AP NFL Awards finalists announced: Cowboys’ Parsons in the running for Defensive Player of the Year

Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons has been named a finalist for the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award alongside defensive tackle Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs and edge rusher Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers. The honor for Parsons follows a phenomenal sophomore season in which the former Penn State Nittany Lion posted 14 ½ sacks for the Cowboys.

Micah Parsons already has plenty of hardware in his trophy case. He was named the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year last season, as his 13 sacks set a new Cowboys rookie record. He also won the Butkus Award as a rookie, given to the top linebacker at the high school, college, and professional levels of football and named after hall of fame linebacker Dick Butkus. At Penn State, Parsons earned a spot on the 2019 College Football All-America Team alongside current Cowboys teammates CeeDee Lamb (Oklahoma) and Tyler Biadasz (Wisconsin).

Other nominees for AP NFL Awards include:

NFL MVP: Josh Allen, Bills; Joe Burrow, Bengals; Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs; Jalen Hurts, Eagles; Justin Jefferson, Vikings

Offensive Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs; Jalen Hurts, Eagles; Justin Jefferson, Vikings

Comeback Player of the Year: Saquon Barkley, Giants; Christian McCaffrey, 49ers; Geno Smith, Seahawks

Coach of the Year: Brian Daboll, Giants; Doug Pederson, Jaguars; Kyle Shanahan, 49ers; Nick Sirianni, Eagles; Sean McDermott, Bills

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Brock Purdy, 49ers; Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks; Garrett Wilson, Jets

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, Jets; Tariq Woolen, Seahawks; Aidan Hutchinson, Lions

Assistant Coach of the Year: Ben Johnson, Lions Offensive Coordinator; DeMeco Ryans, 49ers Defensive Coordinator; Shane Steichen, Eagles Offensive Coordinator

The winners will be announced Feb. 9 at NFL Honors, and were voted on by a panel of 50 media members from all over the country.