LAS VEGAS — Accepting the AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award in person was bittersweet for Lamar Jackson.
Jackson was the near-unanimous choice for his second MVP award, which was announced at Thursday night’s NFL Honors, but the quarterback’s Baltimore Ravens fell one win short of Sunday’s Super Bowl appearance.
“I would like to submit a video to win the award,” Jackson said. “It’s an honor to be here to accept this award, but I would love to accept this award and go to the Super Bowl.”
The All-Pro QB received 49 of 50 first-place votes from a national voting panel that included media members, former players and coaches who regularly cover the NFL.
Jackson led the Ravens to the NFL’s best regular season record (14-5), but they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
Jackson, 27, becomes the fourth player to win his second MVP award before turning 28, joining Patrick Mahomes (27), Brett Favre (27) and Jim Brown (22). became.
“It’s an honor. I think I’m in elite company,” Jackson said.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey came away with the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.
He’s looking to add a Super Bowl ring to his trophy case when the 49ers play the Chiefs on Sunday.
Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett beat out TJ Watt to win the AP Defensive Player of the Year award. Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award in a landslide.
Stroud’s teammate in Houston, defensive end Will Anderson Jr., won the AP Defensive Newcomer of the Year award, receiving two first-place votes over Jalen Carter and Coby Turner.
The Browns won four awards.
Quarterback Joe Flacco, who led Cleveland to the playoffs, was named the AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Kevin Stefanski won the AP Coach of the Year Award over Houston’s DeMeco Ryans by one vote.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz coached the league’s No. 1 unit and won the AP Assistant Coach of the Year award.
“It was a special year for special teams,” Garrett said of the Browns. “I think next year will be our year.”
Despite the disappointment of losing in the AFC title game, it was also a special year for Jackson.
The first-place MVP vote he didn’t receive went to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Jackson threw for 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns, and rushed for 821 yards and five scores, leading Baltimore to a 10-win record against teams that finished with winning records.
He helped the Ravens defeat Houston in the divisional round, but struggled in the AFC title game, losing 17-10 to the Chiefs.
McCaffrey, an All-Pro running back from San Francisco, received 39 of the 50 first-place votes in OPOY, ahead of Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
McCaffrey, a unanimous All-Pro selection, led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs.
He also had 564 yards receiving and seven scores.
“I feel very fortunate to be a part of the best organization on the planet. Thank you for believing in me,” McCaffrey said.
Garrett was just as dominant on the other side of the ball. He received his 23 first-place votes and his 165 points, topping Watt for DPOY.
Despite being constantly double-teamed, Garrett recorded 14 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 17 lost tackles, and four forced fumbles, forcing offensive coordinators to avoid his own side of the field. .
Stroud received 48 of Oloi’s 50 first-place votes, with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua receiving the remaining two votes.
Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick, threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions, with a passer rating of 100.8, the third-highest of any rookie.
He led the Texans from last place in the AFC South to first place and a playoff victory in the wild card round.
“I’m the type of person who thinks about what’s next and what I can do better, but when I look back on my first season, just being on a winning team and just being in the NFL is special. ” Stroud said.
Anderson and Stroud became the fourth teammates to win Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in the same season. Last year, Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets swept the awards.
“It means the absolute world,” Anderson said of his and Stroud’s win. “Just seeing how he comes to work every day, the preparation he put in and rebuilding the culture and being a captain in his rookie year, it’s special.”
Flacco beat Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield to win the Comeback Award.
He received 13 first-place votes, 26 second-place votes, and eight-thirds of the votes, finishing with 151 points.
Hamlin collapsed on the field on January 2, 2023, went into cardiac arrest and required resuscitation, but returned to the NFL this season and appeared in five regular season games.
Hamlin received 21 first-place votes, but received 42 of 50 votes, while Flacco received 47 votes.
He received seven second-place votes and 14 third-place votes, giving him 140 points.
Flacco, a 39-year-old former Super Bowl MVP, was at home in New Jersey with his family when he got the call from Cleveland in November. He went 4-1 in five starts, passing for over 300 yards and 13 touchdowns in four consecutive games.
Stefanski led the Browns to their first starting quarterback since 1999 despite losing quarterback Deshaun Watson, star running back Nick Chubb and right tackle Jack Conklin to season-ending injuries and losing five starting quarterbacks. He led them to the playoffs for the third time.
Cleveland’s Schwartz received 25 first-place votes and finished with 160 points, easily surpassing Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike McDonald.
