2024 NFL Honors: List of award winners featuring Lamar Jackson, and Christian McCaffrey

With Super Bowl 58 around the corner, the NFL honored its brightest stars from the 2023 season. From Lamar Jackson to CJ Stroud and Joe Flacco, several players bagged accolades in various categories.

The annual NFL Awards honor the best of the best in the league. A wide array of awards, such as the Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, and Walter Payton Man of the Year, are announced.

This year’s show, hosted by Keegan-Michael Key, also revealed the list of Pro Football Hall of Famers. Here’s the complete list of recipients of the 19th annual Associated Press NFL Awards.

NFL Most Valuable Player: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (presented by Invisalign)

The Baltimore Ravens quarterback, Lamar Jackson, bagged his second NFL MVP award. He narrowly missed out on being the Unanimous MVP by just one vote (49-1). Jackson, 27, previously won the award in a unanimous decision in 2019.

Following a long contract talk between him and the Ravens, the organization decided to give Jackson a 5-year, $260 million extension. He repaid with a 13-4 season, securing the #1 AFC seed and leading the team to the AFC Championship game.

Jackson thanked his Ravens teammates for helping him win the MVP award.

My offense and offensive line—I can't thank them enough for what they've done. I'm not out there blocking, catching the ball, and doing everything. It's a team thing for these awards. 

He said.

NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (presented by P&G and the official locker room products of the NFL)

It was a tough battle between Joe Flacco and Damar Hamlin for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. The Cleveland Browns quarterback was sitting on his couch at home while watching the NFL games for the first half of the season until the Browns came calling.

On the other hand, Hamlin had returned to the field of football after a life-threatening cardiac arrest in January 2023.

Flacco joined the Browns after all of their starters, including Deshaun Watson, ended up on the rehab table. The 39-year-old played five games, winning four, and recorded 1,616 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. It was enough for him to edge past Buffalo Bills safety Hamlin.

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (presented by Microsoft Surface)

Although Christian McCaffrey missed out on the opportunity to be the NFL MVP, he did take home the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.

The San Francisco 49ers are leading the league in rushing yards (1,459) and yards from scrimmage (2,023), outpacing their closest rival Dolphins, Raheem Mostert.

McCaffrey also beat Mostert’s teammate, Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins All-Pro wide receiver led the NFL in receiving yards (1,799) but fell short of his stated goal of eclipsing the single-season record with 2,000.

Football is the biggest team game on the planet, and one guy can’t do anything without all 10 of the other guys. That’s why this is a special team. You have All-Pros all over the field, and you have arguably the best mind in football calling plays. 

The 27-year-old told NBC Sports Bay Area this week.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award: Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett (Presented by TCL)

This was a bit of a controversial choice. But Myles Garrett is used to beating his opponents. The Cleveland Browns defensive end emerged as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year from a crowd of amazing player performances.

Garrett was the heart and soul of the NFL’s stingiest defense, which only allowed 270.2 yards per game. The three-time All-Pro recorded 14 sacks, tied for seventh among players in the league.

He won the award over the likes of the 2021 DPOY winner. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt, who had 19 sacks (most in the league), Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons, cornerback DaRon Bland (who led the league with 5 pick-6s in the 2023 season), and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.

Garrett dedicated the award to the city of Cleveland.

To the city of Cleveland, this one’s for you. We’re going to bring home something bigger for you next time. Let’s go.

He said

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud

Selected as the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, CJ Stroud set the league on fire with some exhilarating performances throughout the season.

By October, he had broken several records, including most games without throwing his first pick (5) and most passing yards in a single game (470), along with most passes without an interception to start a career (191).

Stroud completed 319 of 499 pass attempts for a rookie franchise record of 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 100.8. He finished his rookie year with 4,557 total passing yards, including the postseason, which is only second to Andrew Luck.

Stroud received 48 votes on his way to the AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. During his speech.

I think I’ve gained a lot of respect from players. I’m really blessed to have an award, but awards don’t make me. It’s who I am as a person and what I put on the field. It’s amazing to me.

He said, as per the Houston Chronicle,

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Houston Texans DE Will Anderson Jr.

It was Houston Texans galore at the award ceremony in Vegas. After a successful season in which they reached the divisional round, there were bound to be a few amazing individual performers. Besides Stroud bagging the OROY award, Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. secured the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Anderson edged out players like Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Kobie Turner, and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

It was a close contest between Anderson, Carter, and Turner in the first couple of rounds. However, the Texans eventually pulled ahead of the pile after receiving 16 first-place votes.

NFL Coach of the Year: Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski

After two back-to-back underwhelming seasons at the Dawg Pound, there were speculations that Kevin Stefanski would lose his job.

But Stefanski managed to turn things around in Cleveland, recording an 11-6 season. That too after going through four different quarterbacks.

Stater Deshaun Watson was sidelined after suffering an injury to his throwing shoulder. One by one, both backups, Dorian Thompson Robinson and PJ Walker, ended up in the doctor’s chamber. Stefanski turned to Joe Flacco to steady the Browns ship and added Jeff Driskel as his backup.

Stefanski finished level on points with Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans. But managed to bag the Coach of the Year award because of one extra vote in the first place vote (21-18).

Walter Payton Man of the Year Award: Pittsburgh Steelers DE Cameron Heyward

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award is given to a football player for his contributions to charitable work outside of the gridiron. The Pittsburgh Steelers DE Cam Heyward was chosen to be the recipient of the prestigious award, which he received at the hands of Prince Harry.

Heyward established The Heyward House in 2015, helping underprivileged kids and families through a variety of charitable programs. The 34-year-old also established Craig’s Closet, providing free dress clothes and helping young men with internships and jobs. He is also a member of the Steelers Social Justice Society and the Cameron Heyward Foundation.

There is no act too small, no act too big. I continue to do the work. This award is great, and I appreciate it, but I understand I have more work to do. I have to represent this man [Walter Payton] every day going forward.

After receiving the award, Heyward said,

Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024

• Dwight Freeney
• Devin Hester
• Andre Johnson
• Julius Peppers
• Patrick Willis
• Randy Gradishar (senior)
• Steve McMichael (senior)

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