The National Football League held its annual Honors Awards Thursday night ahead of Superbowl Sunday to honor players, coaches, and others throughout the league.

While California was not the focal point of the awards, and none of its teams made it to the Superbowl, many California natives and players who have called the Golden State their home won awards, including the coveted Most Valuable Player award.

Which Californians won awards?

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen took home the MVP Award. Allen was born in Firebough, a city in Fresno County. He was joined by his fiancee Hailee Steinfeld, a Tarzana native and a leading actress in films like “Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse”, “True Grit” and “Edge of Seventeen”.

Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld on the red carpter for the 2025 NFL Honors awards in New Orleans.

Jared Verse took home the Defensive Rookie of the Year award for his performance this season as outside linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams.

Jayden Daniels, a Fontana native, won Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels poses with the Offensive Rookie of the Year award during Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre.

Three of four Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees have ties to California.

• Eric Allen cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles was born and raised in San Diego.
• Jared Allen was born in Dallas, Texas, but raised in Morgan Hill. He played football for Live Oak and Los Gatos high schools.
• While being a Detroiter, Antonio Gates played tight end his approximately 15-year career for the San Diego Chargers.

Sacramento native Arik Armstead won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Armstead played defensive end for the Jacksonville Jaguars but started his professional career at home with the San Francisco 49ers.

Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California athletes win big during NFL awards show