Saquon Barkley and Pat Surtain II have been honored as the top offensive and defensive players in the NFL, respectively, after leading their teams to playoff berths. Barkley, the Eagles' running back, had a remarkable season, nearly breaking the single-season rushing record. He accumulated an impressive 2,447 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in 19 games, including the postseason, coming just 30 yards shy of the all-time record. His performance marks the first time a running back has earned this award in consecutive seasons since 2005-2006.
On the defensive side, Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II made history as the first defensive back to receive the award since 2019. Surtain's exceptional season included four interceptions, which he returned for a league-leading 132 yards. His impressive performance earned him his third Pro Bowl selection and a spot on the First-team All-Pro for the second time in three years. Quarterbacks struggled against Surtain, posting a dismal 59.1 passer rating when targeting him, the third-lowest in the league. This makes Surtain the 12th cornerback to win the award.
Both players expressed gratitude, with Barkley notably absent from the award ceremony as he prepared for the upcoming Super Bowl. For more sports news and updates, follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
