Exclusive: Cleveland Browns Kevin Stefanski, Jim Schwartz, Myles Garrett and Joe Flacco Finalists for NFL’s Top Awards
The Cleveland Browns went 11-6 in the 2023 regular season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. In addition, the Browns have two players and two coaches who are among the best in their respective roles. The five finalists for the Associated Press NFL Awards were announced Thursday. Out of eight categories, the Browns were finalists in four. The award is voted on by 50 NFL media representatives.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski is one of five finalists to win Coach of the Year for the second time in four years. Defensive lineman Myles Garrett is a first-time Defensive Player of the Year finalist.
Quarterback Joe Flacco is a finalist for Player of the Year and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is a finalist for Assistant Coach of the Year. The other four categories in which Brown was not a finalist were MVP, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Pricing will be announced on February 2nd. 8 during the NFL Honors program in Las Vegas.
Other finalists besides Stefanski are Texans DeMeco Ryans, Lions Dan Campbell, Ravens John Harbaugh and 49ers Kyle Shanahan. Ryans was named PFWA Coach of the Year. Texas defeated the Browns 45-14 in a wild-card playoff game. Voting took place before the play-off.
Garrett was named the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year. Other players he will compete with include linebacker T.J. Steelers on the outside. Watt, Cowboys outside linebacker Micah Parsons, Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland and Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Watt led the NFL with 19 sacks, Crosby had 14.5 and Garrett and Parsons each had 14. Bland set an NFL record with five interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Flacco joined the Browns in November. 20 and played in five regular season games and one playoff game. He passed for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns in five starts and went 4-1 as the Browns made the playoffs. Flacco has thrown for more than 300 yards in five of the Browns’ six games this season, including a playoff game against the Texans.
The other four finalists for the Player of the Year award are former Browns No. 1 overall pick and current Buccaneer Baker Mayfield, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
Schwartz led the Browns’ No. 1 defense in his first season with the team. The Browns led the league in total yards, passing yards, first downs and third down conversions. The other finalists are Ben Johnson, Lions offensive coordinator Mike McDonald, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken and Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slovic.
