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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took home his second AP NFL Most Valuable Player award at the 2024 “NFL Honors” ceremony on Thursday night at the Resorts World Theater in Las Vegas.
Here’s what we’re following:
- AP Winners: The Houston Texans’ quarterback C.J. Stroud was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Myles Garrett beat out T.J. Watt for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award.
- Hall of Fame: First-time candidate Julius Peppers headlines a 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class that has a distinctive defensive feel.
- Bigger prize ahead: McCaffrey and Purdy finish 3-4 for AP NFL MVP, but they’re eyeing the Vince Lombardi Trophy now.
- How are the AP NFL award winners chosen? A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting for the winners before the playoffs began.
Two quarterbacks with ties to the Baltimore Ravens won big
Current Raven Lamar Jackson was AP Most Valuable Player and ex-Baltimore QB Joe Flacco was named AP Comeback Player of the Year.
“When I came in 2018, he was a mentor to me,” Jackson said of Flacco. “I’m definitely happy for him.”
Jackson was happy to be in Las Vegas and said he was honored by the award, but had hoped to have one final game this season.
“I’d rather be in the Super Bowl,” he said.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Cam Heyward wins the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward received the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award, presented to him by Prince Harry.
“I want to say thank you to the Pittsburgh Steelers for giving me this opportunity,” Heyward said. “Mike T (Tomlin), it’s an honor to be coached by you. I couldn’t play for any other coach. To my teammates, I’m thankful to be your teammate.”
This was the sixth time the Steelers nominated Heyward for the award. Heyward created the Heyward House Foundation that supports several initiatives in the Pittsburgh area.
The foundation also honors his father, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, a fullback who played 11 seasons in the NFL. He died in 2006 at 39 of brain cancer.
Lamar Jackson thanks Ravens ‘for finally getting a deal done’
Jackson led the Ravens to the best regular season record
Jackson led the Ravens (14-5) to the NFL’s best record in the regular season, but they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen got the other first-place vote and finished fifth overall in voting. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was second with 152 points. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey came in third with 147 points and teammate Brock Purdy was fourth with 97.
Voting was completed before the playoffs began.
Jackson threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 821 yards and five scores while leading Baltimore to a record 10 wins over teams that finished with a winning record. He helped the Ravens rout Houston in the divisional round but struggled in a 17-10 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC title game.
AP NFL Most Valuable Player: Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson was a near-unanimous choice for his second AP NFL Most Valuable Player award.
Baltimore’s All-Pro quarterback received 49 of 50 first-place votes from a nationwide panel of voters that includes media members who regularly cover the NFL, former players and coaches.
The 27-year-old Jackson is the fourth player to win his second MVP before turning 28, joining Patrick Mahomes (27), Brett Favre (27) and Jim Brown (22).
Flacco: ‘To welcome a new guy is not the easiest thing’
Joe Flacco, who was at home when the Cleveland Browns called during the season needing a quarterback, was named AP Comeback Player of the Year.
“To welcome a new guy is not the easiest thing,” Flacco said. “Thank you to the organization for giving me the opportunity to do what I love to do, play football.”
Flacco edges Hamlin for Comeback Player of the Year in narrow vote
Hamlin returned to the NFL this season after collapsing on the field and needing to be resuscitated following a cardiac arrest on Jan. 2, 2023. He played in five regular-season games. Hamlin received 21 first-place votes – far more than Flacco’s 13 -- but appeared on 42 of 50 ballots while Flacco was on 47. He got seven second-place votes and 14 thirds for 140 points.
First-place votes are worth five points, second-place votes are three and third-place votes are one.
Mayfield, who bounced around from the Browns to the Panthers to the Rams last season, started every game for Tampa Bay and led them to the second round of the playoffs. He got 10 first-place votes and finished with 93 points.
Others receiving first-place votes were: Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (4), Rams QB Matthew Stafford (1) and 49ers QB Brock Purdy (1).
AP Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco, who came off the couch to lead the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs, is the AP Comeback Player of the Year.
Flacco beat out Bills safety Damar Hamlin and Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. He received 13 first-place votes, 26 second-place votes and eight thirds to finish with 151 points.
Flacco, the 39-year-old former Super Bowl MVP, was home in New Jersey with his family when Cleveland called him in November. He went 4-1 in five starts and passed for over 300 yards in four straight games with 13 touchdowns.
Lahainaluna High School football team recognized on stage
A high school football team from the Hawaiian town destroyed by wildfire last summer was recognized during “NFL Honors.”
