Many well-deserved awards were given out at this year’s NFL Honors award show, highlighting the league’s great moments and players from the 2024-25 NFL season.
Starting off with the most controversial award this year, the MVP award. Buffalo Bills Quarterback, Josh Allen, received the award, with Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson as a close second.
Allen tallied only 21 more voting points than Jackson, making it one of the closest MVP races in history. Josh Allen led the Bills to the AFC championship before coming up short to the Chiefs again. Aside from the sad ending, Allen and the Bills had a great regular season and playoff run. The future is bright for Buffalo. Bills Mafia member and West High Junior Logan McGilligan says, “He’s one of the best quarterbacks that we’ve seen in a very long time. He’s a symbol of hope, giving us belief that the Bills could win a Superbowl with him.” He continues to share that his favorite Josh Allen memory from the past season is “the touchdown on a crucial fourth down & two versus the Chiefs, or the lateral pass from Amari Cooper for a touchdown.”
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley earned himself the Offensive Player of the Year award after being the top rusher in the league and also winning his first Super Bowl. Philly has their new beloved running back, who is bringing all kinds of hardware to Philly. It is not often that you find Philadelphia fans in Waterloo, but West High junior Tyler Arntz happens to be born into a family full of Eagles fans. Arntz says, “Saquon brought in a rushing ability that we lacked in the previous season. With one of the best offensive lines in the league, he was able to shine and prove to everyone why he is one of the best running backs in the league.”
Kevin O’Connell, the Minnesota Vikings head coach nicknamed “KOC,” was given the NFL’s Coach Of The Year Award based on the team’s unexpected success. O’Connell had the award given to him by his former coach, and three-time Coach Of The Year award winner, Bill Belichick. O’Connell was coach Belichick’s third-round pick in the 2008 NFL draft. Following the Vikings’ week 16 victory against the Seattle Seahawks, O’Connell became the first coach in Vikings history to have two seasons with 13 or more wins. This is just one of the many achievements of KOC.
After finishing his fourth year in the league, Denver Broncos’ corner Patrick Surtain II finally got his well-deserved Defensive Player of the Year award. The Broncos’ lock-down corner had receivers on an island all year long. According to PFF Stats, out of the league’s 223 cornerbacks, Surtain ranked 5th in interceptions, and he only allowed 39 receptions all year. He earned his third Pro Bowl appearance, as well as being named first team all-pro.
Although the race for MVP was tight, the Offensive Rookie of the Year race was the opposite. Washington Commanders’ Quarterback Jayden Daniels received all but one first-place vote, making him the OROY. Daniels led an unthinkable playoff run, leading the sixth-seed Commanders to the NFC Championship. They even beat the number-one-seed Lions in Detroit!
The Detroit Lions offensive mastermind, Ben Johnson, won the Assistant Coach of the Year award. His offense ranked number one in the league in touchdowns, according to Fox Sports 2024 Offensive Rankings. Sadly for Lions fans, Johnson signed with the division rival, Chicago Bears, becoming their new Head Coach. Now, Johnson will face off against his former team twice a year.
Iowa-born Joe Burrow, quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals, won the Comeback Player of the Year award. After suffering a season-ending wrist injury during the 2023-2024 season, Burrow bounced back and put the league on notice. Burrow was ranked first out of all quarterbacks in touchdowns and passing yards, according to ESPN season stats.
