New Orleans was abuzz as the NFL Honors Ceremony took place on February 6, 2025, celebrating the league's standout performers from the past season. Hosted by Snoop Dogg at the Saenger Theater, the night was marked by heartfelt speeches, significant accolades, and illustrious inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Leading the charge was Josh Allen, quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, who won the highly coveted AP NFL MVP Award. Allen's victory came as he outpaced two-time winner Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) in one of the closest MVP races in recent history. Allen received 27 first-place votes, just four more than Jackson's 23. "Be good, do good, God bless, and go Bills," Allen proclaimed during his speech, expressing gratitude to his family, the Bills staff, and his fiancée, Hailee Steinfeld.
Reflecting on the statistics, Allen finished the season with 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and remarkably added 12 rushing touchdowns. Conversely, Jackson also posted career-high numbers, leading the league with 4,172 passing yards and achieving 41 touchdowns. The razor-thin margin indicated how fiercely competitive the voting was this year, reminiscent of past close contests like the 2016 debates between Matt Ryan and Tom Brady.
Another major highlight of the evening was the announcement of Kevin O'Connell as AP NFL Coach of the Year. Under O’Connell's leadership, the Minnesota Vikings transformed expectations with 14 wins this season, playing for the NFC's No. 1 seed. O'Connell received 25 first-place votes, overwhelming fellow nominees including Dan Campbell from Detroit and Sean Payton of the Broncos. O’Connell emphasized teamwork, stating, "It’s about a locker room full of players... these guys should be really proud of what they accomplished."
The night also honored Arik Armstead of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award for his significant contributions to the community through the Armstead Academic Project. The award is regarded as one of the league's highest honors, recognizing players for excellence both on and off the field.
The highlight of the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year was its smallest class of inductees since 2005. The 2025 class welcomed Jared Allen, Sterling Sharpe, Eric Allen, and Antonio Gates. Notably absent was Eli Manning, the two-time Super Bowl MVP, who fell short of induction this year, sparking discussions about future eligibility for star players.
Throughout the ceremony, awards recognizing the top players of the season were presented. Saquon Barkley racked up accolades as he was crowned AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year after bolstering the Philadelphia Eagles' offense with 2,005 rushing yards. Despite needing just 30 rushing yards to break the all-time single-season record across all games, Barkley sat out Week 18, paving the way for postseason play.
Penned as one of the dominant defenses of the season, Patrick Surtain II captured the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, demonstrating superior performance with four interceptions and limiting opposing quarterbacks to high-pressure statistics.
Rounding out the evening's accomplishments were the wins recorded by Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) as AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams) as Defensive Rookie of the Year. Their performances evoked excitement and optimism for the future of both organizations.
Adding to the dynamism of the ceremony, the Moment of the Year was awarded for Daniels’ Hail Mary pass against the Bears—a thrilling conclusion to the season and quite the highlight reel moment.
With excitement surrounding the 2025 NFL Honors, the focus now shifts to Super Bowl 59, where champions will soon be crowned. This spectacular night reflects not just individual accomplishments but also the vast collective effort and shared enthusiasm within the NFL community.