Jared Verse was an overwhelming choice for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Verse had 4 1/2 sacks and led all rookies in quarterback hits (18), pressures (77) and hurries (56). He also had 11 tackles for loss.
He got 37 first-place votes, well ahead of Eagles rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who received nine.
Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske, Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still, Texans safety Calen Bullock and Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil each got one apiece.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year, poses after winning the award at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Six players got first-place votes for the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
Burrow won the award with 31 first-place votes. Darnold had eight first-place votes.
▶ Here is how the voters voted.
Denver Broncos’ Patrick Surtain II, AP Defensive Player of the year speaks during the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Surtain thanked his parents — his father, Patrick Surtain Sr., is a former NFL cornerback — for “setting the blueprint, and turning a young man into a grown man.”
He also thanked the Broncos, as Denver coach Sean Payton nodded in the audience, “for believing in me, trusting me, allowing me to grow and be the player I am today.”
Randy Moss sent a videotaped message of thanks as he fights cancer before he announced the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
Moss thanked doctors and fans for their support. The crowd cheered for Moss when a video montage of his career played during the show.
Moss said in December a cancerous mass was found in his bile duct, between his pancreas and liver. He said he had surgery to put a stent in his liver on Thanksgiving and then underwent a 6-hour procedure about a week ago to remove the cancer.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley won AP Offensive Player of the Year, with 35 of the 50 first-place votes.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson got 12 first-place votes.
Three other players got one vote each.
Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, AP Comeback player of the year speaks during the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Joe Burrow took the Comeback Player of the Year award after returning from wrist surgery in 2023 to lead the NFL with 4,918 yards passing and 43 touchdown passes.
Burrow played all 17 games for the Bengals (9-8) after missing seven due to injuries the previous season. He received 31 first-place votes and finished far ahead of J.K. Dobbins (3).
Sam Darnold (8), Damar Hamlin (3) and Christian Gonzalez (2) also got first-place votes.
Denver Broncos’ Patrick Surtain II, AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, poses after winning the award at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II won the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award with 26 first-place votes.
Trey Hendrickson finished second with 11 first-place votes and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett had five.
▶ See the five other players who got first place votes.
Saquon Barkley ran away with the Offensive Player of the Year award after rushing for 2,005 yards, eighth-best in NFL history, in his first season with the Eagles.
Barkley sat out Philadelphia’s final regular-season game when he was 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season record, but he has 442 rushing yards and five touchdowns in the playoffs. He needs 30 yards rushing in the Super Bowl to set the all-time single-season record, including the playoffs.
Barkley received 35 of 50 first-place votes. Lamar Jackson received 12 first-place votes and teammate Derrick Henry got one. Joe Burrow and Josh Allen also received one first-place vote each.
Ja’Marr Chase finished third in the voting despite no first-place votes.
Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, poses after winning the award at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels got 49 out of 50 first-place votes to win the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Sam Monson, of the 33rd team, voted for Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.
▶ See the full list on who the voters chose for second through fifth place.
Surtain became the seventh cornerback to win Defensive Player of the Year.
The Denver Broncos’ All-Pro allowed just 37 receptions, had four interceptions and opposing quarterbacks had a 61.1 passer rating throwing against him.
Surtain received 26 first-place votes, beating out Hendrickson (11) and Garrett (5).
Watt (3), Baun (2), Joseph (1) and Van Ginkel (1) and Greenard (1) also received first-place votes.
Stephon Gilmore was the last cornerback to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.
Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, AP Offensive rookie of the year speaks during the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Daniels was a near-unanimous choice for Offensive Rookie of the Year after helping the Washington Commanders win 12 games.
The Pro Bowl quarterback received 49 of 50 first-place votes with the other going to Bowers.
Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick, threw for 3,568 yards, 25 TDs and posted a 100.1 rating. He also ran for 891 yards and six scores. Daniels led the Commanders to a pair of road playoff wins before losing to the Eagles in the NFC championship game.
Nix finished third in the voting, Thomas was fourth and Nabers placed fifth.
Snoop Dogg has taken the stage at the NFL Honors, dancing his way to a “Yessir!” greeting for those in attendance.
Host, Snoop Dog, speaks during the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kansas City Chiefs’ CEO Clark Hunt says the team’s focus is on ‘just winning the game’ and not necessarily making three-peat history.
The new North Carolina coach made quite the flex in his first NFL Honors red carpet, flashing six Super Bowl rings on his two hands.
Former NFL head coach Bill Belichick shows his Super Bowl rings as he walks the red carpet at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Belichick was accompanied by girlfriend Jordon Hudson, who stunned in a low-cut silver sequin dress. Hudson wore a jumbo diamond rock on her ring finger.
Belichick wore a burgundy sports coat on the red carpet and did not stop to talk to reporters about the rings, his nor hers.
Flavor Flav says Saquon Barkley is his favorite Eagle, and he’s rooting for him to get a Super Bowl ring. The rapper also considers Patrick Mahomes his favorite quarterback.
