Every year before the Super Bowl, the NFL presents its Awards ceremony, honoring the players and staff members who had extraordinary seasons. This year, the event emanated from New Orleans at the sight of Super Bowl LIX.
The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is designed to celebrate players who have made positive impact in their communities, and shown their excellence beyond the gridiron.
After losing Aaron Donald, the Los Angeles Rams' defense should have suffered a major blow. However, thanks to incoming rookie Jared Verse, some of those pains were subdued. Tallying 4.5 sacks and finishing with the fourth most QB pressures in the league with 76, he was a big reason for the Rams' late-season playoff push.
It was essentially a guarantee that Jayden Daniels was walking away with this award thanks to a season that many have described as the greatest quarterback season for a rookie ever.
After injuries took him out for most of the 2023 season, Joe Barrow came back with a vengeance, finishing with a career high in yards and touchdowns, en route to a spot as an MVP finalist.
Thanks for the Detroit Lions posting the number one offense in the league, according to PFN's Offense+ metric, Ben Johnson snagged home the Assistance Coach of the Year Award with his incredible work as the Lions' offensive coorindator.
After injuries dramatically changed the quarterback situation, Kevin O'Connell was able to rally with Sam Donald as his leadmen and lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record in the loaded NFC and took him the Coach of the Year Award as a result.
Working with the enormous Russell Wilson cap hit against them, thr Denver Broncos were able to make a playoff push thanks to a defense that ranked among the top 3 in the league. It was led by cornerback Pat Surtain II, who had four interceptions and 45 total tackles on the year.
The 9th player in league history to record 2,000 rushing yards in a single season. Saquon Barkley broke through the record books and found himself lifting the Offensive Player of the Year Award after helping the Eagles from their last season slump to a 14-3 record and their second Super Bowl appearance in three seasons.
After losing a bunch of their star power, the Buffalo Bills were counted out by many going into the season. However, Josh Allen, with the least turnovers of his career, paved the way for an offense that recorded eight consecutive 30+ point games and made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game.
