The Long Road Back: Breaking Down the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
NEW YORK, NY — Professional football has a brutal way of writing people off. One snap, one pop of a tendon, or one bad season in a toxic system can turn a superstar into a “remember him?” story. But this year’s NFL Comeback Player of the Year finalists didn’t accept the exit music. The AP just announced the five men who clawed their way back into the spotlight: **Kirk Cousins, Joe Burrow, Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers, and Saquon Barkley**.
A snowy OT thriller.
Doesn’t get much better 🎥 @RamsNFL pic.twitter.com/LjImmUVWZB
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 20, 2026
From the Surgeon’s Table to the Stat Sheet
The list reads like a medical journal of the 2023 season. You have **Kirk Cousins**, who watched his time in Minnesota end on a cart before reinventing himself in Atlanta. At 36, an Achilles tear is usually a career death sentence, but Cousins responded by leading the Falcons to the top of the division while completing over **66% of his passes**.
Then there is **Joe Burrow**. The Bengals’ star spent the better part of last year unable to grip a football after a freak wrist injury. His return didn’t just stabilize Cincinnati; it put them back in the Super Bowl conversation. But perhaps the most emotional story on the list is **Sam Darnold**. After years of being shuffled through the league’s basement in New York and Charlotte, Darnold found a lifeline in Minnesota. He didn’t just “manage” the Vikings; he exploded for **30+ touchdowns**, proving that “bust” is a label, not a destiny.
- Aaron Rodgers: Returned from a Week 1 Achilles tear at age 40 to stabilize the Jets’ offense.
- Saquon Barkley: Silenced the critics who said his best years were in the rearview, putting up career-best numbers in Philadelphia.
Inside the Huddle
“People see the touchdowns on Sunday, but they don’t see the 4:00 AM rehab sessions or the months of wondering if your body will ever feel ‘normal’ again. Being on this list means you won the war against your own doubts.” — Former Pro Bowl Quarterback turned Analyst
The Bottom Line & What’s Next
While the MVP award usually goes to the best player on the best team, CPOY is about the spirit of the game. The voting will likely come down to a toss-up between **Cousins and Darnold**. One conquered a physical mountain, while the other conquered a mental one.
Watch for the final vote count to see if the committee favors “injury recovery” or “career resurgence.” If Darnold wins, it sets a massive precedent for veteran quarterbacks looking for a second chance in the right system. Regardless of who grabs the trophy in New Orleans, these five players have already secured the most important victory: they earned another year of being “the man” for their respective cities.
