There are just a few more pillars of the 2023 NFL season before a new year gets underway: NFL Honors, Super Bowl 58, and a championship parade.
Thursday’s NFL Honors ceremony will celebrate the very best the season had to offer, with all awards — from MVP to Walter Payton Man of the Year — set to be handed out. Additionally, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will reveal this year’s modern-era inductees.
Patrick Mahomes broke the so-called MVP curse last year, becoming the first player in 23 years to win MVP and the Super Bowl in the same season. The previous nine players to play in the Super Bowl after winning MVP all lost the big game. While Mahomes and Brock Purdy had impressive seasons all around, neither is expected to face those circumstances this season. Only Purdy is a finalist, and Ravens QB Lamar Jackson enters as the clear favorite to earn his second MVP award.
MORE: SN’s 2023-24 NFL Awards | All-Pro team
Other races are more contested, including an Offensive Rookie of the Year battle between Texans QB C.J. Stroud and Rams WR Puka Nacua.
The Sporting News is tracking live updates and winners from Thursday’s NFL Honors ceremony. Follow along below for all of the announcements.
MORE: Watch NFL Honors live with Fubo (free trial)
NFL Honors 2024 award winners
Most Valuable Player
Finalists
- Josh Allen, QB, Bills
- Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
- Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
- Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys
- Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers
Offensive Player of the Year
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey was named the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Full voting results to come.
McCaffrey is the 49ers’ first Offensive Player of the Year winner since Jerry Rice, and he’ll have a chance to join Rice as a Super Bowl champion in three short days.
Defensive Player of the Year
Browns DE Myles Garrett was named the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Garrett, the 2017 No. 1 pick, is a first-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and the first DPOY in Browns history.
The race was exceptionally close, as Steelers OLB T.J. Watt finished with only four fewer first place votes than Garrett.
Player | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | Points |
Myles Garrett | 23 | 13 | 11 | 165 |
T.J. Watt | 19 | 11 | 12 | 140 |
Micah Parsons | 7 | 16 | 6 | 89 |
Maxx Crosby | 0 | 5 | 6 | 21 |
DaRon Bland | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Texans QB C.J. Stroud was named the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Stroud is the first Offensive Rookie of the Year in Texans history, though he joins coach DeMeco Ryans as one of three players to win a Rookie of the Year award.
Player | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | Points |
C.J. Stroud | 48 | 2 | 0 | 246 |
Puka Nacua | 2 | 48 | 0 | 154 |
Sam LaPorta | 0 | 0 | 40 | 40 |
Jahmyr Gibbs | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Bijan Robinson | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Texans DE Will Anderson Jr. was named 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Anderson and teammate C.J. Stroud sweep the Rookie of the Year awards. Anderson becomes the third Texan to earn DROY honors, joining Brian Cushing and DeMeco Ryans.
This was another close race, as Anderson received only two more first place votes than both Jalen Carter and Kobie Turner.
Player | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | Points |
Will Anderson Jr. | 16 | 21 | 8 | 151 |
Jalen Carter | 14 | 14 | 10 | 122 |
Kobie Turner | 14 | 6 | 7 | 95 |
Devon Witherspoon | 4 | 7 | 16 | 57 |
Joey Porter Jr. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Comeback Player of the Year
Finalists
- Joe Flacco, QB, Browns
- Damar Hamlin, S, Bills
- Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers
- Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
- Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins
Coach of the Year
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was named the 2023 NFL Coach of the Year.
This is Stefanski’s second Coach of the Year award, making him the 13th coach in NFL history to win the award multiple times.
The result was a TIE. Stefanski and DeMeco Ryans both finished with 165 points after the voting, but Stefanski received one more first place vote.
Coach | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | Points |
Kevin Stefanski | 21 | 18 | 6 | 165 |
DeMeco Ryans | 20 | 21 | 2 | 165 |
Dan Campbell | 3 | 3 | 9 | 33 |
Kyle Shanahan | 3 | 3 | 2 | 26 |
John Harbaugh | 2 | 2 | 10 | 26 |
Walter Payton Man of the Year
One player from each team is nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Assistant Coach of the Year
Browns DC Jim Schwartz was named Assistant Coach of the Year.
Coach | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | Points |
Jim Schwartz | 25 | 10 | 5 | 160 |
Mike Macdonald | 11 | 11 | 6 | 94 |
Ben Johnson | 6 | 10 | 5 | 65 |
Bobby Slowik | 4 | 7 | 12 | 53 |
Todd Monken | 3 | 8 | 7 | 46 |
Fantasy Player of the Year
FedEx Air and Ground Players of the Year
Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
Celebration of the Year
Giants QB Tommy DeVito won Celebration of the Year for his Italian-inspired celebrations during his run with New York.
