Aaron Rodgers won his fourth NFL MVP award on Thursday. The Green Bay Packers quarterback rarned 39 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. He was followed by Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tom Brady (10 votes) and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (1 vote). Only Peyton Manning with five MVP awards is ahead of Rodgers. 

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“It is kind of surreal sitting here,” Rodgers said, adding that all four MVP awards are unique in their own ways ‘and this one feels the sweetest’. 

“There was something to how I felt walking off the field. I had great conversations with the Packers before I left town. There have been changes to the staff. Just comes down to weighing where I am at mentally and what the commitment is.”

Kupp and Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow (Comeback Player) and wideout Ja’Marr Chase (Offensive Rookie) will face off in Sunday’s Super Bowl.

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Kupp led the NFL with 138 receptions, 1,829 yards receiving and 15 touchdown catches while leading Los Angeles to the NFC West title. A unanimous All-Pro, he received 35 votes, far in front of Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (10).

Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt, a unanimous All-Pro like Kupp, led the NFL in sacks with a record-tying 22 1/2. He joined brother J.J., a three-time winner of Defensive Player of the Year.

“I’m not huge on individual awards,” said Pittsburgh’s Watt, “but it’s tough not to want that when I saw my brother at the height of his career win that award three times. And I always just thought to myself why can’t I do that?”

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Dallas linebacker Micah Parsons, who came in second to Watt for top defensive player — but 37 votes behind — was a unanimous choice for Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

Mike Vrabel’s work with the Titans earned him Coach of the Year. Despite using a record for a non-strike season 91 players, and losing his very best, running back Derrick Henry, for half the schedule, Vrabel led Tennessee to the AFC South crown and the conference’s top seed.

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Rams veteran tackle Andrew Whitworth, who also played for the Bengals, won the league’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Here is the full list of the 2021 honours:

MVP: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Defensive Player of the Year: T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys

Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans

With inputs from the Associated Press