PFWA Declares Jackson MVP
Barkley named Offensive POY, Surtain Defensive POY
The PFWA has spoken. Will the Associated Press agree?
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who led the NFL in passer rating and became the first QB in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards and rush for over 800 yards in a season, is the 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who led the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards, is the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who surrendered the fewest receiving yards at his position when targeted by opposing quarterbacks, is the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
It should be noted that PFWA voters could cast their ballot as late as January 16, last Thursday. The Associated Press MVP selection, which will be announced February 6, the Thursday before the Super Bowl, was determined the week after the end of regular season and before the playoffs. We expect that may give an advantage to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Jackson, the 51st MVP honored by the PFWA, wins the award for the second consecutive year and for third time overall (2019, 2023-24). He is the first player to win back-to-back MVP awards since quarterback Aaron Rodgers (2020-21) and the sixth overall since the PFWA first awarded the honor for the 1966 season (running back Earl Campbell 1978-79, quarterback Brett Favre 1995-96, running back Marshall Faulk 2000-01, quarterback Peyton Manning 2008-09 and Rodgers).
Jackson’s third MVP honor ties him with quarterback Tom Brady (2007, 2010 and 2017) for second-most in PFWA history, behind only the four selections each for Manning and Rodgers. He is the 12th consecutive quarterback selected MVP by the PFWA and the 35th QB to win the award overall. The Ravens have won four PFWA MVP awards with Jackson (2019, 2023-24) and running back Jamal Lewis in 2003 – that ties the Ravens with the San Francisco 49ers, and the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts for the second-most MVP awards for a franchise behind the seven of the Green Bay Packers.
Jackson, in his seventh NFL season, started all 17 games, completed 316 of 474 passes (66.7 percent) for a career-high 4,172 yards, 8.8 yards per attempt (first in the NFL), a career-high 41 touchdowns (second in the NFL), only four interceptions, a 10.3 TD/INT ratio (first in the NFL) and a 119.6 passer rating (first in the NFL and fourth-best all time) with a passer rating of 100 or more in 13 games. He is the first player in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards, 40 touchdowns and fewer than five interceptions in a single season. Jackson rushed 139 times for 915 yards (6.6 yards per carry) and four touchdowns. He led a Ravens offense that was the first in NFL history to have over 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in the same season and was first in total offense (424.9 yards per game). Jackson threw at least four touchdown passes in four games, including a pair of five-TD games. He was the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Weeks 5, 7 and 10, and he was the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. Jackson was selected to the PFWA’s 2024 All-NFL and All-AFC teams.
Barkley, in his seventh NFL season, is the first Eagles player to earn the PFWA’s Offensive Player of the Year award, the second straight running back and 14th overall RB to win the award since it was instituted in 1992.
Barkley started 16 games and rushed 345 times for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns, and he also caught 33 passes for 278 yards and two TDs for the Eagles. He is the ninth player in NFL history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season, and his 2,005 yards is eighth-most in league history. Barkley is the only player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 or more yards and 13 or more touchdowns while averaging more than 5.8 yards (5.81) per carry. He recorded the second-best rushing average for a player who posted 345 or more carries, and he also tied an NFL mark with four rushing touchdowns of 60 or more yards. He posted a career high in scrimmage yards (302) and a franchise record in rushing yards (255) with two TDs in a 37-20 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12. He posted 11 games with 100 or more rushing yards, including five of 150 or more. Barkley was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week four times (Weeks 1, 7, 9 and 12) and the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November. He was selected to the PFWA’s 2024 All-NFL and All-NFC teams.
Surtain, in his fourth season, is the PFWA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the first time, and the honor is the first by a Broncos player since the award was instituted in 1992. He is the fourth cornerback to earn the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year honor and the first since Stephon Gilmore in 2019.
Surtain started 16 games, and he posted 45 total tackles (34 solo), four interceptions for 132 return yards and a touchdown, 11 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He excelled in coverage as he allowed only 306 receiving yards – the fewest allowed by any NFL cornerback with 375 or more coverage snaps according to NextGen Stats and the second-lowest passer rating when targeted (59.1) among cornerbacks. Surtain held opposing receivers to only 66 yards after the catch – the second-fewest yards allowed among corners with at least 375 coverage snaps, according to NextGen Stats. His 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against Las Vegas in Week 5 was the second-longest interception return for a TD in franchise history. He was the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 5, and the AFC Defensive Player of the Month in November. Surtain was selected to the PFWA’s 2024 All-NFL and All-AFC teams.
2024 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
2024 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
2024 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: CB Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos