When Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin announced his return to the NFL this season after the scary incident last season that saw him needing life-saving CPR on the field, it was widely assumed that he would ultimately be the recipient of the league’s Comeback Player of the Year award. While that still may be the case, it is certainly a debate as the season comes to a close with the emergence of Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco.
The Cleveland Browns signed Joe Flacco shortly after starting quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury, and it’s safe to say that Flacco has saved their season and is playing some of the best football of his career. He’s thrown for over 300 yards in four consecutive games with 13 touchdown passes in just five games with the Browns. He has been one of the most dominant quarterbacks in the league at a time when it looked like his NFL career was likely over.
While it’s extraordinarily impressive that Hamlin was able to return to the NFL at all, he has not exactly put up dominant numbers this season. In fact, he’s appeared in just two games, totaling two tackles this season.
According to the latest odds from DraftKings, however, Hamlin is still the favorite to win the award with -150 odds while Flacco has the second-best odds at +100.
It’s a tight race with a valid argument for both players, and the NFL world had a lot to say about it on social media.
It's a tough race here folks, they both make good cases
Joe Flacco – sucked last year, doesn't suck this year
Damar Hamlin – died, is not currently dead https://t.co/feHWNnmKk9
— just max productions (Hou Chronicle contributor) (@jmproductionsyt) December 29, 2023
There’s zero reason for Hamlin to win this award. It’s charitable that he’s even on a roster. https://t.co/at4gz6jFgp
— Brett DeLawyer A Deñial Correlatioñ (Proud 5.8%er) (@_birdsofwar) December 29, 2023
Flacco is Comeback player of the year. Hamlin has 0 business being it. There I said it. https://t.co/pBKIemRWqR
— Jack Farrell (@Jfarrell924) December 29, 2023
https://twitter.com/yoitspetey/status/1740826815676240310?s=20
For context there are 3 different wide receivers with more tackles than damar Hamlin on his own team https://t.co/Ejkx4JfcQv
— Joseph Hartzell (@J_Hart32) December 29, 2023
The league loses a lot of credibility if Damar wins this award https://t.co/lKLRMUd8eY
— Matthew (@matthewmandzen) December 29, 2023
We’ll have to see who ultimately wins the award at the end of the season.
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