Josh Allen wins his first MVP award, beating out Lamar Jackson at 2025 NFL Honors
The third time was a charm for Josh Allen.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback was named the Associated Press Most Valuable Player of the Year for 2024 after two previous finishes as runner-up at the NFL Honors show in New Orleans on Thursday.
Allen defeated Lamar Jackson in the playoffs and then beat out his Baltimore Ravens counterpart for MVP. Allen received 27 first-place votes to 23 for Jackson, who is a two-time MVP (2019 and 2023).
Allen's left tackle Dion Dawkins was one of the presenters for the award during the ceremony.
Allen stood up, kissed fiancee Hailee Steinfield, and his mother, Lavonne Allen, and received a standing ovation. He hugged Dawkins on stage before greeting the other presenters, LeSean McCoy, Ray Lewis, Kurt Warner and Aidan Hutchinson.
Allen thanked the Bills organization, including owners Terry and Tim Pegula, general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott, for drafting him in 2018.
"I know this is an individual award and it says Most Valuable Player on it, but I think it's derived from team success and I love my team," Allen said. "We've got such a great locker room in Buffalo. It takes everybody from the equipment staff to the training room to the strength staff, to Slick Rick in the mailroom to the cafeteria upstairs. It truly takes everybody to have team success and I'm so fortunate to be a part of a great organization."
Then Allen directed his gratitude to his family.
"I'd like to thank Joel and Lavonne, my parents. In my 20-plus years of playing football going down to Pop Warner I'd bet you they've missed 15 games in their entire life," Allen said. "They are so dedicated to supporting me and my favorite teammates, who are my sister, my brother and my little sister, Nicala, Jason and Makenna. Thank you guys for all of the support. All the time, money, energy wasted growing up going from meet to game to practice every day. I love you guys. I know you take a lot of pride in this as well.
"Last but not least, my fiancee Hailee. You've been my rock, my best friend. I would not be standing on this stage if it weren't for you. So with that being said, be good do good, God bless and go Bills."
Allen won MVP as the leader of a Bills team that exceeded expectations. Buffalo won a fifth straight AFC East title and was a possession away from dethroning the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
He finished with 27 first-place votes, 22 second-place votes and one third-place votes for 383 points. Jackson had 23 first-place votes, 26 second-place votes and one fourth-place vote for 362 points. Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley finished third (120), followed by Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow (82) and Detroit quarterback Jared Goff (47).
It's the 12th straight time a quarterback has won MVP. The last time a first-team All-Pro didn't win the NFL MVP Award was 1987, according to AP writer Rob Maaddi.
The Bills led the AFC in points (30.1 per game) and committed eight turnovers, tied for fewest in a season in league history. Allen became the first player ever to record 40 or more total touchdowns in five straight seasons.
Allen swept all three awards he was nominated for. He was the winner of the the FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Year and Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
Who votes for NFL MVP?
The AP NFL MVP award is voted on by 50 media members. Individual votes are not disclosed to the public.
How are MVP votes counted?
Voters are allowed to put up to give players on their ballots. Here's how the votes are weighted:
- First place: 10 points
- Second place: 5 points
- Third place: 3 points
- Fourth place: 2 points
- Fifth place: 1 point
This is the third season with the weighted voting system. Prior to that, each voter cast one first-place vote.
Josh Allen 2024 stats
Passing: 307 completions; 483 attempts; 63.6 completion percentage; 3,371 yards; 28 touchdowns; 6 interceptions; 7.7 yards per attempt; 101.4 passer rating; 77.5 QBR; 14 sacks; 2.82 sack percentage; 2 game-winning drives
Rushing: 102 attempts; 531 yards; 5.2 yards per attempt; 12 touchdowns
Receiving: 0 receptions; 7 yards; 1 touchdown
Lamar Jackson 2024 stats
Passing: 316 completions; 474 attempts; 66.7 completion percentage; 4,172 yards; 41 touchdowns; 4 interceptions; 8.8 yards per attempt; 119.6 passer rating; 77.2 QBR; 23 sacks; 4.63 sack percentage; 2 game-winning drives
Rushing: 139 attempts; 915 yards; 6.6 yards per attempt; 4 touchdowns
Josh Allen NFL records broken in 2024
- First player with five straight 40-plus total touchdown seasons (2020-2024).
- First player with 35 or more passing and rushing touchdowns in five straight seasons (2000-2024).
- First player since NFL-AFL merger with three passing and three rushing touchdowns in a game (Dec. 8, 2024 at Los Angeles Rams).
- First player to record multiple career games of 340+ yards passing, 60+ yards rushing, 2+ passing touchdowns and 2+ rushing touchdowns. Allen did it in Weeks 14 and 15.
- First quarterback in league history to record a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in a game (Dec. 1, 2024 vs. San Francisco).
- First player with at least two touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns in consecutive games, and the first player all-time with three such games in a season.
Lamar Jackson NFL records broken in 2024
- First player with 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in a season
- First player with 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a season
- First player to have four perfect games with at least 15 passing attempts (broke record Nov. 3 vs. Denver)
- First player to lead the league in yards per pass attempt and yards per rush attempt in same season
- Fewest interceptions with more than 40 touchdown passes in a season
You can contact Ryan Miller at rcmiller@gannett.com