By: Megan Saul

Culture Editor

Before the Super Bowl, the National Football League (NFL) held the NFL Honors, an award show recognizing the league’s best players for that season. Occurring on Thursday, Feb. 6 in New Orleans and led by multitalented actor, rapper, and personality Snoop Dogg, the 2025 NFL Honors was certainly one for the books. The first NFL Honors took place in 2012 in Indianapolis. This year’s event marked its 14th occurrence. 

During the award show, various panel members who voted for the awards as well as respected athletes presented players and coaches with their awards. These honors included Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year, Rookies of the Year, and many more. The NFL named Kevin O’Connell, the Minnesota Vikings head coach, Coach of the Year for his unforeseen success and adaptability. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow won Comeback Player of the Year for an accomplished season upon returning from a season-ending injury the prior year. This year, Burrow had an impressive 43 passing touchdowns, his best season yet. He previously won this award during the 2021 season. Burrow said, “I wouldn’t say this is necessarily an award you wanna be nominated for two times, but I’m proud of the work I’ve put in to come back from these injuries I seem to face every year.” The Defensive Player of the Year, Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II, and Offensive Player of the Year, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, dominated their respective positions. Lastly, the two rookies of the year, awarded to the best players part of the 2024 draft class, are Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. All of these athletes and staff shaped their team’s seasons positively. 

The most anticipated award of the night was Most Valuable Player (MVP). Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills quarterback, took home this honor. He won with 383 votes, compared to the second place, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, with 362 votes. Allen’s story is an inspiring one; following high school, Allen did not have any scholarship offers from colleges, so he worked to get himself on the team at the University of Wyoming. The Bills drafted him as the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Since then, Allen has changed the Bills franchise and has brought them to multiple playoffs. Allen had a dominant season this year, even breaking his own NFL record for consecutive seasons with 40 passing or rushing touchdowns. Allen’s win marked the first time since 1957 that the MVP is not also a first-team all-pro player. In his acceptance speech, Allen shared, “I know this is an individual award and it says Most Valuable Player on it, but I think it’s derived from team success, and I love my team… Be good, do good. God bless, and Go Bills.”

In addition to awards, four past league players were inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. These include cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end and former LGHS student Jared Allen, tight end Antonio Gates, and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe. This year’s NFL Honors celebrated the conclusion of a successful football season and the many people who contributed to it.

(Sources: ESPN, NFL, USA Today)