Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who will lead his team against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl, was named the NFL MVP for the second time on Thursday.
Mahomes, broke the single-season record for total yards, surpassing Drew Brees’ previous mark, with 5,614 in a season where he led the league in touchdown passes with 41.
The quarterback led his team to top seed in the AFC with a 14-3 record and then battled through an ankle injury to take the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl for the third time in four seasons.
Mahomes, who was also MVP in 2018, was named MVP at the NFL Honors event at the Phoenix Convention Center.
In a video message he thanked his family and the Chiefs organization and his teammates before making clear his focus was on Sunday’s big game.
“Every day we are giving everything we have together to go for the ultimate goal — the Super Bowl. Let’s continue to go for that dream this weekend,” he said.
The lopsided voting results saw Mahomes receive 48 of the 50 first-place votes. Jalen Hurts and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen each received one first-place vote.
New York Giants rookie head coach Brian Daboll won the Coach of the Year award after leading the team to its first postseason campaign since 2016.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa was voted Defensive Player of the Year and Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson was named Offensive Player of the Year.
“To the No. 1 defense in the league, shout out,” Bosa said. “All my guys, you make my job a lot easier. It’s a team sport, I just do my job.
“If I’ve learned one thing in life, whatever end goal you have in life, it’s not going to be a smooth path. There’s going to be times when you’re questioning yourself. If you stay the course and you believe in yourself, there is going to be a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year after the 32-year-old enjoyed a strong season seven years after he was last a regular starter.
Smith completed a league-best 69.8% of his passes and threw for a career-high 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety who suffered a cardiac arrest during the penultimate week of the regular season before recovering, attended the event and received a standing ovation after a powerful speech.