Moment of the Year
CeeDee Lamb’s 91-yard touchdown reception from Dak Prescott from the Cowboys’ Week 17 win over the Lions was named Moment of the Year. That touchdown also featured a wild escape job by Prescott on what was nearly a safety.
Moment of the Year: Dak scrambles and finds CeeDee Lamb for a 92-yard TD #NFLHonors.
pic.twitter.com/HUW6Y5CR3o— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) February 9, 2024
NFL Honors 2024 live updates, highlights from awards show
(All times Eastern)
10:27 p.m. — Ray Lewis pays tribute to the late Jim Brown as the NFL honors those who have died over the past year.
10:20 p.m. — Gayle King comes onto the stage to honor the Lahaina football team and the way the community rebuilt after the Maui wildfires.
10:13 p.m. — The modern-era Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024: Andre Johnson, Julius Peppers, Devin Hester, Patrick Willis and Dwight Freeney.
10:08 p.m. — 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey beats out Tyreek Hill for his first Offensive Player of the Year award. He says in his speech that the 49ers still have one more game to win…we’ll find out if they can in about 72 hours.
10:00 p.m. — Wow, Coach of the Year voting resulted in a TIE with both Stefanski and Ryans getting 165 points. Stefanski won with one more first place vote than Ryans.
9:55 p.m. — The presenters announce the Coach of the Year winner as STEPHEN Stefanski, so that’s how it’s going. The real winner, Kevin Stefanski, is now a two-time Coach of the Year after a terrific year leading the Browns.
“And the AP Coach of the Year presented by Verizon is…Steven Stefanski.” pic.twitter.com/1gkcyJQWrp
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 9, 2024
9:50 p.m. — After presentations for the Walter Payton Man of the Year nominees and the year in flag football, Coach of the Year is up next.
9:35 p.m. — The Texans sweep! Just like the Jets in 2022 and Saints in 2017, Houston takes both Rookie of the Year awards with Will Anderson Jr. earning defensive honors.
9:28 p.m. — Deion Sanders presents Myles Garrett with his first Defensive Player of the Year award, and we’re onto Defensive Rookie of the Year next. Can the Texans sweep the ROY awards?
9:23 p.m. — Micah Parsons accepts the Moment of the Year award on behalf of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb for their 91-yard TD connection against the Lions.
Moment of the Year: Dak scrambles and finds CeeDee Lamb for a 92-yard TD #NFLHonors.
pic.twitter.com/HUW6Y5CR3o— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) February 9, 2024
9:18 p.m. — C.J. Stroud is the Offensive Rookie of the Year! He’s the first Texan to ever earn OROY honors. His coach, DeMeco Ryans, was once the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.
9:14 p.m. — Keegan-Michael Key’s monologue has hit everyone from Aaron Rodgers to Jerry Jones.
9:12 p.m. — There was a pre-show announcement: Browns DC Jim Schwartz won Assistant Coach of the Year over Mike Macdonald and Ben Johnson.
9:05 p.m. — Welcome to Vegas: The NFL Honors opens with a Cirque du Soleil performance.
8:58 p.m. — Damar Hamlin is the last player interviewed on the red carpet show, speaking about his intentions to add positivity whenever he’s in the room. Will we hear a Comeback Player of the Year speech from him tonight?
8:40 p.m. — The future of the Texans (and maybe the AFC South?) in one picture:
The game changers in Houston. 🗣️
📺: #NFLHonors on CBS & NFLN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/infhuyY5oH— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2024
8:20 p.m. — Myles Garrett went all-white on what could be a special night for him.
Myles Garrett’s first time at #NFLHonors and he’s got a chance to win DPOY 🙌
📺: #NFLHonors on CBS & NFLN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/B3DDh75lQB— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2024
7:50 p.m. — Can the Texans sweep Rookie of the Year like the Jets did last year? C.J. Stroud is the heavy Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite, while Will Anderson Jr. is a leading candidate for DPOY.
QB1 @CJ7STROUD! @HoustonTexans
📺: #NFLHonors on CBS & NFLN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JiScjS4qf7— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2024
7:30 p.m. — Maxx Crosby is a finalist for what would be his first Defensive Player of the Year award, and he showed up with an impressive fit.
Mad Maxx
📺: #NFLHonors on CBS & NFLN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/u96ENyesv8— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2024