Justin Jefferson named AP Offensive Player of the Year
AP Offensive Player of the Year Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson holds up his award at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 57 football game,Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
(ABC 6 News) – Minnesota Vikings Justin Jefferson has been named the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.
Minnesotaβs All-Pro wide receiver got 35 first-place votes and earned 192 points, outdistancing runner up Patrick Mahomes by a significant margin.
Mahomes received 10 first-place votes and finished with 75 points. Jalen Hurts came in third with 52 points, including three first-place votes. Miami Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill got one first-place vote, finishing fourth. Bills quarterback Josh Allen received the other first-place vote and ended up eighth.
Jefferson led the NFL with 128 catches and 1,809 yards receiving in his third season with the Vikings. He was one of two unanimous choices for AP All-Pro along with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Itβs the second straight year a wide receiver has won the award. Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp won it last season.
Other awards announced Thursday:
New York Jets cornerback Ahmad βSauceβ Gardner won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award Thursday, taking 46 first-place votes.
DeMeco Ryans, who spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator of the 49ers, was named AP Assistant Coach of the Year. He is now the head coach of the Texans.
Nick Bosa made it a landslide for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award. San Franciscoβs All-Pro defensive end received 46 first-place votes after leading the NFL with 18 1/2 sacks in the regular season.