AP vs. PFWA: Dueling honors lists
Different approaches, deadlines lead to different results
The NFL and the Associated Press announced finalists for their annual accolades for the NFL season. However, consult your calendar to understand the results.
Watching the playoffs, fans have seen three of the top five candidates for 2024 league MVP: Buffalo QB Josh Allen, Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson and Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley. But forget their postseason play. The AP ballots were turned in before the playoffs began.
That was before Jackson lost to Allen and the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round and Barkley moved into the NFC Championship Game this Sunday against the Washington Commanders.
There is a significant overlap among the voters for the Associated Press and the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA). But differences in ballot deadlines may lead to a disparity in the results.
AP voters cast their ballots after the regular season and before the playoffs. The PFWA votes were due last Thursday, Jan. 16. Yesterday, the PFWA announced Jackson as its pick for MVP.
Another thing to consider:
As of 2022, the 50 NFL MVP voters for AP get to put five players on their ballots. The final total is tallied based on a point system, with first-place votes weighed the most heavily:
Vote Points
First place 10
Second place 5
Third place 3
Fourth place 2
Fifth place 1
Before 2022, each voter cast only one first-place vote. That left the race susceptible to ties if, for example, two players split the 50 votes or simply finished with the same number of votes.
With the point system in place, first-place votes will still likely decide most races, but close races, like this season's, could come down to second- or third-place votes.
Award winners for the AP will be announced at NFL Honors on Thursday, Feb. 6 at Saenger Theatre in New Orleans. NFL Honors, the league’s prime-time awards special, will air live at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on FOX and NFL Network, and stream on NFL+.
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We list the NFL/AP finalists below and include those PFWA award winners who have already been announced.
The complete list of awards and finalists includes:
AP Most Valuable Player:
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
PFWA Winner -- Jackson
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AP Coach of the Year
Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings
Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
PFWA Winner — O’Connell
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AP Assistant Coach of the Year
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills
Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Glenn, Detroit Lions
Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions
PFWA Winner — Johnson
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AP Comeback Player of the Year
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots
Damar Hamlin, S, Buffalo Bills
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AP Defensive Player of the Year
Zack Baun, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
Trey Hendrickson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Pat Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos
T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
PFWA Winner — Surtain II
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AP Offensive Player of the Year
Saquon Barkley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Ja'Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
PFWA Winner — Barkley
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AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
Cooper DeJean, DB, Philadelphia Eagles
Braden Fiske, DE, Los Angeles Rams
Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
Chop Robinson, LB, Miami Dolphins
Jared Verse, LB, Los Angeles Rams
PFWA winner — Verse
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AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
PFWA Winner — Daniels
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Thursday announcements:
PFWA: Vikings O’Connell Coach of the Year
— Executive of Year: Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions
— Assistant Coach of Year: Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions
Kevin O’Connell, who led the Minnesota Vikings to the second-most victories in a season in franchise history, is the 2024 NFL Coach of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
Detroit executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes, whose personnel moves helped the Lions earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, is the 2024 NFL Executive of the Year.
Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who oversaw a balanced group that led the league in several categories and helped the Lions capture the NFC’s top playoff seed, is the 2024 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.
O’Connell led the Vikings to a 14-3 record including a nine-game winning streak. That streak tied for the third-longest winning streak in Vikings history. He is the first head coach in NFL history since at least 1950 to win at least 14 games in a season with a quarterback who is in his first season with a team (Sam Darnold). The Vikings were in contention for the NFC North title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed until the final game of the season. The Vikings were sixth in passing yards per game (237.8), seventh in passing yards per play (7.38), ninth in points per game (25.4), first in interception rate (3.77 percent), second in rushing yards allowed per game (93.4) and fourth in rushing yards allowed per play (4.05). Wide receiver Justin Jefferson was selected to the PFWA’s All-NFL and All-NFC teams while outside linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel along with cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. were selected to the All-NFC team.
This is the first PFWA Coach of the Year honor for O’Connell, and the second Coach of the Year award for the Vikings’ franchise as Bud Grant was the 1969 NFL honoree.
Holmes directed the Lions ascent to the NFC’s No. 1 seed in 2024. Detroit was 15-2 this season, the most victories in a season in Lions history. The Lions were 8-0 on the road, setting a franchise road victory record, and the club won 11 straight games from Weeks 3-14 – the longest winning streak in Detroit history. The Lions set a club mark with consecutive NFC North titles (2023-24), and Detroit earned the No. 1 seed for the first time. The Lions draft success of the previous four seasons has been the cornerstone of the resurgence. The players drafted by Holmes since coming on board in 2021 who received 2024 PFWA honors include tackle Penei Sewell (2021), an All-NFL and All-NFC choice, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (2021), an All-NFC selection, safety Kerby Joseph (2022), placed on both the All-NFL and All-NFC teams and running back Jahmyr Gibbs (2023), an All-NFC pick. In addition, the Lions signed All-NFC punt returner Kalif Raymond as an unrestricted free agent in 2021. Detroit’s 2024 NFL Draft selections included eventual 2024 PFWA All-Rookie selection Sione Vaki (special teamer) in the fourth round. Gibbs and St. Brown were part of an offensive group that was the first in NFL history to have two running backs and two wide receivers all produce 1,000 scrimmage yards in a season. The Lions also acquired quarterback Jared Goff from the Los Angeles Rams in a 2021 trade, and Goff earned 2024 All-NFC honors after he passed for 37 touchdowns and 4,629 yards.
This is the second consecutive and overall PFWA Executive of the Year honor for Holmes and the Lions since the award was established in 1993. Holmes is only the second executive to win the award in consecutive seasons, joining Bill Polian with the Carolina Panthers in 1995-96.
Johnson completed his sixth season with the Lions, and his third as offensive coordinator in 2024. This season, Johnson oversaw one of the most prolific offensive attacks in the league as Detroit set franchise marks in most points scored (564; fourth-most in NFL history), touchdowns (70; tied for fourth in NFL history), first downs (410; fifth in NFL history) and total net yards (6,962). The Lions led the NFL in points, points per game (33.2), touchdowns, first downs, were second in both total offense per game (409.5) and passing offense per game (263.2) and tied for second in rushing TDs (29). Detroit had 10 30-point games, six of which produced 40 or more points and two surpassed the 50-point threshold. The Lions also led the league in point differential at +222. The Lions joined the 2000 St. Louis Rams as the only teams with at least 35 passing touchdowns (38) and 25 rushing TDs (26). The balanced attack saw seven different players producing a game with multiple touchdowns, and five players scored at least seven TDs – which tied an NFL mark.
Johnson is the first Lions assistant to receive the PFWA award established in 1993. He was named the Chicago Bears head coach on January 21.
2024 COACH OF THE YEAR: Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
2024 EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR: Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions
2024 ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions