Before Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the NFL Honors took place at the Saenger Theatre, where the league’s best and brightest gathered. With the exception of the Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, and Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year awards, some of the most notable honors presented tonight included: Comeback Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Joe Burrow | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals | Comeback Player of the Year
Photo Cred: cooper neill / getty images
Burrow ruptured the scapholunate ligament in his throwing arm in 2023, a season-ending injury. As questions swirled about how the Bengals quarterback would perform in 2024, he delivered the best season of his career. Leading the league with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns, Burrow became the second player to win the award since its reintroduction to NFL Honors in 1998. His first win in 2021 came after recovering from a season-ending knee injury in his rookie year, followed by an AFC North title and a Super Bowl berth.
Saquon Barkley | Running Back | Philadelphia Eagles | Offensive Player of the Year
Photo Cred: The Morning Call
Barkley had one of the best seasons of his career, and one of the best by any running back in NFL history. Becoming the ninth player to rush for over 2,000 yards (2,005), he was just 101 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105. Unfortunately, Barkley was unable to break it, as the Eagles opted to rest him in preparation for the playoffs.
Barkley also recorded the most 60+ yard touchdown runs in a single season and helped transform the Eagles into a run-dependent team after their Week 5 bye. In his first season with Philadelphia, Barkley played a key role in the team’s 10-game winning streak and their pursuit of another Super Bowl victory.
Pat Surtain II | Cornerback | Denver Broncos | Defensive Player of the Year
Photo Cred: The Denver Post
Surtain was hands down one of the best cornerbacks of the 2024 season, both by the numbers and with his on-field performance. He allowed just 306 receiving yards— the fewest of any cornerback this season— and led the league with 132 interception return yards. Surtain proved to be a difficult matchup for elite receivers, limiting Ja’Marr Chase to only three receptions for 27 yards on 43 routes, and holding DK Metcalf to three catches for 29 yards on 24 routes. The cornerback also recorded four interceptions, tying his career high, and became one of the Broncos’ most vital players on defense.
Jayden Daniels | Quarterback | Washington Commanders | Offensive Rookie of the Year
Photo Cred: USA Today
Daniels’ remarkable season didn’t come as a surprise to many, as the rookie quarterback accomplished plenty in just one year. He rushed for 891 yards, the most by any rookie quarterback in NFL history. Daniels also led the Commanders to the conference championship game, becoming only the sixth rookie quarterback to do so. What set him apart from the previous five rookies was that they played with top-three defenses, while Washington ranked only 18th. Additionally, Daniels threw 12 touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and overtime— the most ever for a rookie in a single season.
