Bills strike out at 2024 NFL Honors

by TYLER HATHAWAY

Despite two Buffalo players and a coach receiving votes for awards at the annual NFL Honors show held Thursday night, neither Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen, safety Damar Hamlin, nor head coach Sean McDermott will be coming home with any recognition from the 2023 season.

Allen received votes for both Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Offensive Player of the Year (OPOY) but finished outside of the top three in both categories. He was the only player to get a vote for first-place in MVP voting other than Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson, with Jackson (a now two-time MVP) taking home 49-of-50 first-place votes. Allen finished fifth in the voting with 80 total points, finishing behind Jackson, Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott, San Francisco 49ers’ running back Christian McCaffrey, and 49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy. In the OPOY race, Allen finished sixth with one second-place vote. The sixth-year gunslinger finished behind McCaffrey (the winner), Miami Dolphins’ wide receiver Tyreek Hill, Dallas Cowboys’ wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, Jackson, and Prescott.

Allen finished the 2023 season with 4,830 total yards and 44 total touchdowns. He set the record for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season, with 15. It’s the second time Allen has finished top-five in MVP voting, as he finished 3rd in 2022 and 2nd in 2020.

Hamlin finished second in voting for the Comeback Player of the Year award to Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Joe Flacco. Hamlin received 21 first-place votes, the most by any player eligible for the award, but finished second in total voting with 140 total points to Flacco’s 151. Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback Baker Mayfield finished in third place.

Hamlin returned to the field in 2023 for the first time since undergoing cardiac arrest on the field last season in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The third-year University of Pittsburgh product appeared in five games in 2023.

McDermott received one third-place vote for NFL Coach of the Year, finishing tied for 10th overall. McDermott led the Bills to an 11-6 record and the team’s 4th straight AFC East title. Buffalo’s finish was good enough to earn it the No. 2 seed in the AFC for the playoffs in McDermott’s seventh year coaching the Bills. Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski took home the award for the second time in his career.

Houston Texans’ rookie quarterback CJ Stroud and rookie defensive end Will Anderson, Jr. won the Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards respectively. Browns’ defensive end Myles Garrett won his first Defensive Player of the Year Award. Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive tackle Cameron Heyward won the prestigious Walter Peyton Man of the Year award.

The 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class was announced during the show as well, with Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Julius Peppers, Patrick Willis, Randy Gradishar, and Steve McMichael to be enshrined in Canton later this year.