Lamar tops Prescott, Purdy to claim MVP for 2nd time

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was named the 2023 NFL MVP on Thursday, claiming the regular-season award for the second time in his career.

Jackson, who previously won the award unanimously in 2019, was a finalist in this year’s ceremony along with San Francisco 49ers stars Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey, as well as Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Buffalo Bills signal-caller Josh Allen.

The Ravens superstar received 49 of 50 first-place votes to easily win the award again in 2023. Prescott ranked second despite not receiving any first-place votes. He was followed by McCaffrey and Purdy. Allen was the only other player who had first-place consideration, but he finished fourth.

Jackson posted a 67.2% completion rate in 2023 – a career single-season high – to go along with 3,678 yards and 24 touchdown passes against only seven interceptions in 16 games. The first-team All-Pro QB also rushed for 821 yards and five TDs while helping the Ravens finish the regular season as the AFC’s No. 1 seed.

Jackson, Purdy, and McCaffrey were all considered MVP front-runners heading into Baltimore’s Week 16 matchup with San Francisco. Jackson finished that game with 297 combined yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers, while Purdy was intercepted a career-high four times. McCaffrey did rush for 103 yards and one TD, but the Jackson-led Ravens beat the 49ers 33-19, making Jackson the new favorite for football’s top individual award.

The 27-year-old becomes only the 11th player ever to win multiple regular-season MVPs. Patrick Mahomes, Joe Montana, Steve Young, and Kurt Warner have also won the award twice. Peyton Manning tops that list as a five-time winner.

A quarterback has now won the MVP award in the last 11 seasons and 16 times in the past 17 years. Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was the last non-QB to take home the honor (2012).

Jackson and the Ravens weren’t able to replicate their regular-season success in the playoffs, as Baltimore fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game.

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