9:03 p.m.: The prestigious Walter Payton Man of the Year award went to Eli Manning and Larry Fitzgerald.
Congratulations to Eli Manning & @LarryFitzgerald!
2016 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award winners, presented by @Nationwide! #WPMOY pic.twitter.com/gNlCik0KLd
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
8:50 p.m.: The best player in the NFL this season was … Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who was awarded the MVP on Saturday.
🚨🚨 Matty Ice = M-V-P! 🚨🚨@M_Ryan02 is the Most Valuable Player for the 2016 season! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/6RRO43MIvl
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
Mike Evans also earned an award for this play:
Congrats to @MikeEvans13_ for winning @Bridgestone Performance Play of the Year! #NFLHonors https://t.co/1GDggYPeO0
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
8:30 p.m.: The Dallas Cowboys had an incredible regular season with rookies starting at quarterback and running back, and Jason Garrett was rewarded for that with Coach of the Year.
.@dallascowboys HC Jason Garrett is the 2016 Coach of the Year! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/xzSx10fNvo
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
8:22 p.m.: The Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award goes to … Indianapolis Colts running back Frank Gore.
The Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award Winner is @Colts RB Frank Gore! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/pcH2OIsmmy
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
And Oakland Raiders QB Derek Carr also is a winner.
The @CastrolUSA EDGE #ClutchPerformer of the Year is @derekcarrqb! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/ItCObCAgmv
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
8:10 p.m.: It’s official: LaDainian Tomlinson, Kurt Warner, Terrell Davis, Kenny Easley, Jason Taylor, Morten Andersen and Jerry Jones are heading to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The @ProFootballHOF Class of 2017 is SET: https://t.co/ApAyNUjZ1W #PFHOF17 pic.twitter.com/s7z1TUBE87
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
7:55 p.m.: The Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons both have some more award winners.
The Built @Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year: The @dallascowboys! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/FMc4tE5s16
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
The Assistant Coach of the Year: Kyle Shanahan! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/QTCYuGtymI
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
7:50 p.m.: In an expected outcome, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson won Comeback Player of the Year.
JORDY!
Congratulations @JordyRNelson!
Comeback Player of the Year, presented by @McDonalds. #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/5gwtgTYjYR— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
7:48 p.m.: An official announcement will come later in the show, but here’s the reported Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017, according to Andrew Luria of FOX 5 San Diego:
BREAKING: LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Davis, Kurt Warner, Morten Andersen & Jason Taylor make up 2017 class of the Pro FB Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/Sp8Rq3Yann
— Andrew Luria (@AndrewLuria) February 5, 2017
7:42 p.m.: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is the Offensive Player of the Year.
MATTY ICE! ❄️
The 2016 Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Ryan. 🏆 #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/SELzrS8DoJ
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 5, 2017
7:32 p.m.: The Los Angeles (still weird) Chargers’ Joey Bosa earned the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
👌👌👌
The Defensive Rookie of the Year is @jbbigbear! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/rBb0EZUzwQ
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
7:22 p.m.: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott won Offensive Rookie of the Year. So what does this mean for running back Ezekiel Elliott?
The @dallascowboys QB is the Offensive Rookie of the Year! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/edqEmCHLAh
— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
7:15 p.m. ET: And the Defensive Player of the Year goes to … Oakland Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack.
MACK ATTACK!
Congratulations @52Mack_!!
Defensive Player of the Year presented by @OldSpice. #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/wNnZKT14RO— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2017
ORIGINAL STORY: Before we figure out which team is the best in the NFL this season, we’ll find out the best player in the league and more at NFL Honors 2017.
All eyes will be on the sixth annual awards show, which will take place at Houston’s Wortham Theater Center on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET. The MVP, Coach of the Year, offensive and defensive players of the year, offensive and defensive rookies of the year, Comeback Player of the Year and more all will be announced during the show.
The MVP race is expected to come down to the two quarterbacks in Super Bowl LI — Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) and Tom Brady (New England Patriots) — while Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is the clear front-runner for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
We’ll also find out if former Patriots cornerback Ty Law and which of the other Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists will make the Class of 2017.
So sit back, relax and follow along with NESN.com for live updates throughout the awards show.
Click to watch NFL Honors 2017 online>>
Thumbnail photo via Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports Images