2008 NFL Awards
| Offensive Player of the Year | |
| Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints | |
 Skinny: Brees threw for 5,069 yards, 15 fewer than Dan Marino's 1984 mark and only the second time someone has eclipsed 5,000 yards passing in a season. Although the Saints were 8-8 and didn't make the playoffs, Brees performed so well he earned 22 votes in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Full story | |
| Voting Breakdown | |
| Drew Brees, New Orleans 22 Peyton Manning, Indianapolis 9 Adrian Peterson, Minnesota 9 Philip Rivers, San Diego 6 | DeAngelo Williams, Carolina 2 Michael Turner, Atlanta 1 Steve Smith, Carolina 1 |
| Past Winners | |
| Defensive Player of the Year | |
| James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers | |
 Skinny: The linebacker who had a career-high 16 sacks, setting a team record, and led the NFL with a career-high seven forced fumbles, beat Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sportswriters and broadcasters announced Monday. Pittsburgh defense was the league's stingiest in total defense, pass defense and points allowed. Harrison was its main hammer. Full story | |
| Voting Breakdown | |
| James Harrison, Pittsburgh 22 DeMarcus Ware, Dallas 13 Ed Reed, Baltimore 8 | Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee 5 Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh 2 |
| Past Winners | |
| Coach of the Year | |
| Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons | |
 Skinny: Atlanta's Mike Smith edged Miami's Tony Sparano by one vote Sunday for the Associated Press 2008 NFL Coach of the Year award. Both coaches oversaw sensational turnarounds, leading their teams from last-place finishes in 2007 to playoff berths this year. Their achievements were reflected by the closeness of the balloting, with Smith getting 23 1/2 votes and Sparano 22 1/2 from a nationwide panel of 50 sport s writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.Full story | |
| Voting Breakdown | |
| Mike Smith, Atlanta 23 1/2 Tony Sparano, Miami 22 1/2 | Jeff Fisher, Tennessee 3 Bill Belichick, New England 1 |
| Past Winners | |
| NFL Most Valuable Player | |
| Peyton Manning, Indianapolis, Colts | |
 Skinny: Peyton Manning joined Brett Favre as the only three-time winners of the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback was a landslide winner Friday in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL. Manning also was the league MVP in 2003, when he shared it with Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair, and in 2004. Full story | |
| Voting Breakdown | |
| Peyton Manning, Colts 32 Chad Pennington, Miami 4 Michael Turner, Atlanta 4 | Philip Rivers, Chargers 2 Chris Johnson, Titans 1 Kurt Warner, Cardinals 1 |
| Past Winners | |
| Comeback Player of the Year | |
| Chad Pennington, New York Jets | |
 Skinny: Chad Pennington has made a comeback from a comeback. The Miami Dolphins quarterback won the Associated Press 2008 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award Wednesday, the second time in three years Pennington has received the honor. He also earned it in 2006 while with the New York Jets. Full story | |
| Voting Breakdown | |
| Chad Pennington, Miami 19 Kerry Collins, Tennessee 6 Jake Delhomme, Carolina 6 Kurt Warner, Arizona 4 Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay 4 Anquan Boldin, Arizona 4 | Joey Porter, Miami 3 Philip Rivers, San Diego 1 Ronnie Brown, Miami 1 Willie Anderson, Baltimore 1 Ryan Clark, Pittsburgh 1 |
| Past Winners | |
| Offensive Rookie of the Year | |
| Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons | |
 Skinny: The quarterback from Boston College, selected third overall in April's draft, was a landslide winner in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Ryan became the third quarterback in five years to win the award; before that, no QB ever took the honor. Full story | |
| Voting Breakdown | |
| Matt Ryan, Atlanta 44 Chris Johnson, Tennessee 3 | Ryan Clady, Denver 2 Matt Forte, Chicago 1 |
| Past Winners | |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year | |
| Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots | |
 Skinny: Mayo was a nearly unanimous choice, earning 49 of 50 votes Wednesday from a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. He was the outstanding performer on a linebacking corps that often struggled during New England's 11-5 season, leading the team with 137 tackles. Full story | |
| Voting Breakdown | |
| Jerod Mayo, New England 49 | Keith Rivers, Cincinnati 1 |
| Past Winners | |
