But if you’re ready for it, you might as well try to win it.” — Leg baby

This year’s offensive player

Saquon Barkley | Rb | Philadelphia Eagles

Barkley has one of the best seasons for a running back in the NFL story.

He became the ninth player who reached 2,000 rushing yards and ended only 100 meters shy for Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record (2,105) after Eagles chose to rest their starters in the regular season finale against Giants. Barkley has seven 60-Plus Yard Touchdown races, the most ever in a single season. During their week 5, Eagles decided to become a more basic, Barkley-centered violation and continued to rattle of 10 straight wins on the way to a 14-3 record.

“I want to say he exceeded expectations, but he has always been one of the best players I’ve ever seen every time I’ve seen him and I’ve always known what kind of person he is because It’s not hard to find it out, “said general manager Howie Roseman.

“So I’m really not surprised at any of this, and I don’t say that in an arrogant way, it’s based on who he is, nothing to do with me, because that’s the one he has always been.” — Tim McManus

Defender of the Year

PAT SURTAIN II | CB | Denver Broncos

Whether it was simply the eye test or a whirl of analysis, choose your choice. In any case, Surtain was ridiculously good all season. He matched a who is who of recipients, and yes’marr chases three receptions in 27 yards (on 43 routes against surtain) and DK Metcalf’s three catches in 29 yards (on 24 routes) were the best some did against these Star Wideouts.

According to the NFL NEXT Gen Stats, SurTain surrendered the fewest receiving yards (306) of anyone in his position this season (at least 375 coverage button), allowed the second lowest pass rating when they were targeted and had the lowest expected points added per year. Measure (minus-0.43). He tied his career high in interceptions (four) and led the league in the interception rights yard (132). As Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph said “Pat is at the center of everything we do … He gives us a chance that a lot of defense has not, we can dictate some things just know where we set him up. ” – Jeff Legwold

This year’s offensive rookie

Jayden Daniels | QB | Washington commanders

Jayden Daniels set one record after another – from early in the season until late.

He became only the sixth rookie -quarterback to lead his team to a conference championship game – the previous five played all with defense ranked in the top three; Washington was 18. He was the NFL’s fourth ranked passersby in Total QBR and threw for 25 touchdowns (15 came in his last five full matches) with only nine elections, and he ran in six scores. Daniels led five winning drives, including one in the playoffs; Three ended with Touchdown -Pass. And he threw more touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and overtime (12) than any rookie in history.

In September, he became the first quarterback in the NFL story, which completed at least 85% of his throws in consecutive matches. — John Keim

Assistant coach of the year

Ben Johnson | Detroit Lions | Offensive coordinator

Johnson, now head coach of Chicago Bears, was a big part of the Lions’ record set season in 2024, winning a franchise-best 15 matches while serving NFC’s No. 1 Seed and another consecutive NFC North Title.

Johnson is widely respected by his players for his offensive brilliance and creative playcalling. Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was impressed with Johnson’s knowledge of the game.

“I talk to him a lot on the side when we’re not insulting. He just breaks down some things for me and some things I never knew to play the game,” Williams said. “But it’s different. It’s a little different. He played the game but some people have a passion for coaching and once they get a sense of the game and understand the game very well it will be easy. You know what to call for a particular defense. Eric Woodyard