Ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl, the NFL will dish out their individual awards for the 2023 season at the NFL Honors event on Thursday evening.
A wide range of silverware will be handed out to the strongest performers from the regular season, culminating in the prestigious MVP award.
But who is set to land the main awards? Here is a look at what to expect in the key categories.
Most Valuable Player
Nominees: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills quarterback, Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback, Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers running back, Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers quarterback
Some years you get a slam dunk candidate for the league’s MVP and in other seasons the field is somewhat more crowded. This season fell into the latter of those two camps, with Prescott and Purdy both mentioned halfway through the season, but as their consistency both dipped, Jackson ended the season strongly and is the overwhelming favourite to land this one.
Our pick: Lamar Jackson
Offensive Player of the Year
Nominees: Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins wide receiver, Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens quarterback, CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers running back, Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
There’s something of an unwritten rule that this award doesn’t go to a quarterback, as the league’s signal-callers are usually a shoo-in for the MVP award. If that’s the case, then you simply can’t look past McCaffrey. The 49ers star coasted to the rushing title, earned more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and had 21 touchdowns. A season for the ages.
Our pick: Christian McCaffery
Defensive Player of the Year
Nominees: DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys cornerback, Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders defensive end, Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns defensive end, Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys linebacker, T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker
A closer call here, with AFC North duo T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett and Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons all with legitimate cases for taking home the hardware. Given how vital Watt was for his side, we’ll give him the narrowest of nods.
Our pick: T.J. Watt
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Nominees: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions running back, Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions tight end, Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver, Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons running back, C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans quarterback
A very competitive field here. In most years Puka Nacua will have walked to the title and Sam LaPorta produced one of the strongest rookie tight end seasons we’ve ever seen. But C.J. Stroud was breathtaking at times as he took little time in establishing himself as a franchise quarterback and led the Texans from worst-to-first in the AFC South.
Our pick: C.J. Stroud
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Nominees: Will Anderson, Houston Texans defensive end, Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle, Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle, Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks cornerback
Another strong batch of contenders and another Texans-Rams one-two. Kobie Turner was another fine pick in an excellent Rams draft, but Will Anderson was an immediate difference-maker for the Texans.
Our pick: Will Anderson
Comeback Player of the Year
Nominees: Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns quarterback, Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills safety, Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins quarterback
While Joe Flacco going from being an ageing New York Jets reject to inspiring an unlikely Cleveland Browns playoff tilt, there’s only one winner here. As soon as Damar Hamlin played a single NFL snap after the harrowing scenes last season where he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch in Cincinnati, the award was rightfully his.
Our pick: Damar Hamlin
Coach of the Year
Nominees: Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions, John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens, DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans, Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers, Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
It’s worth remembering that this is a regular season award, so you can’t be swayed by the emotional scenes in Detroit during their two home playoff wins this post-season. That kneecaps Dan Campbell’s hopes of landing the award and leaves DeMeco Ryans in the driving seat for the job he did in turning around the Texans from AFC South basement dwellers into a playoff team.
Our pick: DeMeco Ryans
Assistant Coach of the Year
Nominees: Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator, Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans offensive coordinator
Always a fun (and tough) one to pick, but Ben Johnson and Mike Macdonald are the two names that jump out here. Both did a superb job galvanising their individual units and it won’t be a surprise to either win the award this week.
Our pick: Ben Johnson
Other awards
Here are the other awards that will be handed out on Thursday evening.
- Next Gen Stats Moment of the Year
- Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
- NFL Inspire Change Tribute
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023
- FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year
- Salute to Service Award
- Bud Light Celebration of the Year
- Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
- Deacon Jones Sack Leader Award
- NFL Fan of the Year
- Sounds of the Season
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