NFL’s best receive honors for the 2024 season
On the red carpet for the “NFL Honors” awards program on Thursday night in New Orleans, Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry said he had come to see the “MV3.”
The former Alabama All-American was hoping Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson would win The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award for the third time.
Instead, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen won the award for the 2024 NFL season. Allen received 27 first-place votes and Jackson received the other 23. Allen outpointed Jackson 383-362 to win the award.
The selectors voted for five players, with 10 points awarded for a first-place vote, five for second, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth.
Allen also received 22 second-place votes and one third-place vote. Jackson also got 26 second-place votes and one fourth-place vote.
Eleven players appeared on the ballots for the AP NFL MVP Award, but none were from Alabama high schools or colleges.
That wasn’t the case with the other Associated Press awards presented on Thursday night, most notably with the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, which was presented to Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II (Alabama).
Two cornerbacks with Alabama football roots received support for the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Houston Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter (American Christian) received one second-place vote, two fourth-place votes and four fifth-place votes for 13 points to finish 10th for the award. Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold received one fifth-place vote.
Two Alabama alumni were among the 27 players to appear on the ballots for the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams received one fourth-place vote, and Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover) got one fifth-place vote.
Henry finished fourth in the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year balloting with former Alabama running backs Jahmyr Gibbs of the Lions and Josh Jacobs of the Green Bay Packers also receiving votes.
The winners of the end-of-season awards announced on Thursday included:
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award: Defensive tackle Erik Armstead of the Jacksonville Jaguars
AP Most Valuable Player: Quarterback Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills
AP Offensive Player of the Year: Running back Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles
AP Defensive Player of the Year: Cornerback Patrick Surtain of the Denver Broncos
AP Coach of the Year: Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings
AP Comeback Player of the Year: Quarterback Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Quarterback Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Outside linebacker Jared Verse of the Los Angeles Rams
AP Assistant Coach of the Year: Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson of the Detroit Lions
Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: Quarterback Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills
Deacon Jones Sack Leader Award: Defensive end Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals
Jim Brown Award: Running back Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles
FedEx Air Player of the Year: Quarterback Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills
FedEx Ground Player of the Year: Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals
Salute to Service Award: Tight end George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers
NFL Fan of the Year: Megan Stefanski of the Detroit Lions
Next Gen Stats Moment of the Year: Quarterback Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.