NFL Honors 2023: Mahomes leads quarterback contingent on MVP shortlist

New York, New York - Three of the four quarterbacks who have led their teams to their conference's championship game have been named finalists for the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award.

The Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow, the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, and the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes are among the five NFL MVP finalists.
The Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow, the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, and the Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes are among the five NFL MVP finalists.  © Collage: USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, and the Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow are among the five finalists announced on Wednesday.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson were also tabbed as finalists.

Mahomes, the current betting favorite to win the honor for the second time in his career, Hurts and Jefferson are also finalists for Offensive Player of the Year along with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill.

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The 2018 NFL MVP led the league with 5,250 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes while helping the Chiefs to an AFC-best 14-3 record.

Top-seeded Kansas City will host Burrow's Bengals in the conference title game on Sunday.

Hurts compiled 3,701 passing yards, 760 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns to lead the Eagles to a 14-3 record and the NFC's No. 1 seed.

Eagles v. Niners showdown packed with finalists

Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is one of three finalists for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is one of three finalists for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.  © USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia will host a San Francisco 49ers team guided by quarterback Brock Purdy, one of three finalists for Offensive Rookie of the Year, in Sunday's conference championship.

Purdy, the final pick of the 2022 draft who has gone 7-0 since replacing an injured Jimmy Garoppolo, is joined by Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker and New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson as finalists.

San Francisco's stout defense was also represented with end Nick Bosa one of three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year. Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, the runner-up for the award last season, and Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones are also on the shortlist.

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49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was also named a finalist for NFL Coach of the Year along with the New York Giants' Brian Daboll and Jacksonville Jaguars' Doug Pederson, both of whom directed their teams to playoff appearances in their first seasons.

San Francisco garnered two other award finalists in running back Christian McCaffrey and defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. McCaffrey joins Giants running Saquon Barkley and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith as candidates for Comeback Player of the Year, while Ryans is a finalist for Assistant Coach of the Year.

Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson are the other Assistant Coach of the Year finalists.

The Defensive Rookie of the Year award will go to either Jets cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson or Seahawks corner Tariq Woolen.

The 2023 NFL Honors

Most Valuable Player

  • Josh Allen, QB – Buffalo Bills
  • Joe Burrow, QB – Cincinnati Bengals
  • Jalen Hurts, QB – Philadelphia Eagles
  • Justin Jefferson, WR – Minnesota Vikings
  • Patrick Mahomes, QB – Kansas Chiefs

Defensive Player of the Year

  • Nick Bosa, DE – San Francisco 49ers
  • Chris Jones, DT – Kansas Chiefs
  • Micah Parsons, LB – Dallas Cowboys

Offensive Player of the Year

  • Tyreek Hill, WR – Miami Dolphins
  • Jalen Hurts, QB – Philadelphia Eagles
  • Justin Jefferson, WR – Minnesota Vikings
  • Patrick Mahomes, QB – Kansas Chiefs

Offensive Rookie of the Year

  • Brock Purdy, QB – San Francisco 49ers
  • Kenneth Walker III, RB – Seattle Seahawks
  • Garrett Wilson, WR - New York Jets

Defensive Rookie of the Year

  • Sauce Gardner, CB – New York Jets
  • Aidan Hutchinson, DE – Detroit Lions DE
  • Tariq Woolen, CB – Seattle Seahawks

Comeback Player of the Year

  • Saquon Barkley, RB – New York Giants
  • Christian McCaffrey, RB – San Francisco 49ers
  • Geno Smith, QB – Seattle Seahawks

Coach of the Year

  • Brian Daboll – New York Giants
  • Sean McDermott – Buffalo Bills
  • Doug Pederson – Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Kyle Shanahan – San Francisco 49ers
  • Nick Sirianni – Philadelphia Eagles

Assistant Coach of the Year

  • Ben Johnson, OC – Detroit Lions
  • DeMeco Ryans, DC – San Francisco 49ers
  • Shane Steichen, OC – Philadelphia Eagles

All of this season's winners will be announced at the NFL Honors event in Phoenix on February 9, three days before Super Bowl LVII will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Voting was conducted before the start of the playoffs by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league.

Cover photo: Collage: USA TODAY Sports

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