NFL

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers Earns 4th NFL MVP; Watt, Parsons Win Top Awards on D

Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp got one vote for MVP, but he easily took top offensive player honors

Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers
Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images

A four-time MVP, three Super Bowl players and the beginning of a brother act.

The Associated Press 2021 NFL awards had a bit of everything, starting with Aaron Rodgers becoming the fifth player to repeat as Most Valuable Player.

Despite the turmoil of training camp and the headlines created by the Green Bay quarterback when he misled the public on his COVID-19 vaccination, Rodgers' play on the field was superb. So much so that he earned 39 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Not even one of Tom Brady's best performances — in his final season — came close in the MVP race, with the Buccaneers quarterback getting 10 votes.

Only Peyton Manning with five MVP awards is ahead of Rodgers.

Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp got one vote for MVP, but he easily took top offensive player honors. Kupp and Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow (Comeback Player) and wideout Ja'Marr Chase (Offensive Rookie) will face off in Sunday's Super Bowl.

Kupp led the NFL with 138 receptions, 1,829 yards receiving and 15 touchdown catches while leading Los Angeles to the NFC West title. A unanimous All-Pro, he received 35 votes, far in front of Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (10).

Kupp was so productive while working with a new passer, Matthew Stafford, that he had 14 games with at least 10 catches, no games with fewer than seven. Though he isn’t the fastest nor strongest wideout, he had 100 yards receiving in 11 contests.

Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, a unanimous All-Pro like Kupp, led the NFL in sacks with a record-tying 22 1/2. He joined brother J.J., a three-time winner of Defensive Player of the Year.

There were a lot of amazing moments in 2021, but former Lions running back Barry Sanders zeroes in on his top RBs of the season.

“I’m not huge on individual awards,” said Pittsburgh's Watt, “but it’s tough not to want that when I saw my brother at the height of his career win that award three times. And I always just thought to myself why can’t I do that?”

You have, T.J.

“Some moments are just special. Couldn’t be more proud of you,”older brother J.J. tweeted after he'd announced the winner on stage.

Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons, who came in second to Watt for top defensive player — but 37 votes behind — was a unanimous choice for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Parsons not only helped the Cowboys turn around their defensive performance this season, but he was so dynamic he helped coordinator Dan Quinn win the assistant coach award.

Parsons promised he would get next what Watt has now.

“It’s an honor, and I’m still hungry, you now what I mean?" he said. "I’m coming for him next year. ... But I guess it’ll be something for me to have ... for next year.”

In the Bengals’ worst-to-first AFC North rise, and then deep into the playoffs, Chase was a major contributor. The fifth overall pick in last April’s draft despite skipping the 2020 season at LSU due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chase had 81 receptions for 1,455 yards with 13 touchdowns.

His quarterback, of course, was Burrow, two years after they helped LSU win the national championship. Burrow’s rookie season was cut short by a knee injury in his 10th game with a 2-7-1 record. The Bengals quarterback sure made up for that in 2021. He smashed single-season franchise records for passer rating (108.3), yards (4,611), TDs passing and 300-yard games (six). His precision passing ranked first in the league at a 70.4% completion percentage, and despite being sacked a league-high 51 times, Burrow had an 8.9 yards per attempt that also led the NFL.

Mike Vrabel's work with the Titans earned him Coach of the Year. Despite using a record for a non-strike season 91 players, and losing his very best, running back Derrick Henry, for half the schedule, Vrabel led Tennessee to the AFC South crown and the conference’s top seed.

“It is a reflection of our football team and staff," Vrabel explained. "They make a connection with our players. Players will come and go, I played for 14 years. You can still make a connection and care for your guys.

“I’m excited about it because we have had adversity and been able to persevere through that.”

Rams veteran tackle Andrew Whitworth, who also played for the Bengals, won the league’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

See the Full List of 2021 NFL Awards

Rookie of the Year: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase

AP Defensive Player of the Year: Pittsburgh Steeler pass rusher T.J. Watt

Best Moment of the Year: Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker 's record-breaking 66-yard field goal

AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase

AP Offensive Player of the Year: Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp

AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022: Tony Boselli, LeRoy Butler, Sam Mills, Richard Seymour, Bryant Young, Cliff Branch, Art McNally, Dick Vermeil

Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: New England Patriots special teamer Matthew Slater

AP Comeback Player of the Year: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow

AP Assistant Coach of the Year: Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn

Salute to Service Award: Denver Broncos fullback/tight end Andrew Beck

Unstoppable Performance of the Year: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow vs. Chiefs in Week 17

Sack Leader Award: Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt

Air & Ground Players of the Year: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady ; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor

Bud Light Celly of the Year: Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins 's "Worm"

AP Coach of the Year: Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel

DraftKings Daily Fantasy Player of the Year: Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp

Fan of the Year: Atlanta Falcons fan Henry Ison

AP Most Valuable Player: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year: Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth

Copyright The Associated Press
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