Gayle King introduced a video tribute to the players from Lahainaluna High School, which sent four captains to Las Vegas for this week’s Super Bowl. Three coaches will join them in serving as honorary coin toss captains before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.
▶ Read more about the Lahainaluna High School football team.
Julius Peppers headlines 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class
First-time candidate Julius Peppers headlines a 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class that has a distinctive defensive feel.
The star defensive end was joined by another elite pass rusher in Dwight Freeney and do-everything linebacker Patrick Willis in the modern era category announced Thursday night. Prolific receiver Andre Johnson and dynamic returner Devin Hester also got voted into the Hall from the group of 15 finalists.
Two more defensive players got in on the senior category, with linebacker Randy Gradishar and defensive tackle Steve McMichael getting the needed 80% support from the panel.
Former AFL receiver Art Powell and coach Buddy Parker fell short of the threshold and missed out.
▶ Read more about the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
McCaffrey: ‘You guys took a gamble on me last year’
The San Francisco 49ers claimed their first big victory of the week when Christian McCaffrey was named AP Offensive Player of the Year. The Niners, who play the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Sunday, traded for McCaffrey last season.
“You guys took a gamble on me last year in trading for me,” McCaffrey said. “I feel so blessed to be in the best organization in the league.”
AP Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey ran away with the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.
San Francisco’s All-Pro running back received 39 of 50 first-place votes and earned 222 points, outpacing Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
Hill received seven first-place votes and finished with 139 points. Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb came in third with 45 points, including one first-place vote. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson got three first-place votes, finishing fourth.
McCaffrey, a unanimous choice for All-Pro, led the NFL with 1,459 yards rushing and had 14 rushing TDs for the NFC champion 49ers. He also had 564 yards receiving for seven scores.
McCaffrey is the fourth running back to win the award in the last 10 years, joining Derrick Henry, Todd Gurley and DeMarco Murray.
McCaffrey aims to join Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who won the award two years ago and then earned Super Bowl MVP honors three days later.
NFL hands out its first Flag Football Player of the Year awards
The NFL handed out its first Flag Football Players of the Year awards, which went to Allison Gandlin and Ryder Noche. The league has been promoting flag football for youth players, and its Pro Bowl went to that format last year for the first time.
The award was presented by Tyreek Hill, who has said he wants to play when flag football joins the Olympics in 2028
AP Coach of the Year: Kevin Stefanski
Kevin Stefanski edged DeMeco Ryans for AP Coach of the Year honors by one first-place vote.
Stefanski led the Cleveland Browns to their third playoff appearance since 1999 despite losing quarterback Deshaun Watson, star running back Nick Chubb and right tackle Jack Conklin to season-ending injuries and starting four QBs.
Ryans helped the Houston Texans go from worst to first in the AFC South. The Texans routed the Browns 41-14 in a wild-card playoff game, but voting was completed before the postseason.
Stefanski and Ryans both earned 165 points in a weighted point system. But Stefanski had 21 first-place votes to Ryans’ 20. Stefanski had 18 second-place votes and six third-place votes. Ryans got 21 second-place votes and two thirds. First-place votes are worth five points, second-place votes are worth three and third-place votes are one.
Detroit’s Dan Campbell finished third. He got three first-place votes. San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan (3), Baltimore’s John Harbaugh (2) and the Rams’ Sean McVay (1) also got first-place votes.
Anderson: ‘Drafting me, it means the world’
The Houston Texans made it two for two on the top rookie awards when Will Anderson Jr. took home the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Quarterback C.J. Stroud won the offensive version.
“Drafting me, it means the world to me,” Anderson said of the Texans. “My teammates’ confidence in me meant everything to me.”
A Texans’ Two-Step for AP’s Rookies of the Year
Will Anderson Jr. joined teammate C.J. Stroud, who was the AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Anderson and Stroud are the fourth teammates to win the offensive and defensive rookie awards in the same season. Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner swept the awards last year for the New York Jets. Alvin Kamara and Marshon Lattimore did it with the Saints in 2017 and Detroit’s Mel Farr and Lem Barney did it in 1967.
Stroud and Anderson were selected back-to-back with the second and third picks in the NFL draft.
Garrett promises Cleveland he’ll get a bigger award next year
AP Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett promised Cleveland Browns fans he was going after an even bigger award next year, but made sure they knew this one also belonged to them.
“To the city of Cleveland, this one’s for you,” Garrett said.
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Will Anderson Jr.
Will Anderson Jr. won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award, outgaining both Jalen Carter and Kobie Turner by two first-place votes.
The Texans’ defensive end received 16 first-place votes, 21 second and eight thirds for 151 points.
