NEW ORLEANS — Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was selected the Offensive Player of the Year at the 2025 NFL Honors ceremony at the Saenger Theatre on Thursday in front of a packed house of NFL stars, alumni and celebrities.
Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II was chosen the Defensive Player of the Year.
Barkley was a phenomenon this season, rushing for a career-best (and league-leading) 2,005 regular-season yards. He is on the precipice of setting the record for total rushing yards (regular and postseason), sitting at 2,447 yards after a monstrous playoff run, just 30 yards shy of eclipsing the mark set by Terrell Davis in 1998.
Barkley joined the Eagles in the offseason after a six-year run with the New York Giants, where he totaled 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns. He has logged nearly half of that production in one season in Philadelphia, spearheading the Eagles’ potent ground game during their push to a 14-3 record and a Super Bowl LIX appearance.
A three-time Pro Bowler, Barkley was named first-team All-Pro for the first time in 2024. He also earned several Rookie of the Year awards in 2018 before being tabbed the PFWA Offensive Player of the Year and winning the Bert Bell Award (top NFL player) in 2024.
Surtain, in his second season as a first-team All-Pro performer, is widely regarded as one of the premier cover cornerbacks in the league at the age of 24.
A four-year pro and three-time Pro Bowler, Surtain also was named the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year.
The only year Surtain wasn’t a Pro Bowler was his rookie year, when he was named to the All-Rookie team while recording four interceptions. He matched that total in 2024, returning one of his four picks for a 100-yard touchdown.
With career 11 interceptions, two forced fumbles and 232 combined tackles, Surtain continues to gain accolades for his outstanding play.
Other awards to be handed out Thursday night included:
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
AP Comeback Player of the Year: QB Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Salute to Service Award: TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
Next Gen Stats Moment of the Year
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
NFL Inspire Change Tribute
FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year
–David Gladow, Field Level Media
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