The 2024 NFL season is officially in the books.
Although it ended short of the ultimate goal, it was still a special one for the Detroit Lions. The team won a franchise-record 15 games and became back-to-back NFC North champions.
It look a lot of standout performances and big moments to make it happen, so before we turn our focus fully to the offseason, let's give some Lions their flowers.
I asked the Detroitlions.com crew to hand out season awards, and these are the results:
MVP
Tim Twentyman: Quarterback Jared Goff
I know he didn't have his best game in the playoff loss to Washington, but Goff was second in passing yards (4,629), second in completion percentage (72.4), second in passer rating (111.8), and fourth in touchdown passes (37) among all quarterbacks during the regular season and was a finalist for NFL MVP.
Dannie Rogers: Quarterback Jared Goff
Despite David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs' case for running backs running the NFL, it's still a QB-driven league and a Detroit offense without Goff in it would look a lot different. It was another 'peak year' according to QB1, who was dependable and steadied the ship all season long.
Cole Bambini: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs made a massive jump in production in his second season and was known for his big-play ability. He became just the fourth player in NFL history to produce a season with at least 1,900 scrimmage yards, 16 rushing touchdowns and four receiving touchdowns. Gibbs also recorded 41 rushes of 10-plus yards, which ranked third in the league.
Editor's Pick: Quarterback Jared Goff
Goff was an NFL MVP finalist for a reason. The Lions' 2024 offense was spectacular and it all runs through him at the quarterback position.
Offensive Player of the Year
Tim Twentyman: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs stormed onto the scene in his second season becoming one of the top running backs in the NFL. His 20 touchdowns led the NFL and his 1,929 total scrimmage yards came in third behind only Saquon Barkley (2,283) and Derrick Henry (2,114). Gibbs averaged a ridiculous 5.65 yards per rush.
Dannie Rogers: Offensive line
After averaging over nearly 150 rushing yards per game regardless of which running back was carrying the rock, the offensive line deserves this award. The offensive line gave up the 10th fewest sacks in the league and spearheaded the top offense in the NFL for total yards per game with 400-plus.
Cole Bambini: Quarterback Jared Goff
In single-season Lions history, Goff finished first in completion percentage (72.4) and passer rating (111.8). The nine-year veteran also became the first player in NFL history to complete at least 72 percent of his passes and throw for more than 4,500 passing yards in a season. His 37 touchdowns were the most he's had in a single season in his career.
Editor's Pick: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs was electric all season whether sharing the backfield with Montgomery or carrying the load down the stretch. He's a big play waiting to happen, and it's exciting to watch on a weekly basis.
Defensive Player of the Year
Tim Twentyman: Safety Kerby Joseph
Joseph recorded 82 tackles (54 solo), defended 12 passes and led the NFL with nine interceptions. He earned First Team All-Pro honors, becoming the first Lions safety to do so since Yale Lary in 1962. Joseph has the most passes defended among all safeties since 2022 with 31.
Dannie Rogers: Safety Kerby Joseph
When the injury bug took out most of the starting defense (and backups), Joseph was a consistent, healthy mainstay. It's so difficult to separate yourself in a league where everyone is elite. Joseph did just that in Year 3 where his nine interceptions lead the NFL, regardless of his Pro Bowl status.
Cole Bambini: Safety Kerby Joseph
Despite being snubbed from the Pro Bowl, Joseph picked up First Team All-Pro honors. His nine interceptions this season, including two vs. San Francisco, created pivotal extra possessions for Detroit that allowed them to secure the NFC's No. 1 seed. He is also the first Lions player to log nine interceptions and a pick-six in a season since Lem Barney in 1967.
Editor's Pick: Safety Kerby Joseph
It's a clean sweep for Joseph. He led the league with nine interceptions, earned First Team All-Pro honors and should have been in consideration for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award.
Most Improved
Tim Twentyman: Wide receiver Jameson Williams
Williams came into his own in Year 3, recording his first 1,000-yard season. His 17.3 yard average per reception was second in the NFL and he was tied for the NFL lead with five receptions of 50-plus yards. Six of Williams' seven touchdown receptions on the year came from 25-plus yards out.
Dannie Rogers: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs
From 945 rushing yards in Year 1 to leading the league in rushing touchdowns in Year 2, Gibbs set the tone for the rest of his career in 2024 as a dynamic back who can no doubt be RB1 if needed.
Cole Bambini: Safety Brian Branch
Detroit switched Branch from nickel corner to safety alongside Joseph for his second season, and the move arguably created the best safety duo in the league. Branch, who made his first Pro Bowl, led Lions defensive backs with 109 tackles and 16 passes defended, adding four interceptions as well.
Editor's Pick: Running back Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs had a solid rookie season and followed it up with a true breakout year, leading the NFL with 20 touchdowns in just his second season.
Rookie of the Year
Tim Twentyman: Cornerback Terrion Arnold
Detroit's first-round draft pick last offseason was a Day 1 starter and proved the moment wasn't too big for him. He had some penalty issues early in the season but cleaned those up and finished fourth on the team with 10 passes defended. He allowed just four touchdowns in his coverage area in 16 games.
Dannie Rogers: Cornerback Terrion Arnold
He earned a starting role in Detroit's defense and outperformed every other rookie in terms of reps and experience. Arnold took major strides with limiting penalties down the stretch and every defensive player I talked to about the rookie said Arnold's first-year performance was light years ahead of their own back in the day.
Cole Bambini: Cornerback Terrion Arnold
Arnold quickly became a starter opposite Carlton Davis III. He led all Lions cornerbacks with 60 tackles and contributed to a Detroit passing defense that forced the second-lowest completion percentage in the NFL this season (62.6).
Editor's Pick: Cornerback Terrion Arnold
It's hard to argue with Arnold for the Lions' Rookie of the Year. He was reliable (started almost every game) for a defense that dealt with injuries and continued to improve as the season went on. I'm excited to see what he can do in Year 2.
Best Play
Tim Twentyman: Running back David Montgomery's 40-yard reception
Montgomery took a pass in the flat in Detroit's Week 4 win over Seattle and proceeded to run over cornerback Devon Witherspoon and break two more tackles before high-stepping his way to a 40-yard gain. The play set up Amon-Ra St. Brown's touchdown and earned Montgomery the 'Angry Runs' award that week.
Dannie Rogers: Tackle Dan Skipper's 9-yard TD reception vs. Buffalo
The final score in Week 15's game against the Bills spoiled this incredible play call to get Skipper his first career touchdown, but it still made for an electric atmosphere inside Ford Field and was long overdue.
Cole Bambini: Tight end Sam LaPorta's 'stumble bum' 21-yard TD reception
After Goff and Gibbs pretended to fall with the offensive line yelling 'fumble,' the play created confusion among the Bears' defense and allowed LaPorta to get open for a 21-yard touchdown reception. Detroit's ability to execute on trick plays this season made the team enjoyable to watch and this play in Detroit's 34-17 Week 16 win at Chicago reflected the offense's creativity and attention to detail.
Editor's Pick: 21-yard hook-and-ladder TD vs. Cardinals
My first pick would also be stumble bum but for variety I'll go with my No. 2. The Goff to St. Brown to Gibbs hook-and-ladder touchdown in Arizona Week 3 was a work of art. The Lions made it look easy and I distinctly remember hearing some gasps around the press box when they pulled it off.
