Announcing 2023 NFL All-Pro Team & Awards: San Francisco 49ers Lead The Way
The San Francisco 49ers have four players earn 2023 NFL First Team All-Pro honors
I’m combining my usual All-Pro and awards articles for the NFL season into one large post. Today, I’ll be announcing my picks for the most prestigious end-of-year awards and the All-Pro Teams. I will only provide commentary on potentially controversial picks since most of this is self-explanatory, and you probably just want to scroll through it casually anyway.
I built three All-Pro Teams using the Associated Press’ roster formatting from 2022. The AP only picks two teams, but I felt there were enough standout players to make three. That also took some of the tough decision-making off my plate since I was leaving fewer premier players off the list.
Let’s dive into this end-of-year article, beginning with the season’s awards. Honorable mentions appear in alphabetical order by last name.
Most Valuable Player: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Honorable Mentions: Josh Allen, Tyreek Hill, Christian McCaffrey, Dak Prescott
Coach of the Year: Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Honorable Mentions: Dan Campbell, John Harbaugh, Sean McVay, Antonio Pierce, DeMeco Ryans, Kevin Stefanski, Shane Steichen
Assistant Coach of the Year: Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions
Honorable Mentions: Brian Flores, Mike Macdonald, Todd Monken, Jim Schwartz, Bobby Slowik
Offensive Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Honorable Mentions: Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb
Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
Honorable Mentions: Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, Khalil Mack, T.J. Watt, Antoine Winfield Jr.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Honorable Mentions: De'Von Achane, Tank Dell, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, Puka Nacua, Jayden Reed, Bijan Robinson
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans
Honorable Mentions: Brian Branch, Jalen Carter, Ivan Pace Jr., Kobie Turner, Devon Witherspoon, Byron Young
Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Flacco/Damar Hamlin
Honorable Mentions: Keenan Allen, Breece Hall, Matthew Stafford, Tua Tagovailoa, T.J. Watt
The debate over who should win Comeback Player of the Year is extremely toxic right now. If we look at the impact a player made over the course of a full season, it should go to Matthew Stafford, but Joe Flacco went from being out of the league to carrying Cleveland to the playoffs.
Additionally, Damar Hamlin had the highest mountain to climb in his return to the sport, but he played fewer than two dozen defensive snaps and barely dressed throughout the year. I just picked him and Flacco to avoid the discussion.
Kyle Shanahan’s odds of winning Coach of the Year have really dropped off, but he’s the head coach who elevates his team and players the most with what he brings to the table schematically. DeMeco Ryans and Kevin Stefanski, who are going to the playoffs despite the odds being against them, have strong cases, but Shanahan’s mastery of the game is on a different level.
Assistant Coach of the Year was another debatable award. Ben Johnson has done wonders for Jared Goff’s career, but Bobby Slowik’s work with C.J. Stroud, Todd Monken’s work with Lamar Jackson, and the defensive successes of Brian Flores, Mike Macdonald, and Jim Schwartz are all notable. Macdonald was my runner-up.
First Team Offense
Quarterback: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Running Back: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Tight End: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Wide Receiver: Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Wide Receiver: CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
Wide Receiver: Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Left Tackle: Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
Right Tackle: Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles
Left Guard: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
Right Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
Center: Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions
First Team Defense
Edge Rusher: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
Edge Rusher: Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
Interior Lineman: Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
Interior Lineman: Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
Linebacker: Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
Linebacker: Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers
Linebacker: Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens
Cornerback: Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Cornerback: Ahmad Gardner, New York Jets
Safety: Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Safety: Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons
First Team Special Teams
Kicker: Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys
Punter: AJ Cole, Las Vegas Raiders
Kick Returner: Keisean Nixon, Green Bay Packers
Punt Returner: Derius Davis, Los Angeles Chargers
Technically, putting Micah Parsons at linebacker is cheating. I have always drawn a hard line between outside linebackers (edge rushers) and off-ball linebackers, but I broke that barrier this year because the league’s top three pass rushers are easily the three frontrunners for Defensive Player of the Year. I had to fit all of them onto the First Team. I would’ve been a joke otherwise.
At the mid-point of the year, I really thought we might have some new faces on the All-Pro Team along the offensive line. Don’t I look dumb. Trent Williams overcame injuries and reasserted himself as one of the most important members of San Francisco’s offense (possibly the second-most important behind CMC).
I tried to find some new guard talent to insert ahead of Zack Martin and Quenton Nelson, who have taken noticeable steps back from the players they were three to four years ago. Ultimately, they’re still both very polished players, and Nelson looked healthier and better in 2023 than 2022. No one clearly jumped them, including Martin’s penalty-prone teammate Tyler Smith.
