Super Bowl LVII is just around the corner but before that NFL hosted grand event on Thursday night, inside phoenix’s Symphony. The 12th annual NFL Honors – a primetime awards special which recognizes the NFL’s best players, Coach of the Year, performances and plays from the 2022 season. It was hosted by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning artist Kelly Clarkson, the first woman to host the show.
The show also includes revelation of the 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame class to a surprise speech from Bills safety Damar Hamlin, The prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide and the reveal of the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Below is the list of all the major award winners announced at Phoenix’s Symphony Hall:
MVP: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Offensive Player of the Year: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
Defensive Player of the Year: 49ers DE Nick Bosa
Coach of the Year: Giants’ Brian Daboll
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jets WR Garrett Wilson
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jets CB Sauce Gardner
Comeback Player of the Year: Seahawks QB Geno Smith
Walter Payton Man of the Year: Cowboys QB Dak Prescott
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023: Ronde Barber; Darrelle Revis; Joe Thomas; Zach Thomas; DeMarcus Ware; Don Coryell (coach/contributor); Chuck Howley (senior); Joe Klecko (senior); Ken Riley (senior)
Damar Hamlin steals the show
Hamlin safety headlined the event. His surprise appearance after his on-field collapse rightfully overtook every NFL headline until his recovery. Bengals and Bills trainers, as well as University of Cincinnati medical personnel, received a standing ovation for their efforts in saving Hamlin’s life onstage at the NFL Honors.
Kirk Cousins sang with Kelly clarkson
Walter Payton Man of the Year
MVP: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Head and Shoulders Never Not Working Protection Play of the Year:
Pro Football Hall Of Fame 2023
Coach of the Year
FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year:
This year’s NFL Honors also featured a video message from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in which he highlighted the efforts of members of the Ukrainian League of American Footballer on the frontline of his country’s war against Russia.