NFL MVP 2024: Josh Allen Edges Out Lamar Jackson in Controversial Vote

The NFL officially crowned its 2024 Most Valuable Player on Thursday night at the NFL Honors, with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen taking home the award over Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in a highly contested race.

For much of the season, the MVP battle was seen as a two-man race between Allen and Jackson, with both quarterbacks delivering stellar performances for their teams. Although the Bills eliminated the Ravens in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, MVP voting is determined before the postseason begins, making the regular-season stats and All-Pro selections the primary deciding factors.

How the MVP Votes Played Out

Allen narrowly edged out Jackson in voting, finishing with 383 points compared to Jackson’s 362. The scoring system awards 10 points for a first-place vote, five for second, three for third, two for fourth, and one for fifth through tenth.

A crucial factor in the outcome was first-place votes:

• Allen received nine additional first-place votes from the All-Pro team, while Jackson lost seven of his.
• One voter ranked Jackson as low as fourth on their ballot—the lowest placement for either of the two frontrunners.
• Allen’s lowest ranking was third on just one ballot.

MVP vs. All-Pro Controversy

Despite finishing second in MVP voting, Jackson was named the first-team All-Pro quarterback, a distinction that historically aligns with MVP winners. This anomaly—where the first-team All-Pro QB fails to win MVP—has only happened twice in modern NFL history:

• 2012: Adrian Peterson won MVP over first-team All-Pro QB Peyton Manning.
• 1987: Joe Montana was first-team All-Pro, but John Elway won MVP.

Many fans and analysts questioned the inconsistency, as Jackson had superior statistics in several key categories:

• 4,712 total yards (4,000+ passing, 900+ rushing)
• 41 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
• QBR of 77.3

In comparison, Allen posted:

• 3,731 passing yards
• 28 touchdowns, 6 interceptions

What’s Next for Both Quarterbacks?

While Jackson may feel slighted, he remains one of the NFL’s elite talents and will likely have future MVP opportunities. Meanwhile, Allen finally secured his first career MVP, further cementing his legacy as one of the league’s top quarterbacks.

Despite the controversy, both players proved they are among the best in the game—setting the stage for another exciting season in 2025.