I really don’t feel great about that Martin pick at this point. I’m going to get roasted for it.
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Running Back: Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Tight End: Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
Wide Receiver: A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Wide Receiver: Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Wide Receiver: Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Left Tackle: Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Right Tackle: Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions
Left Guard: Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs
Right Guard: Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
Center: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles
Second Team Defense
Edge Rusher: Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
Edge Rusher: Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
Interior Lineman: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Interior Lineman: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
Linebacker: Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
Linebacker: Quincy Williams, New York Jets
Linebacker: Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cornerback: Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos
Cornerback: DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys
Safety: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens
Safety: Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos
Second Team Special Teams
Kicker: Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles
Punter: Michael Dickson, Seattle Seahawks
Kick Returner: Xavier Gipson, New York Jets
Punt Returner: Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints
I want to quickly acknowledge several members of the Second Team who would probably earn First Team honors in another season. Dak Prescott was maybe a bad game against Buffalo away from winning the MVP. A.J. Brown was awesome through the first half of the year, but his production plummeted over his final nine appearances.
If Tyron Smith was healthy for the full season, he might’ve pushed Trent Williams for the top left tackle spot. That’s how much he turned back the clock this year. It probably won’t be too long before Penei Sewell overtakes Lane Johnson as the top right tackle in the NFL.
Demario Davis got bumped to the Second Team in favor of Micah Parsons taking a linebacker spot. Kyle Hamilton would’ve been my First Team choice if there was a slot defender role in addition to the two usual safety positions. Maxx Crosby and Khalil Mack were fantastic this year, but there are just too many good pass rushers in the NFL right now to give the highest honors to everyone.
Third Team Offense
Quarterback: Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Running Back: Breece Hall, RB New York Jets
Tight End: T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
Wide Receiver: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Wide Receiver: D.J. Moore, Chicago Bears
Wide Receiver: Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Left Tackle: Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Right Tackle: Zach Tom, Green Bay Packers
Left Guard: Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys
Right Guard: Shaq Mason, Houston Texans
Center: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
Third Team Defense
Edge Rusher: Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Edge Rusher: Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals
Interior Lineman: Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens
Interior Lineman: Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
Linebacker: Bobby Okereke, New York Giants
Linebacker: C.J. Mosley, New York Jets
Linebacker: Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens
Cornerback: Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers
Cornerback: L'Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs
Safety: Xavier McKinney, New York Giants
Safety: Julian Love, Seattle Seahawks
Third Team Special Teams
Kicker: Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs
Punter: Ryan Stonehouse, Tennessee Titans
Kick Returner: Marvin Mims, Denver Broncos
Punt Returner: Britain Covey, Philadelphia Eagles
You could flip a coin between placing Tristan Wirfs on the Second or Third Team, and I would accept either result. I really thought Tyler Smith would be a Second Team selection around the mid-season mark, but he’s still a very inconsistent player.
My Third Team wide receiver picks will probably be controversial. I listed four receivers in the honorable mention section who I believe were worthy of spots on this squad.
The Third Team’s entire defensive line has enough talent to warrant Second Team selections in future seasons, but those positions are loaded right now. It also feels wrong not to have Nick Bosa and/or Danielle Hunter on the teams.
There’s a strong argument to be made for L'Jarius Sneed and Charvarius Ward making the Second Team over DaRon Bland and Patrick Surtain II.
Honorable Mentions
Raheem Mostert, RB Miami Dolphins
Travis Kelce, TE Kansas City Chiefs
David Njoku, TE Cleveland Browns
Keenan Allen, WR Los Angeles Rams
Ja'Marr Chase, WR Cincinnati Bengals
Nico Collins, WR Houston Texans
Amari Cooper, WR Cleveland Browns
Kevin Dotson, RG Los Angeles Rams
Quinn Meinerz, RG Denver Broncos
Wyatt Teller, RG Cleveland Browns
Joel Bitonio, LG Cleveland Browns
Landon Dickerson, LG Philadelphia Eagles
Connor Williams, C Miami Dolphins
Nick Bosa, Edge San Francisco 49ers
Bradley Chubb, Edge Miami Dolphins
Danielle Hunter, Edge Minnesota Vikings
Aidan Hutchinson, Edge Detroit Lions
Christian Barmore, IDL New England Patriots
DeForest Buckner, IDL Indianapolis Colts
Ed Oliver, IDL Buffalo Bills
Christian Wilkins, IDL Miami Dolphins
Brian Branch, NB Detroit Lions
Taron Johnson, NB Buffalo Bills
Devon Witherspoon, CB/NB Seattle Seahawks
Derek Stingley Jr., CB Houston Texans
Cameron Dicker, K Los Angeles Chargers
Cairo Santos, K Chicago Bears