The NFL Honors were held Saturday night. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was named the league MVP. Here are the rest of the awards.
The NFL spent Saturday evening recognizing the greatness from the 2015 season, as well as the all-time greatness that will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as members of the induction class of 2016. The event, annually held the Saturday before the Super Bowl, named the recipients of the top awards for the year, including the AP Most Valuable Player, AP Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, and AP Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year.
The 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction class was announced during the event. They include linebacker / defensive end Kevin Greene, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, quarterback Brett Favre, quarterback Ken Stabler, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, guard Dick Stanfel, coach Tony Dungy, and owner Edward DeBartolo, Jr.
The awards for this year feature the great players, plays, and coaches of the year. The FedEx Air Player of the Year was awarded to Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, with the FedEx Ground Player of the Year going to Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. The Salute to Service Award Presented by USAA was given to Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson.
The Don Shula High School Coach of the Year award was presented to Tuscarora (Virginia) High School coach Michael Burnett.
St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. The AP Offensive Player of the Year was Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, with J.J. Watt, Houston Texans defensive end, won AP Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season.
The AP Comeback Player of the Year award was given to Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, who fought back from cancer to become a Pro Bowl player this year. The award was presented to Berry by Leah Still, the five-year-old daughter of Devon Still, the Houston Texans' defensive tackle, who also beat cancer.
The AP Coach of the Year was Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. And the AP Most Valuable Player award was presented to Cam Newton.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.
The full list of awardees is below:
AP Most Valuable Player
Cam Newton, quarterback, Carolina Panthers
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
Anquan Boldin, wide receiver, San Francisco 49ers
AP Coach of the Year
Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
AP Offensive Player of the Year
Cam Newton, quarterback, Carolina Panthers
AP Defensive Player of the Year
J.J. Watt, defensive end, Houston Texans
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
Todd Gurley, running back, St. Louis Rams
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
Marcus Peters, cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs
AP Comeback Player of the Year
Eric Berry, safety, Kansas City Chiefs
AP Assistant Coach of the Year
Wade Phillips, Denver Broncos
NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year
Antonio Brown, wide receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
Don Shula NFL HS Coach of the Year Award
Michael Burnett, Tuscarora (Virginia) High School
FedEx Air Player of the Year
Carson Palmer, quarterback, Arizona Cardinals
FedEx Ground Player of the Year
Adrian Peterson, running back, Minnesota Vikings
2016 Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year
Jameis Winston, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Castrol EDGE Clutch Performer of the Year
Drew Brees, quarterback, New Orleans Saints
Deacon Jones Award
J.J. Watt, defensive end, Houston Texans
Art Rooney NFL Sportsmanship Award
Charles Woodson, safety, Oakland Raiders
Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year
Aaron Rodgers' Hail Mary versus Detroit Lions
Courtyard's Greatness on the Road Award
Antonio Brown, wide receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers
Salute To Service Award
Vincent Jackson, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers