NEW ORLEANS — Josh Allen aspired to leave New Orleans with a trophy that represented a Super Bowl victory but takes pride in his latest honor as well. Allen triumphed over two-time winner Lamar Jackson to clinch the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award in what turned out to be the closest contest since Matt Ryan narrowly edged out Tom Brady in 2016.
On Thursday, Allen remarked, “I wish we weren’t hoisting this trophy. I wish we were hoisting the Lombardi — and we’re going to keep working until we do,” highlighting his desire for a Super Bowl title.
Under Allen’s leadership, the Buffalo Bills secured their fifth consecutive AFC East championship. He garnered 27 first-place votes compared to Jackson’s 23, amassing a total of 383 points. In addition, Allen received 22 second-place votes and a single third-place vote. The Bills’ playoff run ended with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
Jackson led the Baltimore Ravens to their second consecutive AFC North title, earning 26 second-place votes along with one fourth-place vote, totaling 362 points. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley, running back for the Eagles, placed third with 120 points, followed by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with 82 points and Jared Goff from the Lions with 47 points.
During the season, Allen threw for 3,731 yards with 28 touchdown passes, allowing for a passer rating of 101.4, while also rushing for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns. He made history by becoming the first player in the NFL to record five consecutive seasons with at least 40 total touchdowns.
Accepting his award, Allen expressed gratitude, commenting, “I feel like my teammates wanted this more for me than I did, but I’m very honored,” and he was accompanied by his fiancée, Hailee Steinfeld, at the ceremony.
On the other hand, Jackson achieved career highs of 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdown passes, and just four interceptions, ending the season with a passer rating of 119.6, which topped the league charts. He also had the honor of being named to the AP first-team All-Pro list, having received 30 first-place votes compared to Allen’s 18.
This year marks a significant moment as it has been since 1987 that a first-team All-Pro did not win the MVP award; John Elway claimed the MVP title that year while Joe Montana was noted as a first-team All-Pro.
In other accolades, Kevin O’Connell took home the AP NFL Coach of the Year award, surpassing Dan Campbell after guiding the Minnesota Vikings to an impressive 14 wins with quarterback Sam Darnold leading the way. O’Connell, initially expected to finish last in the NFC North, saw his team contend for both a division title and the conference’s first seed, though they ultimately lost to the Lions before being eliminated by the Rams in playoffs.
“I’m honored and I put a lot of thought into this season…,” O’Connell remarked, appreciative of his entire team’s efforts and the synergy that enabled their success. O’Connell secured 25 first-place votes among the 50 ballots cast.
In the category for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jared Verse of the Los Angeles Rams emerged as a standout choice, demonstrating remarkable achievements from his rookie season. “Hard work can take you anywhere,” Verse emphasized, explaining his philosophy on overcoming obstacles.
Verse logged 4½ sacks, led all rookies with 18 quarterback hits, and gained recognition with 37 first-place votes, far ahead of Eagles rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who received nine votes.
Joe Burrow earned the title of Comeback Player of the Year after a triumphant return from wrist surgery, where he led the league with 4,918 passing yards this season. Burrow received an impressive 31 first-place votes, distancing himself from fellow nominees.
Saquon Barkley outpaced his peers to earn the AP Offensive Player of the Year title, highlighting his stellar season with 2,005 rushing yards for the Eagles. Having opted out of the final game, Barkley still made significant contributions in the playoffs, and he is on course to potentially break the single-season rushing record in the upcoming Super Bowl.
For the Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II shone in his position, allowing a mere 37 receptions with four interceptions, leading to a pass rating of 61.1 against his coverage. He notched 26 first-place votes in a competitive category.
Jayden Daniels, who led the Washington Commanders to 12 victories, was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, receiving 49 of the 50 first-place votes awarded, demonstrating the impact of his hard work and preparation throughout the season.
Lastly, Ben Johnson earned the recognition of AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year due to his leadership of the Lions’ high-scoring offense, receiving 29 first-place votes. Following him in the votes were Brian Flores and Aaron Glenn, each making notable impressions within the coaching community.
A nationwide panel of 50 media members completed the voting process before the playoffs commenced, resulting in these celebrated accolades for the season.
