If you’re sitting there wondering when are the nfl awards 2025, you aren't alone. It’s that weird limbo time of year. The regular season drama has cooled off, the playoffs are screaming toward a climax, and suddenly everyone wants to know who’s actually taking home the hardware.
The short answer? Mark your calendar for Thursday, February 6, 2025.
But there is a lot more to it than just a date on a Google Calendar. The "NFL Honors" show—which is the official name for this glitzy night—isn't just a bunch of guys in suits patting each other on the back. It’s the definitive closing argument for the 2024 season. It’s happening at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans, right in the heart of the Super Bowl LIX festivities.
The Logistics: When and How to Watch
The show kicks off at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT). If you’re a die-hard who needs to see the fashion choices (or the inevitable awkward interviews), the Red Carpet Show starts an hour earlier at 8 p.m. ET.
You can catch the whole thing on FOX or the NFL Network. If you’ve cut the cord, it’s streaming on NFL+. Honestly, watching it on NFL+ is usually the move if you want to avoid the local commercial breaks that plague some regional broadcasts.
Why the NFL Awards 2025 Date Matters This Year
This isn’t just another ceremony. The 2024-25 season was absolute chaos. We saw veteran QBs like Joe Burrow and Aaron Rodgers trying to prove they weren't "washed," while young guns like Jayden Daniels basically set the league on fire from week one.
Because the awards are announced three days before the Super Bowl, the atmosphere is electric. New Orleans is going to be packed. Snoop Dogg is hosting, which pretty much guarantees it won't be a boring, stuffy corporate event. Snoop has a way of making even the most scripted moments feel kinda off-the-cuff.
The MVP Race: A Five-Man Logjam
The big question on everyone's mind for the nfl awards 2025 is the MVP. It’s usually a "Quarterback of the Year" award, let's be real. But this year, the finalists list is actually interesting:
- Josh Allen (Bills): The guy is a human highlight reel and a wrecking ball.
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens): Looking for a back-to-back? He’s been playing chess while everyone else plays checkers.
- Saquon Barkley (Eagles): A rare non-QB finalist. His impact in Philly has been undeniable.
- Joe Burrow (Bengals): The comeback story of the year for many.
- Jared Goff (Lions): Leading the Detroit renaissance.
People always argue about whether a Running Back should win it. Truthfully? It’s probably going to a QB. But having Saquon in that mix shows just how much he changed the dynamic of the NFC East this year.
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Beyond the MVP: The Awards You Should Actually Care About
While the MVP gets the headlines, the "Coach of the Year" and "Comeback Player of the Year" categories are where the real debates happen.
Coach of the Year is a mess—in a good way. You’ve got Dan Campbell (Lions) who has turned Detroit into a powerhouse, and then there's Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota and Dan Quinn in Washington. All of them have a legitimate claim. It basically comes down to which narrative the voters fell in love with more: the "culture builder" or the "tactical genius."
Then you have Comeback Player of the Year. This one is basically a lock for Damar Hamlin or Joe Burrow, though J.K. Dobbins had a season that would win it in almost any other year.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025
One detail people often miss: the NFL Honors is also when the new Hall of Fame class is revealed. This is huge. Imagine being a legend like Antonio Gates—who is a finalist this year—and waiting for that knock on the hotel room door.
It adds a layer of history to the night that keeps it from feeling like just another Hollywood awards show. You’re seeing the current stars and the all-time greats in the same building.
The Voting Process: It’s Not a Popularity Contest (Mostly)
The awards are decided by a panel of 50 national media members who cover the league regularly. They use a weighted voting system. For example, for MVP, voters pick their top five. A first-place vote is worth 10 points, second is 5, and so on.
This matters because it prevents one or two "homer" voters from skewing the results too much. It’s why you’ll see some winners win by a landslide—the consensus among the experts is usually pretty tight by the time February rolls around.
Where Most Fans Get Confused
Don't mix up the "AP All-Pro" team with the nfl awards 2025 ceremony. The All-Pro teams are usually announced in January. Those are basically the "Best at Each Position" lists. The NFL Honors is for the individual trophies—MVP, OPOY, DPOY, and the Rookies.
Also, the "Walter Payton Man of the Year" is often considered the most prestigious by the players themselves. It’s the only award that allows a player to wear a special patch on their jersey for the rest of their career. Keep an eye on Dion Dawkins (Bills) and Maxx Crosby (Raiders) in that category.
Actionable Insights for the 2025 Ceremony
If you’re planning to follow along, here is how to make the most of it:
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- Set your DVR early: These shows often run over. If you're recording on FOX, add at least 30 minutes to the end so you don't miss the MVP announcement.
- Follow the beat writers: If you want the results 30 seconds before they air, Twitter (X) is still the place. Writers often leak the "knock on the door" for Hall of Famers about an hour before the broadcast.
- Check the odds: If you're into the betting side of things, the lines usually move aggressively the morning of February 6th. That’s usually a sign that "the word is out" among the insiders.
The nfl awards 2025 represent the final chapter of a wild season. Whether your team is in the Super Bowl or has been sitting on the couch since December, it’s the one night where the whole league stops to appreciate the pure talent on the field. See you in New Orleans.
Next Steps:
- Verify your local FOX affiliate's schedule for Thursday, February 6th.
- Download the NFL app if you plan on streaming via NFL+.
- Review the full list of finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year to see which player is representing your team.