Carter, the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive tackle, and Turner, the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive tackle, both had 14 first-place votes. Carter also had 14 seconds and ended up with 122 points. Turner had six second-place votes and seven thirds, finishing with 95 points.
Anderson had seven sacks, 67 pressures, 22 quarterback hits, 29 tackles, including 10 for a loss. He also had a blocked field goal on special teams.
AP Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett beat out T.J. Watt for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award.
Cleveland’s All-Pro edge rusher received 23 first-place votes and 165 points to Watt’s 19 first-place votes and 140 points.
Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons finished third with 89 points, including seven first-place votes. Cornerback DaRon Bland, Parson’s teammate, got the other first-place vote and came in fifth behind Raiders edge Maxx Crosby.
Watt, who won the award in 2021, led the NFL with 19 sacks. But Garrett had the better all-around season for the NFL’s top-ranked defense. Despite constant double-teams, Garrett had 14 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and forced offensive coordinators to avoid his side of the field.
Stroud in exclusive company after leading Texans’ turnaround
Stroud helped Houston go from worst to first place in the AFC South and led the Texans to a playoff win in the wild-card round.
Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick, threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions and had a passer rating of 100.8, third-best by a rookie.
Stroud led the league in passing yards per game (273.9) and had the best touchdown-interception ratio at 4.6, becoming just the third player in NFL history to finish first in both categories, joining Joe Montana (1989) and Tom Brady (2007).
Stroud: ‘You can do anything you put your mind to’
By MARK ANDERSON
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, said he was an example for those trying to reach their dreams.
“This honor means a lot,” Stroud said. “Any kid watching, you can do anything you put your mind to.”
AP Offensive Rookie of the Year: C.J. Stroud
C.J. Stroud won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award in a landslide.
The Houston Texans’ quarterback received 48 of 50 first-place votes with Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua getting the other two.
Nacua set a rookie record with 105 receptions and 1,486 yards receiving yards.
Lions tight end Sam LaPorta finished third.
Key’s monologue takes jabs at Cowboys, Panthers and of course, Taylor and Travis
Comedian and emcee Keegan-Michael Key took aim at Jerry Jones, backup quarterbacks and of course, Taylor Swift during his opening monologue.
“Who’d have thought we’d see a year where Taylor Swift went to more playoff games than Bill Belichick?” he asked.
Key mentioned that Swift is currently in Tokyo, performing in front sold-out crowds.
“The only people further from the Super Bowl are the Carolina Panthers,” Key said.
AP Assistant Coach of the Year: Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz won the AP Assistant Coach of the Year award after guiding the league’s No. 1 ranked unit.
Schwartz received 25 first-place votes and finished with 160 points, easily outpacing Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
Macdonald got 11 first-place votes and 94 points. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson finished third with 65 points, including six first-place votes.
Schwartz was in his first season in Cleveland. He was previously an assistant in Tennessee, Philadelphia and Buffalo after coaching the Lions from 2009-13.
Damar Hamlin on the past year: ‘Trust what you know and trust what you got here’
Damar Hamlin learned a lot about himself over the past year. That’s no surprise after his near-death experience on the field about 13 months ago.
Hamlin, a Comeback Player of the Year finalist, spoke for a few minutes Thursday on a platform overlooking radio row at this year’s Super Bowl. It was easy to take in the enormity of the event from that vantage point, and Hamlin — there with fellow Buffalo Bills defensive back Dane Jackson — reflected a bit.
“To give everybody some more perspective, I would just say, trust what you know and trust what got you here,” Hamlin said. “Along the journey of the ups and downs, I had my own, he had his own, and we was able to keep each other, hold each other accountable to what got us there in the moment.”
▶ This is an excerpt from a longer story. Keep reading.
Pop sensation spotted on NFL Honors red carpet
Nope, sorry, it’s not Taylor Swift, who’s on tour in Tokyo this week.
How are the AP NFL awards winners chosen?
A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting for the winners before the playoffs began.
This was the second year for the AP’s weighted voting system.
Voters chose a top five for MVP and top three for all other awards. For MVP, first-place votes were worth 10 points. Second through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
For all the other awards, first-place votes equaled 5 points, second were 3 and third were 1.
WATCH: Clark Hunt, Flavor Flav and Barry Sanders arrive at NFL Honors
Jerry Jones, Flavor Flav, Justin Hartley, Kurt Warner, Issa Rae, Clark Hunt and Barry Sanders make their way down the NFL Honors red carpet.
Pats’ Cardona, a Naval Academy grad, walks the red carpet in his other uniform
New England Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona walked the red carpet in a Navy uniform.
