Bills QB Josh Allen reacts to surprising NFL MVP win over Lamar Jackson
NEW ORLEANS – Josh Allen admitted he was “surprised” to win NFL Most Valuable Player honors for the 2024 season.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback was named the award at Thursday’s NFL honors despite being named second-team All-Pro behind Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who was selected to the first team. He became the league's first outright MVP not to be a first-team All-Pro since John Elway in 1987. Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was a second-team selection when was co-MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003.
“Yeah, I was pretty surprised," Allen said after receiving the award, "given what we know about, typically, how the voting goes. Lamar was very deserving of this award as well. I have nothing but love and respect for him and his game.”
According to the Associated Press, Allen received 383 total points and Jackson got 362. The split for first-place votes was 27 for Allen to Jackson's 23.
It’s Allen’s first NFL MVP award. Jackson has won the award twice.
AP NFL Most Valuable Player voting:
Josh Allen: 27-22-1-0-0: 383
Lamar Jackson: 23-26-0-1-0: 362
Saquon Barkley: 0-1-25-19-2: 120
Joe Burrow: 0-1-15-10-12: 82
Jared Goff: 0-0-6-5-19: 47
Patrick Mahomes: 0-0-3-8-6: 31
Ja'Marr…— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) February 7, 2025
“It feels good,” Allen said. “I feel like my teammates wanted this more for me than I did. But I’m very honored.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Josh Allen reacts to NFL MVP win over Lamar Jackson