Because of his inspiring return from last season’s collapse and cardiac arrest, Damar Hamlin seemed like a shoo-in to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
However, when the award was announced at tonight’s NFL Honors, Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, not Hamlin, was named the winner.
Flacco returned to the NFL off his couch in December and played well down the stretch run, leading the Browns to the playoffs.
An ELITE comeback. @JoeFlacco is the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year. #NFLHonors@gillette @Headshoulders @oldspice @tide pic.twitter.com/Zhik5Pdboj
— NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2024
This is a pretty shocking result, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has a breakdown for how it happened.
Hamlin received eight more first-place votes than Flacco, 21 to 13, but Flacco earned an impressive 26 second-place votes while Hamlin only garnered seven.
Because of the NFL’s 5-3-1 point system, and the fact Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield stole some votes, Flacco wound up 11 points better than the Buffalo Bills safety.
A close vote for Comeback Player of the Year, won by Joe Flacco:
Voting for AP Comeback Player of the Year (5-3-1 scoring):
Joe Flacco, Cleveland, 13-26-8=151
Damar Hamlin, Buffalo, 21-7-14=140
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay, 10-10-13=93— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 9, 2024
Hamlin did win the 2023 Pro Football Writers of America Comeback Player of the Year Award, and it needs to be said that being snubbed tonight does not diminish his story at all.
From needing to be resuscitated on the field at Paycor Stadium last Jan. 2 to returning to play in five regular season games and two playoff contests this season, Hamlin’s impact won’t be forgotten.