Some may say this was a pretty good accolade for Lamar Jackson.
But the Baltimore Ravens quarterback admitted he’d rather be accepting his second AP NFL Most Valuable Player award via video from the Super Bowl than in person during NFL Honors Thursday night, the Associated Press reported.
“I’d rather send in a video to win the award,” Jackson said. “To be here for the award, it’s an honor but I’d rather be in the Super Bowl accepting this award.”
Jackson 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.
Jackson and the Ravens, with a 14-5 record, came up one game short of making it to the Super Bowl after the team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.
Jackson, 27, is the fourth player to win his second MVP before turning 28, joining Patrick Mahomes (27), Brett Favre (27) and Jim Brown (22), according to the AP.
“It’s an honor. I guess I’m in elite company,” Jackson said.
Christian McCaffrey, running back for San Francisco 49ers, won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award. The 49ers will go against the Chiefs at Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday.
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns beat out T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers for AP Defensive Player of the Year.
The AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award went to Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud in a landslide. Defensive end Will Anderson Jr., also of Houston, won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
The Browns took home four awards in total.
In addition to Garrett, quarterback Joe Flacco was named AP Comeback Player of the Year; Kevin Stefanski won AP Coach of the Year; and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz won the AP Assistant Coach of the Year award.
“It was a special year for a special team,” Garrett said about the Browns. “I think next year is going to be our year.”
The Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen received the one first-place vote Jackson did not get.
Jackson threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 821 yards and five scores this season.
McCaffrey received 39 of 50 first-place votes for OPOY. McCaffrey led the NFL with 1,459 yards rushing and had 14 rushing TDs. He also had 564 yards receiving for seven scores.
Garrett received 23 first-place votes and 165 points to beat out Watt for DPOY. Despite constant double-teams, Garrett had 14 sacks, 30 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles.
Stroud, who received 48 of 50 first-place votes for OROY, threw for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, five interceptions and had a passer rating of 100.8, third-best by a rookie, the AP reported.
Anderson and Stroud are the fourth teammates to win the offensive and defensive rookie awards in the same season.
Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets took the awards last year.
Flacco beat out Bills safety Damar Hamlin for the comeback award. He received 13 first-place votes, 26 second-place votes and eight thirds to finish with 151 points.
Flacco, 39, was home in New Jersey 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.
Hamlin was able to return to the NFL after collapsing on the field following a cardiac arrest on Jan. 2, 2023. He played in five regular-season games. Hamlin received 21 first-place votes but appeared on 42 of 50 ballots while Flacco was on 47. He got seven second-place votes and 14 thirds for 140 points.
Stefanski led the Browns to their third playoff appearance since 1999.
Schwartz received 25 first-place votes and finished with 160 points.
