Miami (AFP) – San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey have both made the five-man list of finalists for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award, the league said on Thursday.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is viewed as the favorite for the annual award while quarterbacks Josh Allen of Buffalo and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys have also been shortlisted.
The winners will be announced at the ‘NFL Honors’ event on February 8 in Las Vegas, three days before the Super Bowl.
McCaffrey was the NFL’s rushing leader with 1,459 yards and also scored 14 touchdowns.
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No running back has won the MVP award since Adrian Peterson of Minnesota in 2012.
Purdy led the 49ers to the NFC conference championship for a second straight season and set a franchise single-season passing record with 4,280 yards.
The 49ers will face the Detroit Lions on Sunday for a place in the Super Bowl.
Frontrunner Jackson is also hoping for a place in the big game when he leads the Ravens against the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
The quarterback was named the Pro Footballer Writers of America MVP on Wednesday after taking the team to the best overall regular-season record in the NFL.
Jackson threw for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns with career highs in completion percentage (67.2) and yards per completion (8).
He also led the Ravens (821 yards) in rushing while averaging 5.5 yards per carry and five touchdowns.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill features in the Offensive Player of the Year finalists along with Dallas receiver CeeDee Lamb, McCaffrey, Jackson and Prescott.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is favored for the Defensive Player of the Year but will face a strong challenge from Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.
J.
Watt, Las Vegas defensive end Maxx Crosby and Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland also made the list of finalists.
Detroit head coach Dan Campbell, who guided the Lions one step from the championship game for the first time in 33 years, is among the contenders for Coach of the Year along with Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, Houston’s first year coach DeMeco Ryans, Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers and the Cleveland Browns’ Kevin Stefanski.
The NFL will also honor defensive and offensive rookies and the Comeback Player of the Year.
