NFL Honors: Lions shut out at year-end awards show; Campbell finishes third

The Detroit Lions had multiple nominees for the league's season-ending awards, but were shut out during the NFL Honors broadcast Thursday evening.

Lions rookies Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs were finalists for Offensive Rookie of the Year, while coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson were finalists for coach of the year and assistant coach of the year, respectively. But each lost to other options.

The offensive rookie of the year award went to Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who took home 48 of 50 first-place votes. The other two votes went to Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who finished second in the balloting. LaPorta was third and Gibbs fourth.

Campbell also placed third, well behind the winner, Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. He finished tied with Houston's DeMeco Ryans, but Stefanski was named the winner because he had one more first-place vote.

Johnson, you guessed it, finished third. It comes a year after he was runner-up for the award. This season, it was won by former Lions coach and Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who scored half of the 50 first-place votes. Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald, who was recently named the head coach in Seattle, finished second. Johnson netted six first-place votes.

The Lions did end up on the wrong side of an award when Dallas Cowboys receiver Ceedee Lamb's 92-yard touchdown reception against Detroit was named the league's "Moment of the Year."

The show was hosted by actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key. A Michigan native and noted Lions fan made the team part of his opening monologue, highlighting three Lions players in the audience.

"I see some Lions in the house right now," Key said. "We've got Aidan Hutchinson. He's here. Jahmyr Gibbs is in the house. Frank Ragnow, our center is here. I am so proud, so proud of everything Dan Campbell and the Pride accomplished this season. The last time the Lions were this good was 1991. Back then, Eminem was just a candy, I still had hair and (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones was a spry 81 years old.

"The point is, the Lions had a truly historic year and they made it all the way to the first half of the NFC Championship," Key said. "That game, by the way, that game between the Lions and 49ers was the most-expensive conference championship ever, with tickets averaging $2,000. For context, carry the one, that's double (49ers quarterback) Brock Purdy's salary."

Lions Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders also appeared on the show, as part of a segment featuring iconic Las Vegas act Penn and Teller.

NFL Honors 2024 nominees and winners

Winners in bold

2024 Hall of Fame selections

Defensive end Dwight Freeney

Wide receiver Andre Johnson

Linebacker Randy Gradishar

Linebacker Patrick Willis

Defensive tackle Steve McMichael

Return man Devin Hester

Defensive end Julius Peppers

Most Valuable Player

Josh Allen, QB, Bills

▶ Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens

Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers

Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys

Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers

Offensive Player of the Year

Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins

Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Cowboys

▶ Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers

Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys

Defensive Player of the Year

DaRon Bland, CB, Cowboys

Maxx Crosby, DE, Raiders

▶ Myles Garrett, DE, Browns

Micah Parsons, OLB, Cowboys

T.J. Watt, OLB, Steelers

Offensive Rookie of the Year

Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Lions

Sam LaPorta, TE, Lions

Puka Nacua, WR, Rams

Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons

▶ C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans

Defensive Rookie of the Year

▶ Will Anderson Jr., DE, Texans

Jalen Carter, DT, Eagles

Joey Porter Jr., CB, Steelers

Kobie Turner, DT, Rams

Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seahawks

Comeback Player of the Year

▶ Joe Flacco, QB, Browns

Damar Hamlin, S, Bills

Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers

Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins

Coach of the Year

Dan Campbell, Lions

John Harbaugh, Ravens

DeMeco Ryans, Texans

Kyle Shanahan, 49ers

▶ Kevin Stefanski, Browns

Assistant Coach of the Year

Ben Johnson, OC, Lions

Mike Macdonald, DC, Ravens

Todd Monken, OC, Ravens

▶ Jim Schwartz, DC, Browns

Bobby Slowik, OC, Texans

Walter Payton Man of the Year

▶ Cameron Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

Moment of the Year

▶ Ceedee Lamb, 92-yard touchdown catch vs. the Lions

Kyle Hamilton, 18-yard pick-six against the Browns

Xavier Gipson, walk-off punt return for a touchdown against the Bills

Fantasy Breakout Player of the Year

▶ Rachaad White, RB, Buccaneers

FedEx Air Player of the Year

▶ Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers

FedEx Ground Player of the Year

▶ Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers

Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

▶ Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle

Celebration of the Year

▶ Tommy DeVito, QB, New York Giants

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @Justin_Rogers