He is the USAA 2023 Salute to Service award winner. Cardona is a department head of Maritime Security Squadron 8, headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island, and oversees the logistical needs of 500 sailors across the Eastern Seaboard.
More players (and Flavor Flav) are making their way down the red carpet
C.J. Stroud says he’s ‘honored’ to be among the finalists for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud is a finalist for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year after he led the Texans to the divisional round.
“There are a lot of great players, a lot of great rookies,” Stroud said. “I’m honored to be on there.”
WATCH: NFL Honors host Keegan-Michael Key poses on the red carpet
Host Keegan-Michael Key poses with wife Elle Key on the red carpet ahead of the 2024 “NFL Honors” show.
Jets owner Woody Johnson discusses keeping Saleh, Douglas
New York Jets owner Woody Johnson decided to bring back coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas for next season despite clamoring from many fans and media to make changes.
The Jets went 7-10 this season. They never truly recovered from losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the season opener. With Rodgers expected back next season, there will be heightened scrutiny on Saleh and Douglas. “We can’t make wrong decisions,” Johnson said.
NFL stars are starting to arrive on the red carpet
Is Bill Belichick done? Patriots vet Jonathan Jones doesn’t think so
Speaking from the “NFL Honors” red carpet, New England cornerback Jonathan Jones says he doesn’t think former Patriots coach Bill Belichick is done.
Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl champion, did not get hired for another coaching job after he parted ways with the Patriots at the end of last season.
“Teams are going to need him,” Jones said.
WATCH: Walk the NFL Honors red carpet
NFL stars will walk the red carpet at the Resorts World Theater in Las Vegas starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Who will win the Super Bowl? AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi says the 49ers
AP NFL MVP finalist Brock Purdy will lead the 49ers to another comeback victory on Sunday, ruining the Chiefs’ bid to repeat as Super Bowl champions, says AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi.
The 49ers are 2 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. They’re quite familiar with that role having been favored to win each game this season.
In the previous 57 Super Bowls, the favorites are 36-21 straight up and 27-28-2 against the spread. Maaddi leans slightly toward the 49ers in a close one that comes down to Purdy having to lead the team to a comeback win for the third straight game.
Who will take home AP NFL MVP?
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson finished the season as the betting favorite to win AP NFL MVP, per FanDuel Sportsbook. It would be Jackson’s second MVP award, and he’d join exclusive company in that regard. The 27-year-old would be the fourth two-time winner before turning 28, matching Patrick Mahomes (27), Brett Favre (27) and Jim Brown (22).
The Super Bowl-bound 49ers have two MVP finalists in quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey, while Jackson’s Ravens were eliminated by Kansas City in the AFC championship game.
Voting for MVP and the other AP NFL awards closed before the playoffs began.
WATCH: Why this year’s Super Bowl could be wilder than ever
Odds were always high that a Super Bowl in Las Vegas would be wild. The Chiefs and 49ers — and Taylor Swift, of course — are a good bet to deliver. AP NFL writer Rob Maaddi has more.
From Hingle McCringleberry to NFL Honors Host
Keegan-Michael Key is back as “NFL Honors” host for the third time. The former “Key & Peele” co-star is well-known to football fans for his sketch-comedy turns as audaciously named college players Hingle McCringleberry and Quatro Quatro, among others.
When Key hosted in 2022, he cracked a joke about Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ struggles in that year’s AFC championship game – a dig that prompted a glowering look from KC teammate Travis Kelce. Neither Mahomes or Kelce are up for any awards this season.
Here’s the full list of nominees for the AP’s NFL awards
Eight Associated Press NFL awards will be handed out as part of tonight’s “NFL Honors.”
Here’s the finalists:
AP Most Valuable Player
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
- Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
- Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
AP Coach of the Year
- Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
- John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
- DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
- Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
- Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
AP Assistant Coach of the Year
- 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
AP Offensive Player of the Year
- Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
- CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
- Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
AP Defensive Player of the Year
- DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys
- Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
- Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
- Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
- TJ Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
AP Comeback Player of the Year
- Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
- Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills
- Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
- Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
- Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
- Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
- Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Will Anderson, Houston Texans
- Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles
- Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers
- Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams
- Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
How to watch tonight’s show
The Associated Press MVP, Coach of the Year and more will be revealed Thursday night at the “NFL Honors” awards show at the Resorts World Theater in Las Vegas.
“NFL Honors” will air on CBS and NFL Network and be available for streaming on Paramount+ and NFL+. The red carpet opens at 7 p.m. ET, and the show itself begins at 9 p.m. ET.
