Darnold led the Vikings to 14 victories and set career highs in several passing categories in his first season with the team.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was named the 2024 NFL Most Improved Player of the Year by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
Darnold led the Vikings to 14 victories during the regular season and set career highs in several passing categories in his first season with the team.
This is the very first time a Minnesota Viking has won the Most Improved Player of the Year honor since it was first awarded by the PFWA in 2000.
Here is the list of previous winners:
- 2000 – QB Jeff Garcia, San Francisco 49ers
- 2001 – QB Kordell Stewart, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2002 – QB Chad Pennington, New York Jets
- 2003 – QB Jon Kitna, Cincinnati Bengals
- 2004 – QB Drew Brees, San Diego Chargers
- 2005 – DE Osi Umenyiora, New York Giants
- 2006 – RB Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
- 2007 – QB Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns
- 2008 – RB DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers
- 2009 – WR Miles Austin, Dallas Cowboys
- 2010 – RB Arian Foster, Houston Texans
- 2011 – WR Victor Cruz, New York Giants
- 2012 – WR Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
- 2013 – WR Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
- 2014 – RB Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2015 – (tie) QB Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins and CB Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers
- 2016 – LB Vic Beasley, Atlanta Falcons
- 2017 – QB Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
- 2018 – TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
- 2019 – QB Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
- 2020 – QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
- 2021 – (tie) CB Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys and RB Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons
- 2022 – QB Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
- 2023 – QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 2024 – QB Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
The PFWA, which is made up of pro football writers nationwide, also named Kevin O’Connell the 2024 Coach of the Year.