Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen wins NFL MVP
Josh Allen continued his journey from hardly recruited high school quarterback in Firebaugh, Calif., to the individual pinnacle of the NFL on Thursday night, winning his first Most Valuable Player Award.
Josh Allen continued his journey from lightly recruited high school quarterback in Firebaugh, California, to the individual pinnacle of the NFL on Thursday night, winning his first Most Valuable Player award.
“I’m very, very honored," Allen said. "I can’t thank my teammates enough. I was pretty surprised.”
Pretty surprised because Allen became the first MVP quarterback to not be voted first-team All-Pro since John Elway in 1987.
Allen, accompanied by fiancée Hailee Steinfeld, became the first Buffalo Bills player since running back Thurman Thomas in 1991 to win MVP and third Bills player overall (running back O.J. Simpson won in 1973).
Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the NFL's Most Valuable Player, poses after winning the award on Thursday night in New Orleans. Associated Press
During a two-minute acceptance speech on the stage, Allen thanked multiple members of the Bills organization.
“Terry and Kim Pegula, Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott – thank you guys for drafting me 7½ years ago; feels just like yesterday, it really does,” Allen said. “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 saluted his parents, Joel and LaVonne, “who in my 20-plus years of playing football, going down to Pop Warner, I bet they’ve missed maybe 15 (games) in their entire lives. They are so dedicated to supporting me.”
Allen ended the speech by acknowledging Steinfeld.
"You've been my rock; you are my best friend," Allen said. "I would not be standing on this stage if it weren't for you."
As Allen made the post-awards interview rounds, Joel and LaVonne looked on.
Asked by The Buffalo News about the moment they heard their son's name announced, they both broke into big smiles.
LaVonne Allen: "The only word I can think of is ‘surreal’ to see your kid up there getting one of the top honors in the NFL."
Joel Allen: "All of the hard work, blood, sweat, tears – it all paid off. I think everybody saw us crying. Overcome with joy."
The Bills were represented by owner Terry Pegula, executive vice president/CEO Pete Guelli, general manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott.
Beane and McDermott spoke to The News after the ceremony.
Beane: “Just super proud of him and all the work he did to go on the journey."
McDermott: “So happy for him, so happy for his family. It’s a great example of what one can accomplish when you put your mind and heart into something.”
Allen received 27 first-place votes, 22 second-place votes and one third-place vote for a total of 383 points. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson received 23 first-place votes, 26 second-place nods and one fourth-place vote for a total of 362 points.
Jackson did not attend the ceremony.
Rounding out the top five were Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (120 points), Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (82) and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (47).
One of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen's top moments was diving for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers after receiving a lateral from teammate Amari Cooper. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Allen led the Bills to a 15-5 record in the regular season and playoffs (they were 15-4 in games in which he played more than one snap) and became the first player in league history to have at least 28 passing touchdowns and 12 rushing touchdowns in a season.
Allen finished second in the 2020 MVP voting and third in 2022, but he gathered just a combined five first-place votes.
Allen also won the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award and was sixth in the Offensive Player of the Year voting.
This year, Allen emerged as the favorite during the Bills’ 3-0 start and seven-game winning streak that allowed Buffalo to cruise to the AFC East title.
“When you’ve got the best player in football at quarterback, he makes it all go,” offensive coordinator Joe Brady said late in the regular season.
Allen authored two of the most talked-about plays of the NFL season and two of the biggest team wins, both played in Buffalo.
The plays: Leading Kansas City 23-21 and facing a fourth-and-2, Allen scrambled 26 yards for the game-sealing touchdown, barreling through and off multiple Chiefs defenders in a 30-21 victory on Nov. 17. Two weeks later in a 35-10 win vs. San Francisco, Allen threw a short pass to receiver Amari Cooper, who lateraled back to Allen, who dove into the end zone and a pile of snow. The Cooper play alone made Allen the MVP of fantasy football general managers (he was credited with a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown).
“Watching him run around and throw across his body and then sit in the pocket and throw it 50 yards down the field – there is nothing that guy can’t do,” tight end Dawson Knox said. “You can’t help but turn into a fan.”
Barkley won Offensive Player of the Year. Allen received one first-place vote and eight top-three votes for that award.
