Christian McCaffrey wins 2023 Offensive Player of the Year

He’s not only a few days away from playing in the biggest game of his NFL career, but Christian McCaffrey has come away with some hardware a few days away from the Super Bowl. At Thursday evening’s NFL Honors, the former Stanford star won the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year.

McCaffrey has enjoyed a dominant 2023-2024 campaign, and he’s been a massive reason why the San Francisco 49ers are in the 2024 Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s shown he’s one of the best players in the league yet again, rushing for 1,459 yards (career-high) and 14 touchdowns. As a receiver, he’s hauled in 564 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, reaffirming the fact that he’s one of the best all-purpose backs in NFL history.

McCaffrey won the award over Tyreek Hill, who had one of the best seasons by a receiver in NFL history. Hill used his unmatched combination of speed and acceleration to torch opposing defenders with ease. The Miami Dolphins wideout hauled in 119 catches for 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He ranked second in the league in catches, first in receiving yards, and first in touchdowns. Hill has already hauled in over 10,000 receiving yards and 76 touchdowns in his prolific career and there’s no question he’s heading to the Hall of Fame once it comes time to hang up his cleats.

Hill and the Dolphins were bounced out of the 2024 NFL Playoffs by the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round. They lost the game 26-7, but it’s important to note the game was played in near record low temperatures. It was minus -4 degrees at kickoff, easily setting the record for the coldest game at Arrowhead Stadium. In the loss, Hill hauled in five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. The conditions were some of the coldest in NFL history. Following the game, many fans and players complained of frostbite.

One of the other finalists for Offensive Player of the Year was Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. He put up mind-boggling numbers similar to those of Tyreek Hill. Lamb hauled in 135 catches for 1,749 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, firmly cementing his status as one of the elite wideouts in the league. The Cowboys had an excruciatingly painful loss to the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, getting whipped 48-32. While Lamb had a career-year, the painful loss in the playoffs to end the Cowboys season will still remain fresh in everyone’s minds.