QB Joe Burrow, WR Ja'Marr Chase and DE Trey Hendrickson were announced as finalists for Associated Press Awards that will be announced at the 2025 NFL Honors ahead of Super Bowl LIX.
Burrow is a finalist for three different awards: AP Most Valuable Player, AP Offensive Player of the Year and AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Burrow led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and passing touchdowns (43) in 2024, and he became the third quarterback in league history to have at least 4,500 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions, joining Tom Brady in 2007 and Aaron Rodgers in 2011.
The former first overall pick set an NFL record with eight straight games of at least 250 passing yards and at least three touchdown passes. He also became the second QB in league history to have multiple seasons completing at least 70% of his passes, joining Drew Brees. He tied Cincinnati legend Ken Anderson for the franchise record with his 70.6% completion percentage, and he broke his own franchise records for yards and touchdowns.
Burrow previously won Comeback Player of the Year in 2021 after returning from a season-ending injury his rookie year. The other finalists for the award include Vikings QB Sam Darnold, Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins, Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez and Bills S Damar Hamlin.
Bills QB Josh Allen, Eagles RB Saquon Barkley, Lions QB Jared Goff and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson join Burrow as finalists for MVP.
Chase is also up for AP Offensive Player of the Year after having one of the best receiving seasons in league history on his way to a unanimous AP First Team All-Pro selection.
He joined an exclusive club in 2024, becoming the sixth receiver in the Super Bowl era to lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in a single season to win the NFL Triple Crown. He joined Jerry Rice, Sterling Sharpe, Steve Smith Sr. and Cooper Kupp as the only receivers to accomplish the feat since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger.
Chase finished the season with 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. Not only did those pace the league, but he also set the franchise record for receptions and yards and tied the franchise record for touchdowns. He matched Carl Pickens' 17 touchdowns from 1995.
The LSU product is joined by Burrow, Jackson, Barkley and Ravens RB Derrick Henry as the other finalists for the award.
Hendrickson is a finalist for AP Defensive Player of the Year after he reigned as the NFL sack king in 2024, racking up 17.5 takedowns and earning an Ap First Team All-Pro nod in the process. He outpaced second place, Cleveland's Myles Garrett, by 3.5 sacks.
The defensive end ranks third in the NFL in sacks since signing with Cincinnati in 2021 with 57. He now has back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons after tallying the same amount in 2023.
Hendrickson joins Garrett, Eagles LB Zack Baun, Broncos CB Pat Surtain II and Steelers EDGE T.J. Watt as finalists for the award.
2025 NFL Honors will take place Thursday, February 6, at 9 p.m. in New Orleans.
