Aaron Rodgers Wins His Third NFL MVP Award

Aaron Rodgers won his third NFL MVP award, while the Hall of Fame received 8 new members, among them Payton Manning and Charles Woodson.

Rodgers MVP 

Packers’ quarterback was the star of Saturday’s NFL Honors show, grabbing the third MVP with 44 of 50 possible votes. 

“2020 was definitely a crazy year filled with lots of change, growth, some amazing, memorable moments, 180 straight days of having my nose hairs scraped, playing for very little fans or no [fans] the entire season,” said Rodgers in a video, because the entire show was held virtually. 

He led the league in touchdowns having 48 of them, while posting the fewest interceptions, just five, throwing for 4.299 yards and the highest QBR of 84.3. Only tom Brady and Johnny Unitas managed to have the most TDs and the fewest picks in one year.

Matt LeFleur’s arrival to Green Bay was something that sparked life in Rodgers, who was already struggling under Mike McCarthy’s leadership. Many are accusing the current Dallas Stars’ head coach of being too rigid and not allowing Rodgers to have more creativity and freedom in his game. 

With LaFleur’s arrival, the veteran started playing the best game of his career, leading the Packs twice to the NFC Championship Game, but unfortunately losing on both occasions. 

Other prizes were also awarded tonight. The Offensive Player of the Year was, as expected, Derrick Henry, who had 2,027 rushing yards, the fifth-best productivity in the history of the NFL. Apart from that, he had 17 rushing TDs and led in that category as well. However, his Titans were eliminated in the Wild Card round against the Ravens. 

There was a big battle for the Defensive Player of the Year, with Aaron Donald posting a narrow won over Steelers’ TJ Watt. LA Rams’ linebacker had 27 votes, seven more than the younger of Watt brothers, earning his third DPOY honors. 

Justin Herbert and Chase Young both received Rookie of the Year awards. It was the least dramatic competition, with the majority already predicting such an outcome. Chargers’ QB broke the record for most TD passes in the rookie year, while Young established himself as the Football Team player.

Washington’s Alex Smith won the Comeback Player of the Year, while Seahawks’ Russell Wilson received the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Kevin Stefanski of the Browns was named Coach of the Year. The franchise from Cleveland appeared in the playoffs for the first time after 18 years of waiting. They defeated the NFC North rivals Steelers in the Wild card Round, before losing to Chiefs in the next stage.

Hall of Fame Receives 8 New Names

Payton Manning leads the 2021 Hall of Fame class, as the former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback became its newest member along with seven other remarkable players. 

Apart from Manning, defensive back of the Green Bay Packers and the Oakland Raiders Charles Woodson, Lion’s WR Calvin Johnson, DB John Lynch of the Bucs and the Broncos, and Steelers’ G Alan Faneca. 

Manning, Woodson, and Johnson were all named Hall of Famers in their first year of eligibility, and no doubt attract the most attention in this class. 

Drew Pearson, Dallas Stars’ WR, was elected as a senior inductee, while Tom Flores entered the Hall of Fame as the only head coach on this year’s ballot. He led the Raiders and the Seahawks. 

Bill Nunn, who worked as the Steelers’ personnel executive, received the award posthumously for his outstanding contribution.