The Denver Broncos have had a remarkable turnaround in the last couple of years. Since getting new ownership, the team has gone from one that couldn’t get out of its own way to a playoff team that may be beginning to open a Super Bowl window.
It was a fun season for Broncos fans who finally got to see the team get an answer at the starting quarterback position. With the worst from the Russell Wilson contract situation behind them, the idea of the Broncos surrounding Bo Nix with more weapons is exciting.
Four teams are still competing to win this year’s Super Bowl but before the big game, the NFL will hold its annual Honors awards show. That night, the league will hand out several awards including League MVP, Coach of the Year and the Walter Payton Man of the Year. The 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class will also be revealed.
The Broncos will have a few team members up for awards that night.
Denver Broncos 2024 award nominees
The Broncos have two players and head coach Sean Payton who are nominated for awards this year.
Sean Payton- Coach of the Year
Pat Surtain II- Defensive Player of the Year
Bo Nix- Offensive Rookie of the Year
Let’s look at each category and see what the chances are of one of these guys hearing their name called at the NFL Honors.
2024 Coach of the Year
| Nominee | Team | Win-Loss Record |
| Sean Payton | Broncos | 10-7 |
| Dan Campbell | Lions | 15-2 |
| Kevin O’Connell | Vikings | 14-3 |
| Dan Quinn | Commanders | 12-5 |
| Andy Reid | Chiefs | 15-2 |
Payton is nominated despite having the fewest wins on this list this season. However, this award generally goes to the coach who did the most with the least or turned the team from a loser into a winner.
While Payton did that, the Broncos won eight games last season. Payton did get them to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 and he did that with a rookie quarterback but the Commanders went 4-13 last season.
Dan Quinn led the Commanders to eight more wins this season and he did that with a rookie quarterback and though these awards are based on regular-season results, the Commanders are still playing and have a chance to reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1991.
Defensive Player of the Year
| Nominee | Team | Tackles | Sacks | Interceptions | Forced Fumbles | Fumble Recoveries |
| Pat Surtain II | Broncos | 45 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| T.J. Watt | Steelers | 61 | 11.5 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Myles Garrett | Browns | 47 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Trey Hendrickson | Bengals | 46 | 17.5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Zack Baun | Eagles | 151 | 3.5 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
This seems like it could go to any of these players but the league generally favors the sack masters when it comes to the DPOY Award.
What Surtain does best doesn’t show up in the box score. He eliminates the opposition’s top receiving threat or at the very least, helps keep them quite quiet. He has become the best cornerback in the NFL in the minds of many and while he does have a good case to win it, it would still be a mild surprise to see him get it over players like Watt and Garrett.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
| Nominee | Team | Position |
| Bo Nix | Broncos | QB |
| Jayden Daniels | Commanders | QB |
| Malik Nabers | Giants | WR |
| Brian Thomas Jr. | Jaguars | WR |
| Brock Bowers | Raiders | TE |
Unfortunately, Nix was in the same class as some of these guys as he played well enough to win this award most years.
Nix completed 66.3 percent of his passes and threw for 3,775 yards. His 29 touchdown passes were the second most-ever for a rookie QB. Broncos fans would love to see him win the award, but because Jayden Daniels might be having the best rookie season for a QB in league history, it won’t happen.
On top of that, Brock Bowers had what was probably the best rookie season ever for a tight end, breaking records that were set by Mike Ditka in 1961.
Though the Broncos may not leave with any awards, the fact that the team has three nominees is yet another sign that the franchise is headed in the right direction. The NFL Honors will take place on February 6, 2025, and will be televised on FOX and NFL Network. The show will be hosted by Snoop Dogg and will start at 7:00 PM MT.
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