Joe Flacco narrowly beats out Damar Hamlin for 2023 Comeback Player of the Year

Cleveland Browns’ quarterback Joe Flacco was without a doubt, one of the biggest surprises of the 2023-2024 NFL season. He stunned everyone in leading the Cleveland Browns to the 2024 NFL Playoffs, managing to complete 60.3% of his passes for 1,616 yards, while tossing in 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. At Thursday night’s NFL Honors ceremony, Flacco brought home the 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Award in a very close vote. He barely edged out Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin for the award. Flacco finished with 151 total points in the voting process to Hamlin’s 140.

Hamlin even had more first place votes, beating Flacco 21-13 in that regard.

A close vote for Comeback Player of the Year, won by Joe Flacco:

Voting for AP Comeback Player of the Year (5-3-1 scoring):
Joe Flacco, Cleveland, 13-26-8=151
Damar Hamlin, Buffalo, 21-7-14=140
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay, 10-10-13=93

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 9, 2024

Flacco had a spectacular comeback in 2023-2024

Flacco led the Browns to four straight wins at the end of the regular season. He caught fire down the stretch, throwing for over 300 passing yards and two touchdowns in each of those four wins. He was just a few weeks removed from being at home and sitting on the couch, but following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury, the former Ravens star was pressed into action. He dusted his cleats off and blew everyone away, winning four of six games that he started for the Browns.

Damar Hamlin nearly died in a scary incident in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. He went into cardiac arrest, collapsed, and was on the field for 10 minutes after tackling Bengals wideout Tee Higgins. Luckily, trainers and medical staff on site were able to quickly revive him and he survived. Hamlin suffered from what is known as commotio cordis–a rare disruption of heart rhythm that occurs as a result of a blow to the area over the heart. One of the more inspirational stories in NFL history, Hamlin survived his devastating incident and battled back to get back on the field this year.

What’s been the biggest thing that’s been going through his mind in the past year?

“The biggest thing that’s been going through my mind and one thing that I had to do to ease all of the emotions and anxiety and fears that came with everything. Was to be where my feet are. Our chaplain for our team. We used to say this every day during the season. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. He would say the first half. I would say the second half. And you know, that was just our way of staying present in every day. In every moment. And then enjoying the moment as well. So, throughout the entire journey, I stayed present. I appreciated every moment. The highs. The lows. The joy. The one thousand emotions that came with it. And you know, I can say I was there and I was present, and I enjoyed every step of the way,” Hamlin said on the red carpet shortly before the NFL honors ceremony began.

He managed to tally two tackles this season in limited action. Hamlin also ran a fake punt at a critical point in the Chiefs-Bills playoff game this year, but was stopped in the backfield on fourth down.