LAMAR JACKSON FOR MVP
According to the Associated Press, this year’s contest for the NFL Honors most prestigious award witnessed the closes vote count in recent history. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen received four more votes than two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson, despite the later leading his team to the very brink of a second-straight division championship.
Baltimore’s star quarterback continues to be one of the most electrifying players in NFL history. As a first-time All Pro, Jackson led the Ravens to a 12–5 record this season, throwing for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns—with only four interceptions. He added 915 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Jackson literally improved in every statistical category from his MVP season a year ago. In voting, the South Florida legend received 23 votes for what should have been his third NFL MVP trophy.
Meanwhile, the Bills enjoyed the weakest division in professional football this season.
Man of the Year: Arik Armstead, Jacksonville Jaguars
In a fair more justifiable decision, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arik Armstead was selected as the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award for this season. A consummate humanitarian, Armstead has embraced the Jacksonville community wholeheartedly, since arriving from San Francisco. Voters got this one right. According to the Jaguars:
Throughout his 10-year career, Armstead has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving the local community. In 2019, he established the Armstead Academic Project (AAP), an initiative that ensures every student, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has direct access to the resources they need to thrive, unlock their potential and achieve their goals.
Through AAP, he has committed himself to education, including a focus on improving literacy rates through his reading initiative, “Storytime with Arik Armstead” in Jacksonville as well as his hometown of Sacramento, Calif. and San Francisco. In fall 2024, Armstead and his wife, Mindy, donated $50,000 to the Department of Sound to create the first “Sound Mind” production workshop series for over 60 young people to explore STEAM education and social emotional wellness through AAP.
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
We can all celebrate the members of the 2025 class, featuring important names like Sterling Sharpe Sr., Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, and Eric Allen. However, it’s unfortunate to see how many more names continue to be underappreciated, and lack the recognition they earned during their amazing careers.
Among these underappreciated and underrecognized names is former University of Miami, and Super Bowl Champion Reggie Wayne.
COACH OF THE YEAR
This year at the NFL Honors, two respected high school coaches were named Don Shula High School Coach of the Year, one to represent the two NFL conferences. Personally, I feel like this is a cool way to engage the future of professional football, and fan like myself who are more emotionally invested in the local sport than the NFL these days.
Back in November, Coach John Hart and the Brownsville Bulldogs won the program’s first state championship since 1985 when they beat Westfield in the IHSAA 6A State Championship Game. Hart became the first Indiana high school football head coach to win a state title at three different schools.
Coach Bill Jacklin and the Slinger High School was chosen to represent the NFC. Jacklin and the Owls completed their undefeated season by winning the school’s second state football title. Jacklin graduated from Slinger High School in 1988 and accepted the head coaching position at his alma mater before the 2011 season.
In response, here are the three Orlando area high school coaches I’d nominate for this award.
- Coach Karlos Odum from Evans High School (Pine Hills, Florida)
- Coach Elijah Williams from Jones High School (Orlando, Florida)
- Coach Eric Pinellas from Osceola High School (Kissimmee, Florida)
Stay tuned members!
Sports Club Florida’s coverage of Super Bowl XIL starts now, watch this space.
