LOS ANGELES, CA (WSAU) — Aaron Rodgers picked up his third NFL MVP honor from the Associated Press in Saturday’s NFL Honors program.
The longtime Packers QB finished the year with nearly 4,300 passing yards and 48 touchdowns to just 5 interceptions. He completed nearly 70% of his passes in leading Green Bay to a 13-3 record and the top seed in the NFC playoffs.
Rodgers nearly won the award unanimously, receiving 44 of 50 possible votes. Buffalo QB Josh Allen received four votes, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes was named on two ballots.
The news also came two days after it was revealed that Rodgers has been in a relationship with actress Shailene Woodley for several months, and announced during his acceptance speech that the two are now engaged.
Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur was also nominated for Coach of the Year for a second straight season. That award was won by Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski who led the Browns to their first playoff appearance in nearly 20 years.
Former Wisconsin Badger QB Russell Wilson earned this year’s Walter Payton Man of the Year honor for the work that he and his wife, former hip-hop star Ciara, have done in the face of the pandemic and cries for racial justice. The couple donated $1 million to Feeding America in 2020 and also purchased billboards in several large metropolitan areas across the country that read “Black Lives Matter. Love, Russell and Ciara.” He also led voter registration drives ahead of the 2020 election.
Milwaukee native TJ Watt was also honored with the league’s Deacon Jones Award which goes to the defender that accumulates the most sacks during the regular season.
Other awards went to LA Chargers QB Justin Herbert (Offensive Rookie of the year), Washington Football Team DE Chase Young (Defensive Rookie of the Year), Tennessee Titans RB Derek Henry (Offensive Player of the Year), and LA Rams DE Aaron Donald (Defensive Player of the Year).
As for Woodson, he received word from the Hall of Fame that he would be inducted while recording an interview at his home. He will become the 27th figure with ties to the historic franchise enshrined in Canton, joining a class that also includes QB Payton Manning and WR Calvin Johnson.
Due to the pandemic, the show was held in a virtual, socially-distanced manner with only host Steve Harvey and a handful of presenters and award-winners on hand in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Others, including all three of Sunday’s honorary team captains and NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell, were taped earlier in the day in Tampa, FL.
SoFi Stadium was originally set to host Super Bowl LV but construction delays caused the NFL to delay their hosting duties to Super Bowl LVI in 2022.
AP awards handed out during the NFL Honors show are voted on by 50 members of the Associated Press that cover the NFL. The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is considered the league’s highest honor.
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