NFL MVP Debate: Josh Allen Wins the Award, But Was Lamar Jackson More Deserving?

When the NFL Honors began last night, fans quickly noticed that quarterback Lamar Jackson was not in attendance, sparking fears that the writing was on the wall—Josh Allen would be leaving with the Most Valuable Player trophy.

The two quarterbacks faced off this season, each winning one game against the other. However, Allen won the matchup that mattered most in the playoffs before the Bills fell to Kansas City in the AFC Championship game. Allen had a historic season, finishing with a 64% completion rate, 3,371 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.

For Jackson to be named first-team All-Pro but not win MVP felt contradictory to some. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky addressed the topic this morning, explaining why he voted for Allen as MVP while giving Jackson his first-team All-Pro vote—a stance that frustrated his co-host and former NFL player Dominique Foxworth.

Foxworth pushed back on the argument that Allen was more valuable to his team, a narrative many voters used to justify their selection.

“I think both of them had MVP-caliber seasons, but it feels like you’re trying to find little semantics, trapped doors… because you don’t want to say what you really want to say,” Foxworth told Orlovsky on ESPN’s Get Up.

“That Lamar Jackson had the best season this year… normally MVP means who’s the best damn dude in the league. And to me, obviously, Josh had an MVP-caliber season. But the best damn dude in the league this year was the guy who was first-team All-Pro.”

FOX Sports’ Chris Broussard echoed a similar sentiment, stating that the wrong quarterback won the award.

“I think Lamar should’ve gotten this award. I won’t kill it, but not only by my estimation did they get it wrong, they got it wrong by their own estimation,” Broussard said on First Things First.

The debate rages on in sports media, but both Jackson and Allen would likely trade the MVP trophy to be in Patrick Mahomes’ position—preparing to play in the Super Bowl this Sunday in New Orleans.