February is approaching fast and with that, football fans await not only the Super Bowl but also the exciting NFL Honors Awards where they can see their favorite players win (or lose) prestigious awards like Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, or Defensive Player of the Year.
We will be looking at some of the most hyped awards to be presented in the NFL Honors, look at my top 3 candidates for each award, and decide who exactly is the most deserving.
Here is a list of the most anticipated awards to be given out at this year’s NFL Honors Awards:
Most Valuable Player
Offensive Player of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
Coach of the year
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Top 3 candidates:
My Favorite: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
All 3 of these players have shown that they are deserving of this prestigious award this season.
Josh Allen is one of the most deserving players in the league—as of week 15, he has 25 passing Touchdowns, 11 rushing Touchdowns, and 3,395 passing yards. JJosh Allen is the one who led his team to an impressive 11-3 record, beating teams with outstanding records this season such as the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Saquon Barkley also showcases his worthiness of the award with his 1,688 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Lamar Jackson has also had an amazing season performance through his stats with 3,580 passing yards, 34 passing touchdowns, and 3 rushing touchdowns.
Despite these great stats, I believe that there is only one player who warrants the “Most Valuable Player” to his team and that player is undoubtedly Josh Allen.
The other candidates such as Saquon Barkley, although he has had an outstanding season, may not be as valuable to his team as Josh Allen is to his. The Philadelphia Eagles have made many Superbowl appearances in recent and a final record of 11-6 all of which came before the acquisition of Saquon Barkley, displaying their ability to perform well even without the star running back.
Now when we compare the race between Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen holds a total number of 36 touchdowns, including both his passing and rushing statistics, exemplifying his extreme versatility and how much of a dual threat the 28-year-old quarterback is.
The Bills team record of 11-3 also shows Josh Allen’s greatness compared to the Ravens 9-6.
Offensive Player of the Year
Top players:
Saquon Barkley
Ja’marr Chase
Derrick Henry
The top offensive players of the year include star running back and MVP candidate Saquon Barkley, who has been widening the gap between himself and other OPTY candidates. In second place for the reward is Bengals star wide receiver Ja’marr Chase with 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns. Finally in 3rd place is the Ravens running back Derrick Henry with 1,474 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Between these three candidates, it’s clear most NFL watchers would agree that Saquon Barkley will win the Offensive Player of the Year award, with fantastic performances and memorable plays such as his backward hurdle over Jaguars defenders. Saquon has an undeniably amazing performance this season and for him to walk away from the NFL honors empty-handed would be nothing short of disrespectful.
Defensive Player of the Year
Top players: T.J Watt, Steelers
Pat Surtain II, Broncos
Myles Garrett, Browns
T.J. Watt leads the NFL in his efforts to win the Defensive Player of the Year award with 11.5 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles. In close second is Pat Surtain II with 23 solo tackles, 8 assists, and 3 interceptions. Finally in 3rd place, Myles Garrett. He has an impressive stat line of 29 solo tackles, 6 assists, 11 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 forced fumbles
T.J. Watt seems the most likely to win DPOY based on his overall impact and game-changing plays. T.J. Watt also has an immense history of being at the top of the list when it comes to candidates for the DPOY award. However, he has not received the award since the 2021 season. I speak for many football fans when I say, it’s about time T.J. Watt gets the love he deserves and wins his second DPOY award, based off of his recent performances.
Coach of the Year
As of week 15, Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions leads the race for the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year award. He has led his team to a 12-2 record, as he holds the crown for coaching the best team in the NFC, through his high risk-high reward coaching style which certainly makes him qualified for this award
Kevin O’Connell, head of the Minnesota Vikings is right behind him O’Connell is accredited with keeping the Vikings a competitive team through his integration of QB Sam Darnold.
And finally, Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers ranks third. Mike Tomlin has guided the Steelers to an impressive season, and throughout his 18 years as their head coach, is yet to have a losing season, showcasing his worthiness of the award.
However, only one must come out on top, and it’s clear that the winner should undoubtedly be, Dan Campbell, for leading his team to success through his nerve-racking yet rewarding coaching style.
In the end, the NFL honors are really all about personal opinion, and a lot goes into deciding a winner for said awards. Statistical greatness, availability, and teamwork all factor into the results of the NFL honors. Ultimately these awards don’t just celebrate more than talent–they honor the players and coaches who have helped define their fellow teammates, season, and organization, and those who have left a lasting impression on the National Football League.