NEW ORLEANSJosh Allen desired a fresh set of hardware when he left New Orleans. Nevertheless, he is pleased to receive recognition for his achievements.
In the closest contest since Matt Ryan defeated Tom Brady in 2016, Allen defeated two-time champion Lamar Jackson for the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award.
I hope this trophy wasn’t being hoisted. Allen made reference to winning a Super Bowl on Thursday, saying, “I wish we were hoisting the Lombardi and we’re going to keep working until we do.”
Allen, who finished with 383 points and led Buffalo to their sixth consecutive AFC East championship, received 27 first-place votes compared to Jackson’s 23. He got one third and twenty-two votes for second place. After losing to Kansas City in the AFC championship game on Sunday, the Bills were unable to play.
Jackson received 26 second-place votes and one fourth, for a total of 362 points, and guided the Ravens to their second consecutive AFC North championship.
Saquon Barkley of the Eagles ended third with 120 points, followed by Joe Burrow of the Bengals with 82 and Jared Goff of the Lions with 47.
Allen had a quarterback rating of 101.4 after throwing for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He became the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 total touchdowns in five consecutive seasons after running for 531 yards and 12 scores.
Allen, who was accompanied at the Oscars by fiancee Hailee Steinfeld, stated, “I feel like my teammates wanted this more for me than I did, but I’m very honored.”
Jackson’s throwing totals of 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns against just four interceptions, and an NFL-high passer rating of 119.6 were all career highs. He received 30 first-place votes, compared to Allen’s 18, and was named to the AP first-team All-Pro.
In 1987, a first-team All-Pro failed to win the NFL MVP award for the last time. Joe Montana made the first team All-Pro, and John Elway was named the season’s MVP. While All-Pro is a statistical honor, MVP is awarded to the player who had the most productive season.
AP Offensive Player of the Year
In his first season with the Eagles, Saquon Barkley rushed for 2,005 yards, the eighth-most in NFL history, and easily won the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year title.
Barkley has 442 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the playoffs, but he missed Philadelphia’s last regular-season game when he was 101 yards from surpassing Eric Dickerson’s single-season record.
To break the all-time single-season record, including the playoffs, Barkley needs to rush for 30 yards in the Super Bowl. In 1998, Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis ran for 2,476 yards in 19 games during the regular season and playoffs for the Denver Broncos, who won the Super Bowl.
Barkley won 35 out of 50 votes for first place.
Lamar Jackson of the Ravens received twelve first-place votes, while Derrick Henry, a teammate, received one. Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Bills, and Joe Burrow, the quarterback for the Bengals, each garnered one vote for first place.
Despite receiving no first-place votes, Bengals wide receiver Ja Marr Chase placed third in the voting. With 127 receptions, 1,708 yards, and 17 touchdowns, Chase led the league in receiving and was unanimously selected for All-Pro.
AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
After assisting the Washington Commanders in winning 12 games, Jayden Daniels was almost unanimously selected as the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The Raiders tight end Brock Bowers received one of the 50 first-place votes, while the Pro Bowl quarterback received 49 of them.
In reference to the leap he took in his last season at LSU, when he won the Heisman Trophy, Daniels stated, “It’s just hard work, and just preparation.” Your life will alter if you lock in for a year. That’s what I kind of did.
Daniels, who was selected with the second overall choice, had a rating of 100.1 and passed for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns. In addition, he ran for six touchdowns and 891 yards. Before the Commanders lost to the Eagles in the NFC title game, Daniels guided them to two road playoff victories.
In the voting, Giants wideout Malik Nabers came in fifth, Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. came in fourth, and Broncos quarterback Bo Nix came in third.
AP Coach of the Year
After leading the Minnesota Vikings to 14 victories with quarterback Sam Darnold, Kevin O. Connell defeated Dan Campbell for the AP NFL Coach of the Year award.
In the last game of the regular season, the Vikings, who were largely predicted to finish last in the NFC North, wound up competing for a division title and the conference’s top seed. After losing to the Lions, the Rams eliminated them from the playoffs.
I gave this season a lot of thought. Bill Belichick, the coach who selected O Connell in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft, told him, “I thought it had a chance to be a special team.” That wasn’t exactly the point. My faith in our team, our coaches, and our players to work together and try to win one football game was more important.
It’s a fantastic illustration of how different things and people may join together and try to achieve different outcomes.
On all 50 ballots, O Connell received 25 first-place votes, 18 seconds, and seven thirds.
After leading Detroit to a franchise-high 15 victories, Campbell received 19 first-place votes and finished in second place. First-place votes went to Andy Reid of Kansas City (4), Sean Payton of Denver (1), and Dan Quinn of Washington (1).
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
Jared Verse of the Los Angeles Rams was a clear favorite to win the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Verse asserted that hard labor can lead to success. Being the biggest, strongest, or quickest is not necessary. You can overcome anything if you put in the necessary effort. It simply serves as evidence of it.
Verse led all rookies in quarterback hits (18), pressures (77), and hurries (56), and he recorded 4 1/2 sacks. In addition, he recorded 11 tackles for loss. Quinyon Mitchell, the rookie cornerback for the Eagles, won nine first-place votes, far fewer than Verse’s 37.
Texans safety Calen Bullock, Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil, Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still, and Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske each received one.
AP Comeback Player of the Year
Following his recovery from wrist surgery in 2023, Joe Burrow led the NFL in throwing with 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns, earning him the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year honor.
After missing seven games last season due to injuries, Burrow participated in all 17 games for the Bengals (9–8). He finished well ahead of Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (3) and garnered 31 first-place votes.
Also receiving first-place votes were Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez (2), Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (8), and Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3).
AP Defensive Player of the Year
The eighth cornerback to receive the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year honor was Patrick Surtain II.
The Denver Broncos All-Pro allowed just 37 receptions, had four interceptions and opposing quarterbacks had a 61.1 passer rating throwing against him.
With 26 first-place votes, Surtain defeated Browns edge Myles Garrett (5) and Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson (11).
“I become most valuable to the team when I’m holding my side of the field down,” Surtain stated. I spent the entire year doing it…. Locking down my side of the field is what I came to do.
First-place votes were also given to Vikings edge rushers Andrew Van Ginkel (1) and Jonathan Greenard (1), Lions safety Kerby Joseph (1), Eagles linebacker Zack Baun (2), and Steelers edge T.J. Watt (3).
The final cornerback to take home the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year honor was Stephon Gilmore. Charles Woodson, Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Lester Hayes and Mel Blount previously won it.
AP Assistant Coach of the Year
Ben Johnson was a clear choice for the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year, receiving 29 first-place votes.
Johnson, who was the Lions offensive coordinator, led a group that was first in scoring (33.22 points per game) and second in yards (409.5). He was hired to coach the Chicago Bears after Detroit lost in the playoffs.
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores got three first-place votes and finished second in the voting. Former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who was hired to coach the New York Jets, received six first-place votes and came in third.
A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began.
— Rob Maaddi | AP Pro Football Writer
— AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed.
