Before the NFL culminates with Super Bowl 59, the league will designate players and coaches of the year with Thursday’s NFL Honors. The headliner here is the Most Valuable Player award, but there is a bevy of other awards to announce on this program. Here’s how to watch and what to expect.

How to watch the NFL Honors

• Venue: Saenger Theater — New Orleans
• Time: 9 p.m. ET Thursday
• TV: FOX, NFL Network
• Streaming: Fubo (try for free)

If you’re unfamiliar, the NFL Honors are like football’s Oscars or Grammys. The event is in its second decade but was pre-recorded until 2021. Now there’s a red carpet (no, it’s not red for the Kansas City Chiefs) and a celebrity host, noted Pittsburgh Steelers fan Snoop Dogg.

The inaugural NFL Honors were held in Indianapolis in 2012. Lenny Kravitz performed, Cam Newton and Von Miller were Rookies of the Year (the 2011 Draft was so, so stacked) and Aaron Rodgers took home the biggest trophy.

This year’s run is expected to conclude with Josh Allen coronated as MVP. He’s been favored by all sportsbooks in MVP odds, followed by Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley and Joe Burrow.

There are runaway favorites for other designations. Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell is expected to win Coach of the Year, guiding the Vikings to 14-3 after going 7-10 last season. He’s up against Andy Reid, Dan Campbell and Dan Quinn, among others. Offensive Rookie of the Year will undoubtedly be Jayden Daniels, who flourished under center and led Washington to the NFC Championship. Defensive Rookie of the Year pits Rams pass rusher Jared Verse (4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries) against Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, who started 16 games in the regular season and is the playoff starter for Philadelphia’s Super Bowl-bound defense. He had 13 defended passes and zero interceptions during the regular season but has accumulated four defended passes and two clutch picks in the playoffs.

Burrow looks like a sure thing for Comeback Player of the Year. Cincinnati’s star quarterback tore his wrist last November, only to return this fall with the best season of his pro career. He led the league in completions, passing yards and touchdowns — a sensational performance in spite of a frustrating Bengals’ campaign. If injury returns weren’t included, Sam Darnold would surely run away with the award.

Barkley is the overwhelming favorite for Offensive Player of the Year, which has functionally become the non-QB MVP award or the Nobel Prize in fantasy football. Either way, Philly’s backfield force has bigger things on his mind right now.

The markets like Patrick Surtain II for Defensive Player of the Year, though T.J. Watt and Trey Hendrickson moved up the board later in the season. Denver’s lockdown corner made his second First-Team All-Pro in 2024, emerging as a star of the league at 24 years old.

Other announcements include the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award and the latest Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Most NFL MVPs: Peyton Manning (5)

Most NFL DPOYs: Lawrence Taylor, J.J. Watt and Aaron Donald (3)

Most COTYs: Don Shula (4)

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(Photo by Gregory Fisher / Imagn Images)