NEW YORK –– Jan. 16, 2024 –– The National Football League today announced the six finalists for the 2023 Pepsi® Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year award.
2023 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year Finalists are:
| PLAYER | POSITION | TEAM |
| De’Von Achane | Running Back | Miami Dolphins |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | Running Back | Detroit Lions |
| Sam LaPorta | Tight End | Detroit Lions |
| Puka Nacua | Wide Receiver | Los Angeles Rams |
| Bijan Robinson | Running Back | Atlanta Falcons |
| C.J. Stroud | Quarterback | Houston Texans |
Photo Cred: Reddit
Through the end of the voting period on Friday, Feb. 2, fans will be able to learn more about the Rookie of the Year finalists on NFL and Pepsi social media channels.
The 2023 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year award winner will be recognized during Super Bowl Week in Las Vegas and presented with a custom, Pepsi Zero Sugar-themed trophy.
The six finalists were selected for their outstanding performances this season. Each week, six nominees were chosen for the Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Week and fans voted for the winner on NFL.com. Those results were used to help determine the finalists.
Here’s a closer look at those finalists:
- Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane tied for the most scrimmage touchdowns (11) and ranked fourth in scrimmage yards (997) among rookies this season. His 11 scrimmage touchdowns are tied for the second-most by a rookie in franchise history. In Week 3, Achane became the second player in NFL history with at least 200 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, and two touchdown receptions in a single game.
- Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs was the only rookie this season with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards (1,261 – ranked third) and at least 10 scrimmage touchdowns (11 – tied for the most). From Weeks 7-11, Gibbs recorded 95 scrimmage yards and a touchdown, which tied for the third-most consecutive such games by a rookie in the Super Bowl era. Gibbs and teammate Sam LaPorta (10) became the first pair of rookie teammates each with at least 10 scrimmage touchdowns in NFL history.
- Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta ranked second in receptions (86) and ranked fourth in receiving yards (889) among rookies this season as well as tied for the fourth-most touchdown receptions (10) in the NFL. LaPorta recorded the most receptions and fourth-most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history. He became the third rookie tight end in NFL history to record at least 10 touchdown receptions. Additionally, he is the second rookie all-time with at least 85 receptions and 10 touchdown receptions.
- Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua led all rookies and set NFL rookie records in receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486). He had seven games with at least 100 receiving yards, tied for the second-most such games by a rookie in NFL history. Nacua also became the fifth rookie in NFL history with at three games of 150 or more receiving yards.
- Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson led all rookies in rushing yards (976), ranked second in scrimmage yards (franchise-record 1,463), and ranked third in rushing touchdowns (four). He had two games with at least 100 rushing yards, which is tied for the second-most such games by a rookie in franchise history.
- Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud led all rookie quarterbacks in passing yards (4,108), touchdown passes (23), passer rating (100.8), and completion percentage (63.9%). Stroud finished with the third-most passing yards by a rookie in NFL history and became the fourth qualifying rookie quarterback in NFL history with a passer rating of 100 or higher. Stroud had nine games with at least 250 passing yards this season, which is the second-most such games by a rookie quarterback in NFL history.
This is the 23rd year with Pepsi as the Official Soft Drink of the NFL and the 22nd year that Pepsi will present the NFL Rookie of the Week and NFL Rookie of the Year award.
Photo Cred: Sporting News
Media Contact: Skylar Burg, Skylar.Burg@nfl.com
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