Josh Allen Wins MVP at NFL Honors, Defeating Lamar Jackson
In a major surprise at Thursday's NFL Honors ceremony in New Orleans, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen overcame the odds to claim The Associated Press' NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, beating out Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Allen made history as the first player in 21 years to win the MVP without being named a first-team All-Pro. Only two other players have previously won the MVP without first-team All-Pro honors: Broncos quarterback John Elway (1987) and Titans quarterback Steve McNair (2003).
In one of the closest MVP races in recent memory, Allen garnered 27 first-place votes, surpassing Jackson by four votes. Despite Jackson being named a first-team All-Pro quarterback earlier in the month, Allen’s MVP win came as a surprise to many, given that the same voters select both MVP and All-Pro teams.
Here are the final vote counts for the 2024 NFL MVP:
- Josh Allen: 27-22-1-0-0—383
- Lamar Jackson: 23-26-0-1-0—362
- Saquon Barkley: 0-1-25-19-2—120
- Joe Burrow: 0-1-15-10-12—82
- Jared Goff: 0-0-6-5-19—47
- Patrick Mahomes: 0-0-3-8-6—31
- Jayden Daniels: 0-0-0-2-4—8
- Justin Herbert: 0-0-0-3-0—6
- Ja'Marr Chase: 0-0-0-2-2—6
- Sam Darnold: 0-0-0-0-3—3
- Baker Mayfield: 0-0-0-0-2—2
Although Jackson had more first-team All-Pro votes (30 to Allen's 18), Allen’s total of first-place MVP votes helped him pull ahead. Nine voters picked Jackson first for Offensive Player of the Year and Allen first for MVP, which helped tip the scale in Allen’s favor.
Allen's win makes him the third Buffalo Bills player to earn MVP honors, joining O.J. Simpson (1973) and Thurman Thomas (1991). This marks the closest MVP race since 2016 when Matt Ryan won with 25 first-place votes, narrowly edging Tom Brady, who received 10.
Upon receiving the award, Allen acknowledged the contributions of his team, stating, “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.” He also praised Jackson and the other finalists, saying, "They all had great seasons and all could be standing here today."
Though Allen trailed Jackson in most major statistical categories, the narrative around Allen’s success was centered on him achieving more with less. After losing his top two wide receivers, Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, Allen led the Bills to an AFC East title and a 13-4 record. He became the first player in NFL history to record at least 25 touchdown passes, 10 rushing touchdowns, and fewer than 10 interceptions in a single season.
Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott reflected on Allen’s leadership, calling it the biggest factor behind the Bills’ successful season. "Josh Allen's leadership, his consistent leadership, was the biggest reason why we did what we did this season," McDermott said.
Despite Jackson’s impressive statistics, including career highs in passing yards (4,172) and touchdowns (41), he left the ceremony without an MVP trophy. Jackson set new records, becoming the first player in league history to record over 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a season, along with a remarkable 119.6 passer rating.
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Other NFL Honors:
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Offensive Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles)
Barkley rushed for over 2,000 yards, falling just shy of Eric Dickerson’s record. He received 35 first-place votes. -
Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos)
Surtain, a cornerback, allowed only two touchdowns and 306 receiving yards, securing 26 first-place votes. -
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders)
Daniels led Washington to a 12-5 record, becoming the first rookie in NFL history to pass for over 3,500 yards and rush for over 800 yards in a season. He received 49 first-place votes. -
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams)
Verse led all rookies with 18 quarterback hits and 50 pressures, securing 37 first-place votes.
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Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals)
Burrow returned from a wrist injury to lead the NFL with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns. -
Coach of the Year: Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings)
O’Connell led the Vikings to 14 wins and a playoff berth, despite losing star quarterback J.J. McCarthy early in the season.
Other notable awards included Arik Armstead winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, and George Kittle receiving the Salute to Service Award for his work supporting U.S. service members.