Every year, ESPN holds an award ceremony celebrating the excellence of athletes in sports for the year. Basically it’s the Oscars or Grammy’s of the sports world. This year, the NFL cashed out, taking home awards for Best Comeback Player, Best Coach, Best Moment, Record Breaking Performance of the Year, and even Best Game.
Here are the winners:
Best Comeback Player: Matthew Stafford… Came back from injuring his throwing shoulder in 2010 to throw for 5,038 years in 2011… the fourth most yards thrown in NFL history.
Best Coach: Tom Coughlin, coach of the NY Giants led them to their 2nd Super Bowl in 5 years, overcoming the NE Patriots both times.
Best Moment: Tim Tebow’s 80 yard game-winning TD in the first play of OT against the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Wild Card.
Record Breaking Performance: Drew Brees, who broke Dan Marino’s single season passing record, threw for 5,476 yards and 46 TDs in 2011 and became the NFL’s single season passing leader.
Best Game: NFC Divisional Game, San Francisco 49ers vs New Orleans Saints. After the 49ers jumped out to an early lead, Drew Brees led the Saints all the way back, only to be heartbroken by the clutch play of Alex Smith and Vernon Davis.