The NFL season is almost over as the Super Bowl is almost upon us, and that means it’s time for speculation on the NFL awards. These awards only cover the regular season, so no playoff performances will be taken into account (as in Derrick Henry and Patrick Mahomes).

Luke’s

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Kyler Murray

• Kyler Murray had a standout rookie year as the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals. Despite his small stature, Murray was able to prove himself as a reliable QB for the Cardinals by being productive in the air and on the ground as a dual-threat QB. As opposed to other front runners like Raiders running back, Josh Jacobs, Murray was able to at least compete in his difficult division and let up minimal turnovers for a rookie against the defensive giants. The Cardinals have a bright future ahead.

Defensive Rookie of the Year:  Nick Bosa

• Nick Bosa definitely set the bar high for all other defensive rookies who were hoping to make a splash. Bosa was not only one of the most consistent defensive ends this year, but also the one of the best defensive players for the 49ers, who were stacked with defensive stars such as Richard Sherman. 

Most Valuable Player: Lamar Jackson

• What a year for Lamar Jackson. Last year, he was flamed by fans and the media in his rookie year for running the ball too much, but this year he was able to dominate the field in both running and passing yards. Jackson proved to be a defense’s worst nightmare with a 1000+ yard rushing season, as well as one of the best dual-threat QBs as he led his Ravens to the playoffs. It would be shocking if he didn’t win MVP. Not bad for a running back.

Comeback Player of the Year: Ryan Tannehill

• Ryan Tannehill had an interesting 2019-2020 year. He was traded from the Dolphins to the Tennessee Titans, where he started after the former starter was benched. In the games that he started, he had the highest QB rating in the league, even over elite quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Russell Wilson. On top of this, he led the Titans to the AFC Championship.

Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey

• Over 1000 Yards receiving and over 1000 yards rushing is all that needs to be said. He accounted for basically all of the Panthers offense and was pretty much unstoppable.

Defensive Player of the Year:  Stephon Gilmore

• Stephon Gilmore was a key part of the Patriots number one defense. He let up only one touchdown on 92 targets to receivers. In addition, he had 14 pass breakups and 8 interceptions. Despite his bad game against Devante Parker and the Miami Dolphins, Gilmore should be able to win the award, seeing as he was one major reason for the Patriots’ defensive success.

Coach of the Year: John Harbaugh

• John Harbaugh proved himself as a Coach of the Year candidate this year. He was able to develop Lamar Jackson, use his strengths of speed and agility and make his offense into an ultimate scoring machine that would carry them to the playoffs.

Adrien’s

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Josh Jacobs

• The running back from Alabama, Josh Jacobs, had a breakout season in a Raiders offense full of rookies. Jacobs was the best player on either side of the football for this team’s last season in Oakland, losing only one fumble on 266 touches. Jacobs rushed for over a thousand yards and is a spark of hope for their debut season in Las Vegas.

Defensive Rookie of the Year:  Nick Bosa

• Nick Bosa was a dominant force all season long and one of the top contenders for Defensive Player of the Year as a rookie. In the first half of the season, Bosa led the 49ers’ defensive line to elite form, achieving three sacks and an interception in his best game against the Panthers. There is no question that the Ohio State defensive end will follow in his brother Joey’s footsteps and continue to dominate the NFL for the rest of his career.

Most Valuable Player: Lamar Jackson

• Lamar Jackson had a historic season, revolutionizing the quarterback position. After two early losses, Jackson led the Ravens to twelve straight wins, with comfortable victories against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, as well as the Patriots’ elite defense. Jackson also won key matchups against the 49ers and Texans, and that’s not even mentioning his five touchdown performance in a dominant victory over the Rams. Jackson’s league-high 36 touchdowns almost guarantees him the award.

Comeback Player of the Year: Ryan Tannehill

• Ryan Tannehill completely changed the Titans mindset in 2019. A struggling Marcus Mariota was unable to bring the Titans to playoff contention, so head coach Mike Vrabel traded for the former Miami Dolphin Tannehill. The Titans offense thrived for the rest of the season and reached the playoffs, led by Tannehill’s league-leading passer rating.

Offensive Player of the Year: Michael Thomas

• Michael Thomas broke the record for receptions in 2019, separating himself from the rest of the league’s receivers in just about every category. Thomas was a consistent target for Drew Brees and backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. He was able to get over 100 receiving yards nearly every game.

Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald

• Aaron Donald was a dominant on the defensive line yet again this season, even as the Rams struggled in other areas of the game. While he didn’t have that many sacks or forced fumbles, Donald pressured quarterbacks at an elite level. While Stephon Gilmore led the league with eight interceptions, his week 17 struggle against Dolphins receiver Devante Parker may just have lost him the award in an extremely close battle, as their loss took away the Patriots’ first-round bye week.

Coach of the Year: Kyle Shanahan

• Kyle Shanahan transformed the 49ers from 4-12 to 13-3. Years of gambles finally paid off this year. George Kittle, a fifth round pick out of Iowa, became the league’s best tight end in blocking and catching. Raheem Mostert, who was cut by six different teams, was part of a three man backfield that finished second best in rushing yards. Robert Saleh, the defensive coordinator who struggled at containing quarterbacks last year, became the top choice for multiple franchises at the head coach position. The 49ers now have a 50% chance of winning the Super Bowl because of Shanahan’s decisions.