The Minnesota Vikings were a consensus preseason pick for last place and ended up winning 14 games and playing for the NFC’s No. 1 seed in Week 18.
Despite losing that game and a wild-card playoff against the Rams, coach Kevin O’Connell wants his players to be proud of their accomplishments.
O’Connell is a finalist for the AP NFL Coach of the Year award along with Dan Campbell, Dan Quinn, Andy Reid and Sean Payton.
“I think it’s such a special award but it’s not about one individual coach,” O’Connell said. “It’s about a locker room full of players that went on this journey trusting in you as their head coach to hopefully lead them to a place. Regardless of how it ended, these guys should be really proud of what they accomplished.”
Johnson received 29 first-place votes, 12 second-place votes, four third-place votes, and one fourth-place vote.
See the full list on how the 50 voters for the AP assistant coach of the year award voted.
Bo Nix helped the Denver Broncos end an eight-year playoff drought before losing to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round.
He’s eager to take the team further next year.
“I just wanted to be the best player I can be and help my team make a playoff run,” said Nix, who is among the five finalists for AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. “Ultimately, I was able to accomplish those goals and I feel like I made a lot of progress throughout the year. … In the future, it’s going to be important to win games in the playoffs and make a push.”
Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson watches during warmups before an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Washington Commanders, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Johnson was a clear choice for 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.
Eagles DC Vic Fangio (3), Bills OC Joe Brady (2), former Buccaneers OC Liam Coen (2), Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo (2), Ravens OC Todd Monken (1), Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury (1) and Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland (1) also received first-place votes.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders donned sunglasses to the prime time event. Comedian Nikki Glaser also walked the carpet. Glaser was scheduled to present an award. Fellow celebrity roaster Jeff Ross also hit the carpet.
Comedian Nikki Glaser poses on the red carpet at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, a finalist for the AP NFL MVP award, has more access to fashion stylists now that he’s engaged to actress Hailee Steinfeld.
She’ll have a bigger say in what he wears on the red carpet.
“The only person that I care thinks I look good is my fiancée,” Allen said. “That’s all that matters to me. I don’t care what I look like. If she thinks I look good, that’s fine with me.”
Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt says the team is focused on just winning a game, not necessarily making threepeat history. Hunt says Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have taken the franchise to another level and considers it good luck the Chiefs won their first ever Super Bowl in New Orleans.
On the NFL Honors red carpet, football cornerback Patrick Surtain II spoke about the power of manifestation.
Flava Flav walks the red carpet before the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
What time is it? Time for Flavor Flav to hit the red carpet. He shed his jacket because it was so hot out there.
He says Saquon Barkley is his favorite Eagle and he’s rooting for him to get a Super Bowl ring. The rapper considers Patrick Mahomes his favorite quarterback.
Rams edge rusher Jared Verse had fewer sacks than fellow rookie Braden Fiske but he didn’t care about his personal stats if teammates made the sacks and tackles.
Verse and Fiske are among the finalists for the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Verse had 4 1/2 sacks but led all rookies in quarterback hits (18), pressures (77) and hurries (56). He also had 11 tackles for loss.
“I try to go out there every week and put on a showcase,” Verse said. “Even if I’m not making all the plays, just to be able to put my teammates in position to make those plays, getting one-on-ones, now they’re clean. Even if I’m not making the plays, it means the world to know the hard work I put in hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
49ers tight end George Kittle was among the stars to walk the red carpet closer to the start of the ceremony.
Kittle clutched his 2024 Salute to Service Award presented by USAA. The award recognizes the exceptional efforts made by members of the NFL family to honor and support the military community.
Claire Kittle accompanied her husband to the show. Asked the most expensive items they were wearing, Kittle laughed when he lifted his wife’s arm and said, “her whole left wrist.” It was decked out with pricey bracelets and rings.
Denver Broncos All-Pro cornerback Patrick Surtain II is aiming to become the seventh cornerback to win the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Stephon Gilmore was the last cornerback to win the award in 2019. Charles Woodson, Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Lester Hayes and Mel Blount previously won it.
“It would be a huge honor to join such elite company, and just add my name to the history books,” Surtain said.
Zack Baun, Trey Hendrickson, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt also are finalists.
Former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy gave a “Fly, Eagles, Fly” on the red carpet. He said the Giants letting Barkley walk in free agency was surely fuel for this season. Barkley ran for 2,005 yards and broke McCoy’s franchise record for yards rushing in a season.
Former NFL player LeSean McCoy walks the red carpet at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Cooper DeJean, Braden Fiske, Quinyon Mitchell, Chop Robinson and Jared Verse are the five finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Philadelphia’s DeJean was among the highest-rated players in the slot, holding opponents to 50 receptions.
Fiske led all rookies with 8 1/2 sacks.
