Overshadowed by the heartbreak and disappointment of the playoff loss in Buffalo was the Ravens receiving no shortage of recognition from the Pro Football Writers of America this week.
Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Lamar Jackson headlined the list as the PFWA voted him its MVP for the 2024 season. After Jackson became the first player in NFL history to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 900 in a single season, this marks the third time he’s been voted PFWA MVP after winning in 2019 and 2023.
The 28-year-old became the sixth back-to-back MVP winner since the PFWA first introduced the honor in 1966. Jackson joins Earl Campbell (1978-79), Brett Favre (1995-96), Marshall Faulk (2000-01), Peyton Manning (2008-09), and Aaron Rodgers (2020-21) as back-to-back MVPs.
While the Associated Press MVP receives more mainstream attention and is featured at the annual NFL Honors show as part of a marketing agreement, it is not the “official” MVP as the NFL recognizes the AP, PFWA, and Sporting News versions of the award. For what it’s worth, the PFWA consists of a much larger pool of voters — which includes this writer — from every NFL market than the other two.
As you’d probably expect, Jackson was also named to the PFWA’s All-NFL and All-AFC teams.
Joining Jackson as a three-time All-NFL selection was Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry, who led the AFC with 1,921 rushing yards in his first season with the Ravens. Henry, 31, was a unanimous selection for the All-AFC team.
Inside linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton were also All-AFC selections. It is Smith’s third straight All-AFC nod since arriving in Baltimore while Hamilton is a back-to-back selection.
Right tackle Roger Rosengarten was the lone Baltimore selection for the PFWA All-Rookie team. The second-round pick out of Washington entered the starting lineup in Week 4 and started every remaining game through the end of the season.
On Thursday, the NFL officially announced Jackson as a finalist for the AP MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards. Henry was also named a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year. The winners will be announced at the NFL Honors show in New Orleans on Feb. 6.
