NEW ORLEANS — Pat Surtain II began the 2024 season by inking a long-term contract.

He ended it by helping his team to its first playoff berth in nearly a decade and earning the highest defensive honor in football.

Not bad for a season's work.

Yet while Surtain's most recent campaign may seem beyond belief, he said he envisioned the success he earned over the previous months — and that he's already looking for more.

"Before the season even started, it's something that I manifested — having a great year, having these expectations, reaching the playoffs, getting All-Pros, getting Defensive Player of the Year," Surtain said Thursday. "This is something that I manifested and had goals of. It's definitely a blessing at the end of the day, but I always tell myself, 'There's more work to do.' I'm looking forward towards more success later on in my career."

Surtain became the second player in franchise history to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors, and he said "let out a deep breath" when his name was called at NFL Honors.

"I think before I was a little nervous, obviously, because I didn't know what to expect," Surtain said. "Honestly, it was a very gratifying feeling, so I'm honestly very thankful and humbled to receive this award."

Surtain acknowledged his style of play led quarterbacks to stay away from him during games, but he said it was a "good feeling" to know the voters acknowledged his impact.

"It's hard for corners to get the flashy stats," Surtain said. "We don't get looked at that often, but I know when the plays came my way, I capitalized on them. Once the opportunities came, I had to make a play."

Surtain made his fair share, including a 100-yard pick six against the Raiders that became the defining play of his season.

After becoming the first cornerback since 2019 to win Defensive Player of the Year, though, Surtain couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to return to Super Bowl week as a competitor.

"It definitely feeds the hunger," Surtain said. "It's somewhere where I want to be through the duration of my career. That's the next big achievement that I want to get to, the Super Bowl. The main thing is winning in this league, and I want to reach that point where I'll be able to have a chance to hoist a Lombardi.

"That's something that I'll look forward to for sure."