NFL Honors 2024: Crowning the Victors of the League’s Greatest Achievements.

NFL Honors event took place at the Resorts World Theatre, gathering the best of the NFL before the Super Bowl LVIII matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Lamar Jackson, the quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, secured his second MVP award, adding to his previous win in 2019. Christian McCaffrey, the star running back for the San Francisco team, was honored as the Offensive Player of the Year.

The Offensive Rookie of the Year award went to C.J. Stroud, the rookie quarterback for the Houston Texans. Myles Garrett, the defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, received his first Defensive Player of the Year award.

Will Anderson Jr., the defensive end for the Texans, was recognized as the Defensive Rookie of the Year. Kevin Stefanski, the head coach of the Browns, was voted Coach of the Year for the second time. Lastly, Joe Flacco, the quarterback for the Cleveland team, was named Comeback Player of the Year. Let’s take a closer look at the deserving recipients of these prestigious awards.

MVP

Lamar Jackson, the quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, was unsurprisingly named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) after being the favorite in betting for the past six weeks. This marks Jackson’s second MVP win, placing him in an elite group of players who have achieved multiple MVP awards within their first six seasons in the league, including Jim Brown, Kurt Warner, Brett Favre, and Patrick Mahomes.

Throughout the season, Jackson showcased his exceptional skills, leading the Ravens to an impressive 13-4 record, the best in the NFL. He ranked among the top 10 in various statistical categories, including Total QBR (64.7), yards per pass attempt (8.0), and touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.4). Notably, he also led the league in yards per rush (5.5), not just among quarterbacks.

As a dual threat player, Jackson continued to excel, accumulating 3,678 passing yards and 821 rushing yards. He is the only player to achieve over 3,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards multiple times, earning him the MVP title in both seasons he accomplished this feat (2019-20 and 2023-24).

Jackson solidified his MVP candidacy with standout performances, overtaking Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers as the frontrunner on Christmas day. He further cemented his position with a dominant display against the Miami Dolphins, where he achieved a perfect passer rating (158.3) and threw five touchdown passes in a resounding 56-19 victory.

Offensive Player of the Year

Christian McCaffrey, the running back for the San Francisco 49ers, had an outstanding season, making him the Offensive Player of the Year. Throughout the year, McCaffrey showcased his exceptional skills and contributed significantly to the team’s success.

He led the league in various categories, including scrimmage yards per game, scrimmage touchdowns, rushing yards, first downs, and 10-plus yard runs. These remarkable statistics not only earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl but also secured him first-team AP All Pro honors. McCaffrey’s achievements also etched his name in the NFL record books. He tied the record for the most career games with a rushing and receiving score in the same game, alongside Marshall Faulk.

Additionally, he became only the third player in NFL history to accumulate over 2,000 scrimmage yards in a season for two different franchises. McCaffrey’s dedication and talent have made him a valuable asset to the team, as acknowledged by Niners coach Kyle Shanahan.

Defensive Player of the Year

Myles Garrett, the defensive end for the Cleveland Browns, finally achieved his long-awaited NFL Defensive Player of the Year accolade after being in contention for several years. Despite ranking seventh in sacks with 14, Garrett played a pivotal role in leading the Browns to have the best regular-season defense in the league.

The team excelled in defensive efficiency, allowing the fewest yards per game (267) and boasting an impressive three-and-out rate (32.9%), among other categories. Despite facing the third highest double-team rate (28.8%), Garrett still managed to finish second in pass rush win rate (30.5%).

In the late-season winning streak that secured a playoff spot for the Browns, Garrett showcased his dominance with 35 pass-rush wins, surpassing all other edge rushers except for Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt. General manager Andrew Berry emphasized that Garrett’s impact goes beyond sack numbers, as he consistently performed at a remarkably high level for the team.

Offensive Rookie of the Year

C.J. Stroud, the quarterback for the Houston Texans, emerged as the Offensive Rookie of the Year due to his exceptional performance. Throughout his rookie season, Stroud not only tied or set numerous rookie records but also led his team to their first divisional title since 2019. His remarkable achievement as the first quarterback drafted in the top two of the draft since 1967 to win a playoff game in his rookie season further solidified his status as a rising star in the league. Notably, Stroud became the youngest player to win a playoff contest, surpassing the legendary Michael Vick.

One of Stroud’s notable records was setting the mark for the most pass attempts without an interception to start a career, reaching an impressive 191 attempts. He carried this momentum throughout the season and also led the league in touchdown-to-interception ratio, with an impressive 23:5 ratio.

Finishing the regular season with 4,108 passing yards, Stroud ranked third among rookies in terms of passing yards, trailing only Andrew Luck (4,374 in 2012) and Justin Herbert (4,336 in 2020). His standout performance came in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he threw for a remarkable 470 yards, the highest ever recorded by a rookie. C.J. Stroud’s exceptional achievements and impact on the field undoubtedly earned him the title of Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Houston Texans’ DE, Will Anderson Jr., arrived with a mission to transform the team’s culture. His impact was immediate, as he secured a sack against Jackson in Week 1.

Although his sack numbers decreased, Anderson remained highly ranked in advanced metrics. As the third overall pick, he boasted a pass rush win rate of 25.8%, placing him among the top performers. Additionally, he excelled in the run game, ranking sixth in run-stop win rate (36%) among defensive ends with over 400 snaps.

Despite missing two games due to an ankle injury, Anderson concluded the season with 7 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 22 QB hits. His remarkable performance earned him the title of Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Coach of the Year

Kevin Stefanski, the head coach of the Cleveland Browns, has been named Coach of the Year twice in the three times that the Browns have made the postseason since their return to the NFL in 1999. Despite a turbulent regular season with multiple season-ending injuries to key players like Deshaun Watson and Nick Chubb, Stefanski led the team to an impressive 11-6 record.

The Browns even set a franchise record by securing winning scores in the final two minutes of regulation on five different occasions. General manager Berry praised Stefanski’s leadership and ability to navigate through challenges, expressing confidence in the team’s future under his guidance.

Comeback Player of the Year

Joe Flacco, the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, had an impressive comeback season. Despite going unsigned during the offseason and preseason, as well as half of the regular season, Flacco finally got his opportunity due to a season-ending shoulder injury to Watson.

Flacco joined the Browns on November 20 and just two weeks later, he made his first start with the team. In a remarkable feat, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 250 yards and multiple touchdowns in his first five games with a new team. Throughout those five starts, Flacco also led the league with an impressive 1,616 passing yards.

With Flacco leading the offense, the Browns went on a four-game winning streak, securing their first playoff appearance since 2020.

Reflecting on his time with the team, Flacco expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of such a talented group of players. Despite the disappointment of a loss in the playoffs, he acknowledged the fortune of joining the team and the camaraderie he experienced.