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The NFL held its annual awards show, hosted by Steve Harvey, Saturday in Tampa, Florida, on the Super Bowl LV website. Kansas City Chiefs will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday (6:30 pm ET, CBS).
To no one’s surprise, quarterback Aaron Rodgers won his third MVP award. He led the Packers to the NFC title game before losing Tom Brady and Bucs.
See who took home all the awards and why:
MVP
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers: Rodgers proved to the world that the past few years – a 2017 full of injuries, a change of coach during the 2018 season and a transition to a new coach in 2019 – were not signs of decline. He said during the last week of the season that “[It’s] the personal part, where just proving to myself the level at which I can play, some years in which, although I thought I played well, the results did not always match the way I felt like I was playing. “A season with 48 touchdowns and five interceptions proved this. He became the third player in NFL history to lead the league in touchdown passes, throwing the least number of interceptions (he joined Tom Brady in 2010 and Johnny Unitas in 1958.) He set a career high with a total of 84.4 CBR, the third highest mark in a single season since the metric was first tracked by ESPN, 15 seasons ago, and he did it without the benefit of any additional weapons last season, when the consensus was that the Packers needed another top-line receiver to complement Davante Adams. Rodgers is the sixth player to win the prize three times, joining, among others, the former quarterback of Packers, Brett Favre. “Few guys did,” said Rodgers at the end of the season. Part of the story [would be] very special. ” – Rob Demovsky
Offensive Player of the Year
Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans: Henry turned it into one of the most dominant seasons in the NFL for a running back. The Titans have won eight of the 10 games in which Henry has run for at least 100 yards. Defenses focused on stopping Henry every week, piling up the box. Despite this, he became the eighth player in NFL history to run for 2,000 or more yards. Henry’s 2,027 running yards were the fifth highest total in a single season in NFL history. The 6-foot-3, 247-pound back ended first in running yards, carries (378) and running touchdowns (17). Only 13 other players have led the NFL in consecutive seasons, and 11 of them are in the Professional Football Hall of Fame. Henry ran for 200 yards or more and two touchdowns in one game three times this season, making him the first player in league history to do so. His stiff and fierce arm in Buffalo Bills defender Josh Norman provided one of the league’s most memorable moments last season. – Turron Davenport
Defensive Player of the Year
Aaron Donald, DE, Los Angeles Rams: Donald joins the elite company by becoming the third player in NFL history to win the defensive player of the year for the third time. Former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor and Houston Texans’ JJ Watt are the other three winners. In his seventh NFL season, Donald continued to demand the attention of opponents because of his ability to destroy a game plan on his own. In the NFL’s best defense, Donald had two games with multiple sacks, including four against the Washington Football Team. He finished the season in second place in the NFL with 13.5 sacks and created the first pass-rush pressure in 98 moves (runner-up). He also had a rush rate of 21% against double teams (the first among internal attackers). Donald was named All-Pro of the main team for the sixth time and was elected to the seventh Pro Bowl. He had already beaten the NFL’s Defense Player of the Year in consecutive seasons in 2017 and 2018, when he had 11 and 20.5 bags, respectively. – Lindsey Thiry
Offensive rookie of the year
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers: To quote Miley Cyrus, Justin Herbert came as a wrecking ball … but in a good way. Without Herbert’s heroism and 4,336 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, the season would have been a disaster. Herbert brought to life a talented team overwhelmed by the weight of poor managerial decisions, clock management and their own history of failing to close games (since 2006, the Chargers had lost 72 games to a scoreboard). Herbert made the Chargers exciting and fun to watch and that’s all they and first-year head coach Brandon Staley want for the future. And against the Bucs in October, Herbert launched a 72-yard touchdown pass – standing on the ground – to Jalen Guyton. Not bad for a rookie who hoped to support Tyrod Taylor throughout the season. – Shelley Smith
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Chase Young, DE, Washington Football Team: When you are chosen as number 2 overall, expectations are high. Young not only met them, but in some cases he surpassed them. Young defended the race, harassed the quarterback and became a leader. The first two points were what Washington anticipated. Young finished with 7.5 sacks and 10 missing tackles. He played with talented linemates, but Young was the one who used to form two teams most – and sometimes triple – as the lines often slid to protect him. He improved as a pass-rusher throughout the season. In his last five games, Young recorded three sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown and six of his 12 quarterback strokes. His skill often prevented moves. He also unexpectedly became a team leader simply because he was himself. The companions gravitated towards him and, because of the way he worked and played, listened to him. That’s why he was named captain at the end of the season. – John Keim
Returning Player of the Year
Alex Smith, QB, Washington Football Team: The doubt about the future of Smith’s football was due to his recovery from a fractured fibula and tibia, followed by 17 surgeries for infections. Doctors almost amputated his right leg. After a documentary about his recovery on ESPN, a Washington team official said, “What doctor would clear you?” Later, Smith managed to avoid being placed on the injured reserve during the season and ended up starting. Smith started six games, but was effective when Washington 5-1 with him and 2-8 with the others. His statistics were not good: six touchdown passes, eight interceptions. But mate after mate praised its impact. “When you look down at the heap and he comes in with his brace, you remember that. It gives you the perspective of a guy who is being our leader,” said center Chase Roullier. – John Keim
Coach of the year
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns: Stefanski faced unprecedented challenges for a rookie head coach, including a virtual off-season, installing a new attack on Zoom and a reduced training ground. Despite these obstacles, Stefanski took the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. His calming influence was most felt, however, in the game he didn’t even coach. Stefanski had to stay home for the Cleveland playoff trip to Pittsburgh after hiring COVID-19. But without him, several key assistants and players who also had to stay home with the virus, the Browns jumped on the Steelers en route to Cleveland’s first playoff victory in 26 years. Since returning to the league in 1999, the Browns have gone through 11 top coaches. In Stefanski, they finally seem to have a goalkeeper. – Jake Trotter