Jalen Hurts, Justin Jefferson and Patrick Mahomes are finalists for the Associated Press’ 2022 NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards.
The winner will be announced on February 9 at NFL Honors. His nationwide panel of 50 media members, who regularly cover the league, completed a vote before the start of the playoffs.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Bengals QB Joe Burrow are also MVP finalists.
Hurts combined 3,701 passing yards, 760 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns to lead the Philadelphia Eagles to a 14-3 regular season record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The Eagles (15-3) enter his NFC Championship his game for the second time in his six seasons.
Jefferson led the NFL with 128 catches and 1,809 receiving yards in his third season with the Minnesota Vikings. Jefferson, along with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, was one of two players who were unanimously named AP All-Pros.
2018 NFL MVP Mahomes helped Kansas City win the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a 14-3 record. The Chiefs (15-3) are in the AFC title game for the fifth straight season. They host the Bengals. Mahomes led the NFL with 5,250 passing yards and 41 TDs. He made his AP First Team All-Pro and he got 49 out of 50 votes.
San Francisco 49ers Edge Rusher Nick Bosa, Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones and Dallas Cowboys Edge Rusher Micah Parsons are the AP Defensive Player of the Year finalists.
Botha led the NFL with 18 and 1/2 sacks, Jones had 15 and 1/2, and Parsons had 14 and 1/2.
Brian Dabor, Doug Pederson and Kyle Shanahan are finalists for the AP Coach of the Year award. Dabor led the New York Giants to his 9-7-1 record in his first season as head coach. Pederson led the Jacksonville Jaguars to his 9-8 record and in his first year with the team he won the AFC South title. Shanahan led the San Francisco 49ers to a 13-4 record, including a 5-0 win against third-string rookie QB Brock Purdy.
Purdy, Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III and New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson are the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year finalists.
Purdy, the last player selected in the draft, started the season as the third-string QB and stepped in after injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. record, won two playoffs, and qualified for the NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia.
Walker led all rookies with 1,050 rushing yards and nine TDs. Wilson led all rookies with 83 catches and 1,103 receiving yards.
Jets cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Seahawks cornerback Tarik Uhlen are finalists for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
New York Giants’ RBS Squon Barkley, 49ers’ RBS Christian McCaffrey and Seahawks quarterback Genno Smith are the AP Comeback Player of the Year finalists.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, 49ers defensive coordinator Demeko Ryans and Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen are AP Assistant Coaches of the Year finalists.
This was the first year of AP’s new voting system. Voters chose the top 5 MVPs and the top 3 for all other awards. For MVP, 1st place was worth his 10 points. Votes for 2nd through 5th place were worth 5, 3, 2, and 1 points.
For all other awards, 1st place was worth 5 votes, 2nd place was 3 votes, and 3rd place was 1 vote.
