Running back Saquon Barkley capped a remarkable first season in Philadelphia by becoming the first Eagles player to win The Associated Press’ Offensive Player of the Year award during the NFL Honors on Thursday night in New Orleans.
Barkley became the ninth player to rush for over 2,000 yards rushing and finished 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s all-time record. His average of 142.7 yards rushing per game ranked as the fourth-most over the last 15 seasons.
In the voting, Barkley received 35 of 50 first-place votes. The only other player to receive more than one first-place vote was Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who got 12.
Ravens teammate Derrick Henry, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Bills QB Josh Allen all received one first-place vote each.
Defensive Player of the Year
The Broncos‘ Patrick Surtain II became the first cornerback in five years to win this award.
Surtain allowed only two touchdowns and 306 yards receiving, the third-fewest among corners with at least 50 targets, according to ESPN Research.
Surtain received 26 first-place votes, beating out Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson (11) and Browns edge Myles Garrett (5).
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.”
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels completed one of the most impressive NFL debut seasons by winning Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
In leading Washington to its best season in more than three decades, Daniels transformed a 4-13 team into a 12-5 one, guiding the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game.
He is the first Washington player to win Offensive Rookie of the Year since quarterback Robert Griffin III in 2012.
After being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Daniels became the first rookie in league history to throw for over 3,500 yards and rush for over 800 yards in a season. He helped the Commanders to score an average of 28.5 points per game, which are the most by a team with a rookie quarterback.
Daniels received 49 of 50 first-place votes with the other going to Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. Broncos QB Bo Nix finished third in the voting.
Daniels also won the Moment of the Year award for his Hail Mary throw to beat the Bears in November.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
The Rams nailed their first first-round pick in eight years when they selected pass-rusher Jared Verse, who became the team’s first Defensive Rookie of the Year winner since Aaron Donald in 2014.
Verse, the No. 19 overall pick, led all rookies with 18 quarterback hits and 50 quarterback pressures, which were 12 more than any other rookie this season.
His 4.5 sacks were fifth among rookies.
Verse took 37 first-place votes, which outdistanced Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (nine) and Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske.
Comeback Player of the Year
Burrow was named Comeback Player of the Year, adding some humor after a year in which he rebounded from a season-ending wrist injury.
In 2024, Burrow led the NFL in with 4,918 yards passing and 43 touchdown passes.
“I wouldn’t say this is necessarily an award you want to be nominated for two times,” Burrow said at the awards show. “I’m proud of the work I put in to come back from these injuries that I seem to face every year.”
The award was announced by Randy Moss, who sent a videotaped message of thanks as he fights cancer.
The Hall of Fame receiver thanked doctors and fans for their support. The crowd cheered for Moss when a video montage of his career played during the show.
In other awards:
• Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was named Assistant Coach of the Year. Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and ex-Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn finished second and third in voting, respectively.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
