NFL Fans Have Harsh Reactions to Cleveland Browns Quarterback Joe Flacco Winning 2023 Comeback Player of the Year
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award during the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday night. The 38-year old was not signed by any team after becoming a free agent at the end of the 2022 season. Despite multiple teams needing quarterbacks throughout the 2023 season, Flacco did not get a call until later in the year.
The Browns signed Flacco and were instantly rewarded by taking a chance on him. In five games, Flacco led Cleveland to a 4-1 record to close out the year and helped them clinch a spot in the AFC Playoffs. He completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Flacco was not the crowd favorite to win the award, nor did he even receive the most first place votes. That honor went to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who infamously collapsed and was without a heartbeat for minutes on the field in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals last season.
Hamlin returned to the field this season, though was often a healthy scratch from Bills games. Still, he managed to play 111 defensive snaps, which is quite the achievement for someone who was literally dead for a few minutes last year.
So incredible was Hamlin’s journey that many NFL fans believe he should have won the award instead.
NFL Fans Believe Damar Hamlin Should Have Won Comeback Player of the Year Instead of Joe Flacco
While Flacco had a fun story, going from the couch and playing with his kids to carrying the Browns to the playoffs, Hamlin’s story is arguably more inspiring and more deserving for the honor of Comeback Player of the Year.
At least, that is what fans from multiple fanbases were saying on social media when the announcement was made:
While no one wants to take away how special Flacco’s run was, it is hard to argue that it is more worthy of the award than a man literally coming back from the dead.
