Tag: NFL awards

Buffalo Bills Dion Dawkins blocks for quarterback Josh Allen, behind him, who sneaks in for a touchdown during first half action at the Buffalo Bills divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 19, 2025.

NFL unveils new award: Protector of the Year

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL on Wednesday announced a new end-of-year annual honor that will be awarded to the league’s best offensive lineman, called Protector of the Year.

NFL executive Troy Vincent announced the award and credited Buffalo Bills four-time Pro Bowl lineman Dion Dawkins and retired two-time All-Pro Andrew Whitworth for pushing the idea.

“Recognize the big fellas,” Vincent said Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings in Eagan, Minn.

The winner will be decided by a panel that includes a number of former greats who played on the offensive line, Vincent said.

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) speaks with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) and quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) after the game during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley lead MVP finalists

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen got the better of Baltimore Ravens counterpart Lamar Jackson last Sunday when their respective teams battled in the AFC divisional round in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Named finalists for the Associated Press 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player award, Allen will hope to get the better of Jackson, fellow signal-callers Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) and Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) and running back Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) when the award is presented at the NFL Honors show on Feb. 6.

A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL completed voting before the beginning of the playoffs.

Allen, 28, threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns this season and rushed for 531 yards and 12 scores.

Jackson, 28, is vying for his third MVP award (2019, 2023). He threw for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns this season and rushed for 915 yards and four scores.

Burrow, 28, threw for NFL-best totals in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43).

Goff, 30, threw for 4,629 yards and 37 touchdowns this season.

Barkley, 27, rushed for a league-best 2,005 yards to go along with 13 touchdowns.

Barkley, Burrow and Jackson also joined Ravens running back Derrick Henry and Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase as finalists for the Offensive Player of the Year award.

Burrow also is a finalist for Comeback Player of the Year, joining Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez, Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins.

Finalists for all eight postseason awards are:

Most Valuable Player
–Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills quarterback
–Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles running back
–Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
–Jared Goff, Detroit Lions quarterback
–Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback

Offensive Player of the Year
–Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles running back
–Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
–Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
–Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens running back
–Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback

Offensive Rookie of the Year
–Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders tight end
–Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders quarterback
–Malik Nabers, New York Giants wide receiver
–Bo Nix, Denver Broncos quarterback
–Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver

Defensive Player of the Year
–Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker
–Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns defensive end
–Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end
–Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos cornerback
–T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker

Defensive Rookie of the Year
–Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback
–Braden Fiske, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman
–Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback
–Chop Robinson, Miami Dolphins linebacker
–Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams linebacker

Comeback Player of the Year
–Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback
–Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings quarterback
–J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers running back
–Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots cornerback
–Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety

Coach of the Year
–Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
–Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
–Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
–Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
–Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs.

Assistant Coach of the Year
–Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator
–Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator
–Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator
–Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator
–Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator

–Field Level Media

Jan 15, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) dives for the end zone as New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson (22) defends during the first quarter of a wild card game at U.S. Bank Stadium. The call on the field was a touchdown but was changed after review. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Honors: Patrick Mahomes wins MVP for second time

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes claimed his second NFL MVP Award on Thursday while the Chiefs focus on their bid for the league’s most coveted prize in Super Bowl LVII.

Mahomes was recognized in the primetime NFL awards show at Symphony Hall in Phoenix, where football dignitaries gathered to hand out awards for the best of the 2022 season and witness the coronation of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Justin Jefferson, an All-Pro wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings in each of his first three NFL seasons, earned Offensive Player of the Year. Another unanimous All-Pro pick, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, picked up Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Mahomes led the NFL with 41 touchdown passes and has the Chiefs (16-3) back in the Super Bowl for the third time in four seasons. Kansas City will oppose another MVP finalist, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, in its quest for another Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night.

The lopsided voting for MVP saw Mahomes receive 48 of the 50 first-place votes. Hurts and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen each received one first-place vote.

Mahomes was named MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 2018, then earned MVP of Super Bowl LIV following the 2019 season.

Jefferson, a unanimous All-Pro selection this season after posting league highs of 128 catches for 1,809 receiving yards, was honored ahead of quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

Jefferson thanked his brothers, saying, “I mean, y’all made me who I am. You were all so hard on me. All the times I cried at home. You’re the reason I’m tough. I appreciate ya.”

