The 2023 NFL Honors show brought the biggest stars and personalities from around the American Football world together to celebrate the best players - and people - from the 2022 season.
The red carpet was littered with glitz and glamour, from New York Jets icon Joe Namath to current stars like Jets rookie Sauce Gardner, San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Personalities and presenters were there too, including British NFL presenters Laura Woods, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Bell.
Host Kelly Clarkson revealed on the red carpet that she was 'proud' to become the first woman to host the show, which was held at Synphony Hall in Phoenix. The show was a wild and eclectic mix of American glamour, humour and entertainment, with both Cam Jordan and George Kittle inexplicably bursting into song.
The first award saw an emotional Justin Jefferson take home the Offensive Player of the Year following a record-breaking season of 1,809 yards and almost as many incredible catches. The Minnesota Vikings star laughed as he admitted he keeps a running list of his favourite plays, although he wouldn't reveal which was number one. It was likely the stupendous one-handed catch against the Buffalo Bills, which later won Moment of the Year.
Nick Bosa, who said he would take a long offseason before thinking about football, told media he was ready to go again after a crazy weekend in Las Vegas. Next up were the Rookie of the Year awards - and there was only one destination. The green half of New York City dominated the category, with Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner both bringing the hardware to the New York Jets.
"This is something no one can ever take from me," Wilson told media after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. "This is awesome. To hear Sauce's name shortly afterwards is awesome."
Wilson admitted Breece Hall would have won had the award had the running back not torn his ACL. He then insisted he wanted the Jets to become a playoff team and ultimately not attend the awards, implying they're preparing for a Super Bowl: "Best days are ahead of us."
Coach of the Year Brian Daboll, who remarkably led the New York Giants to the NFL Playoffs in his first season since taking such a job, took in his win and said he looks forward to watching the Super Bowl: "I'm going to eat nachos, drink a six-pack of beer - and then start my diet."
The Angry Run of the Year - won by Dameon Pierce - was a particularly amusing highlight, while Clarkson burst into song along with a chain-wearing Kirk Cousins to essentially celebrate Tom Brady's retirement. They sung 'Since He's Been Gone' to the tune of Clarkson's hit, suggesting other quarterbacks and teams have a chance now Brady has walked away from the sport in 2023.
Iconic quarterback and two-time MVP Kurt Warner announced that Patrick Mahomes was the winner of the MVP award, although he wasn't present to receive it as he is focused on winning the Super Bowl come Sunday. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was named the Walter Payton Man of the Year following his incredibly admirable efforts to spread suicide and mental health awareness.
For all the awards, the biggest cheer of the night came when Damar Hamlin took to the stage. Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch amid the Buffalo Bills' clash with the Cincinnati Bengals, gave a fine speech with the heroic medical teams from the Bills and Bengals, as well as the medical professionals from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He embraced each and every member amid a tremendous applause.
