Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been named the 2024 National Football League Most Valuable Player.

It was widely considered to be an incredibly tight battle between Allen and his fellow front runners: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.

Other nominees included Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

It wasn’t an entirely empty-handed night for two of the nominees. Barkley took home the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award while Burrow won Comeback Player of the Year.

But after a season where Allen almost single-handedly powered the Bills to the AFC Championship – in a campaign where they were expected to struggle after the loss of many offensive weapons – the 28-year-old California native has taken the league’s top honor for the first time.

In his acceptance speech, Allen thanked his teammates, staff, his parents, and his fiancee Hailee Steinfeld. He concluded, ‘Be good, do good, God bless, and go Bills.’

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has won the 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player award

An emotional Hailee Steinfeld watches on as Josh Allen delivers his acceptance speech

Allen beat out Lamar Jackson to the award, despite Jackson being better in almost every major statistical category – including passing touchdowns, passing yards and rushing yards

Allen became Buffalo’s first MVP since running back Thurman Thomas in 1991 and the third Bills player to ever win the award (the third being OJ Simpson).

Jackson was named first-team All-Pro by the same group of people who voted for the MVP award.

According to the Associated Press, who awards the MVP and names the All-Pro teams, Allen beat Jackson by four votes for the MVP award – but lost out on the All-Pro first-team selection by a vote count of 30-18.

This is the first time since 1987 that the MVP of the NFL was not named first-team All-Pro. That year, Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway took home top honors while San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana was named the first-teamer. 

Jackson had more passing yards (sixth in NFL to Allen’s 14th), rushing yards (first among QBs to Allen’s second), average yards-per-catch (first to Allen’s ninth), average passing yards-per-game (tenth to Allen’s 17th), and more passing touchdowns (tied for second to Allen’s seventh) than Allen while also throwing fewer interceptions. Jackson also had a better passer rating (119.6) than Allen (101.4).

Allen beat out Jackson in rushing touchdowns (12 for Allen, 4 for Jackson) and QBR (by 0.1 point).

In head-to-head battles this season, the Ravens beat the Bills 35-10 in Week 4 while the Bills beat Baltimore in the AFC Divisional round. Ballots for voting were turned in before that game.

Barkley finished third (120 points) followed by Burrow (82) and Lions QB Jared Goff (47). 

The AP Coach of the Year award was won by Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley won Offensive Player of the Year

Defensive Player of the Year was won by Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II

Multiple other awards were handed out over the course of the evening at the NFL Honors.

Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell won the AP Coach of the Year award – beating out a fellow NFC North rival: Detroit’s Dan Campbell.

O’Connell won 25 first place votes and 18 second place votes. Campbell got 19 first-place votes. Behind them finished Chiefs coach Andy Reid and both Broncos coach Sean Payton and Commanders coach Dan Quinn tied.

The two selections for Rookie of the Year were easy choices. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels almost unanimously won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award – barring a single first-place vote for Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. Other players receiving votes for the award included Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr, and Giants receiver Malik Nabers.

Meanwhile, Rams defensive end Jared Verse won Defensive Rookie of the Year – beating out Rams defensive tackle Braden Fiske, Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still, Texans safety Calen Bullock, and Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil.

Barkley overwhelmingly won Offensive Player of the Year – hauling in 35 of 50 first place votes. Jackson finished with 12 while Ravens running back Derrick Henry, Burrow, and Josh Allen all got one. Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase finished third in voting by points despite not earning a first-place vote.

Rams defensive end Jared Verse (L) won Defensive Rookie of the Year while Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (R) won Offensive Rookie of the Year

Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year

For Defensive Player of the Year, Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II took home 26 of 50 first-place votes to win the award. Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson got 11 and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett had five.

The final award handed out for the night was the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award – honoring a player’s commitment to philanthropy and community impact. This year’s winner was Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead.

Finally, the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame announced its Class of 2025 where only four players were selected – the smallest class in 20 years.

Tight end Antonio Gates, defensive tackle Jared Allen, defensive back Eric Allen, and wide receiver Sterling Sharpe will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio later this year.