SANTA CLARA — Running back Christian McCaffrey is a finalist for both Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year in a vote conducted by the Associated Press.
McCaffrey, whose skills as a runner and receiver made him the hub of the 49ers’ offense, was joined by quarterback Brock Purdy as an MVP finalist and coach Kyle Shanahan for Coach of the Year.
The awards will be announced on NFL Honors Night on Feb. 8 in Las Vegas, and if the 49ers have their way, none will be in attendance as they will be preparing for Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11.
The heavy favorite to win the MVP is Lamar Jackson of Baltimore, who was the runaway winner for the A.P. All-Pro team which was announced Jan. 10. The same national panel that votes for the A.P. All-Pro team also votes for the A.P. awards. For the past 10 years, the All-Pro quarterback has been the MVP, and Jackson received 45 of 50 votes cast.
Voting concluded at the close of the regular season.
Other MVP finalists include Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen and Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.
McCaffrey, a first-team All-Pro running back (he received all 50 votes) would seemingly have a much better chance of being named the Offensive Player of the Year. He led the NFL from Week 1 through the end of the season with 1,459 yards on 272 carries and 14 touchdowns. As a receiver, McCaffrey caught 67 passes for 567 yards and seven touchdowns.
With 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns, McCaffrey led the NFL in both categories. He was one of three players to be a finalist for both MVP and OPOY along with Jackson and Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott.
Other OPOY candidates are Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
In the balloting for Coach of the Year, Shanahan is a finalist along with Detroit’s Dan Campbell, Baltimore’s Jim Harbaugh, former 49ers’ assistant DeMeco Ryans of Dallas and Cleveland’s Kevin Stefanski.
Finalists for other awards include:
Defensive Player of the Year: CB DeRon Bland, Dallas, DE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas, DE Myles Garrett (Cleveland) and edge rushers Micah Parsons (Dallas) and TJ. Watt (Pittsburgh).
Assistant Coach of the Year: OC Ben Johnson (Detroit), DC Mike MacDonald (Baltimore), OC Todd Monken (Baltimore), DC Jim Schwartz (Cleveland) and OC Bobby Slowik (Houston)
Related Articles
49ers mailbag: Pass rush issues vs. Lions, Shananan’s issues and more
Nick Bosa vs. Penei Sewell is the matchup that will determine the NFC Championship Game
Deep 49ers offense returns to NFC Championship Game with better contingency plans than last year
Harbaugh returning to NFL to coach Chargers after leading Michigan to national title
Kurtenbach: How the 49ers can beat the Lions, win the NFC without Deebo Samuel
Comeback Player of the Year: S Damar Hamlin (Buffalo), QB Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay), QB Matthew Stanford (L.A. Rams), QB Tua Tagovaiola (Miami)
Offensive Rookie of the Year: RB Jahmyr Gibbs (Detroit), TE Sam LaPorta (Detroit), WR Puka Nacua (L.A. Rams), RB Bijan Robinson (Atlanta), QB C.J. Stroud (Houston)
Defensive Rookie of the Year: DE Will Anderson (Houston), DT Jalen Carter (Philadelphia), CB Joey Porter Jr. (Pittsburgh), DT Kobie Turner (L.A. Rams), CB Devon Witherspoon (Seattle)
