NFL Honors: Joe Flacco wins Comeback Player of the Year, Browns go 4 for 4 in awards

Most expected Damar Hamlin to win the award

The Cleveland Browns were a fun story late in the 2023 NFL season as they thrived despite being decimated by injuries. QB Joe Flacco was added late in the year, coming off the couch to lead Cleveland to a 4-1 record to end the regular season.

Flacco didn’t play in the final game of the season.

The Browns 11-6 record led to four awards at the NFL Honors Show including HC Kevin Stefanski as Coach of the Year, DC Jim Schwartz as Assistant Coach of the Year and DE Myles Garrett winning Defensive Player of the Year.

Flacco was the final finalist of Cleveland’s four to have his award announced. Most expected Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin to take home the award after his amazing comeback from his medical emergency on the field last year. Former Browns QB Baker Mayfield was also expected to get a lot of votes after being on three teams in 2022.

Instead, it was Flacco who took home the award despite playing in just five games:

Flacco came back from being on the couch and a couple of terrible seasons with the New York Jets. His final stat line for 2023 was interesting: 60% passing, 13 touchdowns, eight interceptions and 1,616 yards passing.

The voting was close for the Comeback Player of the Year award:

It is interesting to note that Hamlin received more first-place votes but Flacco won with the most points.

How surprised are you by the results of the Comeback Player of the Year Award?