Verse had 4 1/2 sacks but led all rookies in quarterback hits (18), pressures (77) and hurries (56). He also had 11 tackles for loss.
Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Vikings DC Brian Flores, Lions DC Aaron Glenn and Lions OC Ben Johnson made the list.
Jelly Roll walks the red carpet ahead of the NFL Honors on Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/David Scott)
Musical artist Jelly Roll has walked the red carpet. He heard plenty of cheers from the fans.
Players and celebs alike are stopping for selfies, flashing their bling and discussing their fashion.
Dallas Cowboys guard Zack Martin is thrilled Brian Schottenheimer gets his shot as Dallas Cowboys coach. The Cowboys promoted him from offensive coordinator to be the 10th coach in the storied franchise’s history.
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward says he’s picking the Eagles to beat the Chiefs and win the Super Bowl. Ward was bare chested under his jacket, flashing a bit of a six pack and a silver watch he said cost “about hundred plus.”
Cleveland Browns’ Denzel Ward greets fans along the red carpet at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins, Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Bills safety Damar Hamlin are the finalists.
Winston was a media darling on opening night, throwing “W” cookies in honor of his Eat the “W” catchphrase. He was again on the red carpet interviewing players and celebrities.
Meanwhile, TV star Terry Crews breezed past reporters on his way to the show.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston poses for fans on the red carpet at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
The red carpet is open.
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton and Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston were among the first players to style and profile on the carpet. Slayton wore a pair of Giants sneakers while Winston wore a red cheetah print velvet jacket.
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton sports a pair of Giants sneakers on the NFL Honors red carpet, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Daniel Gelston)
Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels are among the finalists for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Bowers set a rookie record with 112 receptions and his 1,194 yards receiving were the most by a first-year player at his position.
Daniels led the team to an eight-win improvement and finished just one win shy of the Super Bowl. The other finalists are Malik Nabers, Bo Nix and Brian Thomas Jr.
All-Pro edge rusher Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, headlines the five-man group for this year’s award.
The other finalists are Zack Baun, Trey Hendrickson, Patrick Surtain II and T.J. Watt.
Baun went from mostly playing special teams for the Saints to earning All-Pro honors in his first season in Philadelphia. Hendrickson led the NFL with 17 1/2 sacks.
Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson are finalists for Offensive Player of the Year.
Chase won the receiving triple crown, leading the league with 127 receptions, 1,708 yards and 17 TDs. The Bengals’ star wide receiver was a unanimous selection for All-Pro.
Henry, the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, had 1,921 yards rushing and 16 TDs in his first season with the Ravens.
This combo of file photos shows, from left, NFL Awards Coach of the Year finalists: Detroit Lions’ Dan Campbell, Minnesota Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell, Denver Broncos’ Sean Payton, Washington Commanders’ Dan Quinn, and ansas City Chiefs’ Andy Reid. (AP Photo/File)
Detroit’s Dan Campbell, Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell, Denver’s Sean Payton, Washington’s Dan Quinn and Kansas City’s Andy Reid are the finalists.
Campbell guided the Lions to the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
O’Connell led the Vikings to the playoffs despite the departure of Kirk Cousins in free agency and losing rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy to a season-ending knee injury in training camp.
Reid has the Chiefs back atop the AFC in a quest for a third straight Super Bowl victory.
There will be eight AP awards presented, including Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Assistant Coach of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began.
This combo of file photos shows, from left, NFL Awards MVP finalists: Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills; Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles; Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals; Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions; Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens. (AP Photo/File)
Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Lamar Jackson are finalists for The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award.
Barkley is the only non-QB of the bunch after running for 2,005 yards, eighth-best for a single season in NFL history.
Jackson, the reigning winner, is seeking his third MVP award after leading the Ravens to an AFC North title.
Jayden Daniels led the Washington Commanders to the NFC championship game after an eight-win improvement in the regular season. He threw for 3,568 yards, 25 TDs, posted a 100.1 rating, and also ran for 891 yards and six scores.
Daniels is one of five finalists for the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award along with Bo Nix, Brock Bowers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
“The talent my draft class had and all the guys that pretty much deserve it and to be nominated and to be one of the finalists and be a front-runner, it just means a lot to be put up with my draft class and the offensive firepower we had,” Daniels said.
The NFL Honors awards show will air on Fox and NFL Network at 9 p.m. EST Thursday night. It’s also available on streaming at NFL+.
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills fell short of reaching the Super Bowl again, losing to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game. They’ve been knocked out of the playoffs by the Chiefs four times in the past five years.
Allen, one of five finalists for the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award, would rather win a Super Bowl than an individual honor.
“I definitely think it’s such an honor and a blessing to even be mentioned in the word MVP,” Allen said. “Everyone knows what that does cementing legacies but there’s a lot of guys that win MVPs and didn’t win Super Bowls. The reason I play this game is not to win MVPs, it’s to win Super Bowls.”
Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Saquon Barkley also are finalists.
