NFL Honors 2023 : Top 5 Moments
PHOENIX - The votes are in, let’s dive into key moments of the 12th Annual NFL Honors! The ceremony began with host Kelly Clarkson dripped out in a Dallas Cowboy gown as she graced the stage in an epic opening monologue. Here’s a top 5 list of honorable mentions of the night’s award winners and moments.
1. Dak Prescott wins Walter Payton Man of the Year and honored the Cowboys who won the award prior to him, including Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. Prescott’s moving speech left a tearful audience. The two-time Pro Bowl selection lost his mother, Peggy, to cancer in 2013 when he was a quarterback at Mississippi State. After his mother’s death, the NFL player established the Faith Fight Finish Foundation — a non-profit organization that is a tribute to Peggy, using the three words of encouragement she applied in her life. He also honored his late brother, Jace, who died by suicide in 2020. After Jace passed the organization also began honoring his life. Faith Fight Finish has a mission of investing in the future of young individuals by empowering and teaching them to “find strength through adversity.”
"My mother was, and still is, my moral compass," Prescott said while accepting the award Thursday night at NFL Honors. "Through my own charitable contributions, I seek to share her strength and courage with the world. "My mother told me when she was diagnosed with cancer that, 'All greats have a story.
Photo: Sports Illustrated
2. Patrick Mahomes wins 2nd MVP Award. Mahomes is easily one of the best players in the NFL and the 27-year-old is the third player to win his second MVP before turning 28, joining Brett Favre (27) and Jim Brown (22). Mahomes was also the 2018 NFL MVP in his first full season as a starter.
“I would never be standing here without y’all,” Mahomes said. “Every day we’ve given everything we have together to win the ultimate goal, the Super Bowl. Let’s continue to go for that dream this weekend,” said Mahomes.
Photo: Sports Illustrated
3. Damar Hamlin Makes Surprise Appearance. More than a month after his cardiac arrest, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made a surprise appearance at the NFL Honors event to help honor the people who treated him for his medical emergency. Hamlin, 24, was named the winner of NFL’s Community Service Award on February 8th after raising more than $9 million dollars for a toy drive in his community apart of his Chasing M’s Foundation.
“My entire life, I felt like God was using me to give others hope and now with a new set of circumstances, I can say he’s doing what he’s always done,” said Hamlin.
4. Justin Jefferson wins Offensive Player of the Year. With 1,809 receiving yards, 123 receptions, 8 touchdowns, and 106.4 yards per game. It was wide receiver Justin Jefferson who secured the title and rightfully so.
“"Thank you to Kevin O'Connell for the things that you've been doing for the team and myself, Kirk [Cousins] for throwing me the amazing passes that he's been throwing me since I got into the league. I appreciate the fans for voting for me for this award,” said the Vikings star.
5. Nick Bosa wins Defensive Player of the Year. The league-leader of sacks with 15.5 sacks, just secured himself a title of defensive player of the year. Bosa has emerged as an elite pass rusher the last two seasons, as he's combined to record 34 sacks across 33 games in that span.
"There'll be times when you question yourself, but if you stay the course, and believe in yourself. Take it one day at a time. There's going to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you," said 49er’s Nick Bosa.