That toughness contributed to Jefferson having a league-leading 28 receptions of 20-plus yards in 2022 and accounting for 28.3 percent of the Vikings’ total yards from scrimmage. He also led the NFL with 27 first-down receptions on third or fourth down.

Bosa was honored for his stellar 2022 production in 16 regular-season games: an NFL-best 18.5 sacks and 48 quarterback hits.

“To the No. 1 defense in the league, shout out,” Bosa said. “All my guys, you make my job a lot easier. It’s a team sport, I just do my job.

“If I’ve learned one thing in life, whatever end goal you have in life, it’s not going to be a smooth path. There’s going to be times when you’re questioning yourself. If you stay the course and you believe in yourself, there is going to be a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Other finalists for the award were Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.

Defensive Rookie of the Year recognition went to New York Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. The first rookie to earn first-team All-Pro since Ronnie Lott in 1981, Gardner led the league with 20 passes defensed. He allowed one touchdown — in Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns — in 17 games.

After thanking his family, Gardner added, “I gotta thank Detroit. The east side of Detroit, man, seven miles. It was hard growing up, man, it really was. The neighborhood I stayed in, there was a lot of violence going on. But that was just adversity. That’s what it took for me to get here.”

The other finalists were Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen.

The Jets also picked up the rookie award on the other side of the ball, when wide receiver Garrett Wilson was tabbed the Defensive Rookie of the year. Wilson amassed 1,103 yards and four touchdowns on 83 receptions.

Other finalists were 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III.

A longtime NFL backup, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was voted Comeback Player of the Year. A starter for the first time since his second NFL season in 2014, Smith pushed Seattle into the playoffs.

He was named to his first Pro Bowl, led the NFL with a 69.8 completion percentage and posted career-highs with 4,282 yards passing and 30 touchdowns. Other finalists were Giants running back Saquon Barkley and a 49ers midseason acquisition, running back Christian McCaffrey.

First-year New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, who was the NFL’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020 with the Bills, now has another trophy.

Daboll was voted NFL Coach of the Year for his turnaround of the Giants from 4-13 to a wild-card berth and playoff victory. The Giants went 9-7-1 in the regular season, their best mark since 2016 (11-5).

Other finalists were Sean McDermott of the Bills, Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers and Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Other awards, including the league MVP and the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, were to be announced later Thursday.

–Field Level Media

Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) reacts to his catch during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Jefferson, four QBs are finalists for MVP award

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson joins four quarterbacks as the finalists, announced Wednesday, for the Associated Press 2022 NFL Most Valuable Player award.

Three of the QBs are battling for Super Bowl LVII berths on Sunday, with Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals joining 2018 MVP Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is also a finalist.

Jefferson led the NFL with 128 catches and 1,809 receiving yards in his third season. The unanimous first-team All-Pro is trying to become the first wideout ever to win AP MVP honors, presented annually since 1957.

Quarterbacks have swept the last nine MVP awards and 14 of the last 15, with Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers taking home his third and fourth MVP trophies in 2020 and 2021.

Jefferson, Hurts and Mahomes are also finalists for Offensive Player of the Year.

The Defensive Player of the Year finalists are the San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa, the Chiefs’ Chris Jones and Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys.

Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants, Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers and Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks are up for Comeback Player of the Year.

The Giants’ Brian Daboll, the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan and Doug Pederson of the Jacksonville Jaguars are the finalists for Coach of the Year.

The Offensive Rookie of the Year finalists are Brock Purdy of the 49ers, Kenneth Walker of the Seahawks and Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets.

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner of the Jets, Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions and Seattle’s Tariq Woolen are the Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists.

Up for Assistant Coach of the Year are Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and Lions OC Ben Johnson.

The winners will be announced at the NFL Honors event on Feb. 9.

A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed the voting before the start of the playoffs.

This was the first year for the AP’s new voting system. Voters chose a top five for MVP and a top three for all other awards. For MVP, first-place were worth 10 points. Second through fifth-place votes were worth five, three, two and one points.

For all the other awards, first-place votes equaled five points, second were three points and third were one point.

–Field Level Media