Every year, we see a new class of rookies who do great things. This year was no different. Normally, it’s just a battle for rookie of the year, but this year, there might be an MVP competitor.
C.J. Stroud was taken with the second overall selection by the Houston Texans, and he’s putting up numbers. In ten games, he has passed for 2,962 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. He also has rushed for 85 yards and two touchdowns. The Texans are 6-4, holding a Wild Card seeding thanks to his performances.
While Stroud is in the MVP conversation, has a rookie ever won the NFL MVP award before?
Has A Rookie Ever Won the NFL MVP Award?
The NFL MVP award has only been won by a rookie once before. It was done by legendary Browns running back Jim Brown. He did it in 1957. That season, Brown was a Pro Bowler and All-NFL team member. He rushed for 942 yards on 202 carries with nine touchdowns in 12 games.
Ironically enough, that would be Brown’s worst year as a pro. He went on to rush for 12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns. He added 2,499 receiving yards, 262 catches, and 20 touchdowns through the air.
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There are, however, 14 rookies who have received MVP votes. Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson, Dan Marino, Marcus Allen, Randy Moss, Calvin Hill, Edgerrin James, Gale Sayers, Ken Willard, Franco Harris, Chester Marcol, Ronnie Lott and Chris Johnson.
Stroud is the first rookie in a while to even make a case. He is on pace to have the best season ever by a rookie quarterback. Most recently, Justin Herbert and Baker Mayfield both had good rookie seasons.
Herbert passed for 4.336 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 2020. Mayfield, on the other hand, passed for 3,725 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in 2018. Herbert won Rookie of the Year, while Mayfield did not.
Stroud is coming off a three-interception performance against the Arizona Cardinals. He did, however, have 338 yards and two more passing touchdowns.
Another week another CJ Stroud highlight🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/I39X4xFf4v
— Kris Drew (@KristopherDrew_) November 19, 2023
Stroud is the only quarterback in NFL history to record 2,500+ yards, 15+ touchdowns, and five or fewer interceptions in their first nine career games.
Entering Week 12, Stroud is tied for the sixth-best betting odds of winning the award, according to FOX Sports. He, along with Josh Allen and Dak Prescott, has +1800 odds. Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has the best odds with +250.
Stroud has six remaining games to make a case for the MVP award. He will face the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Indianapolis Colts, the New York Jets, the Denver Broncos, and the Tennessee Titans twice.
His Week 12 matchup is a home game against the Jaguars. It will be a rematch of Week 3, when the Texans took down the Jaguars 37-17. Stroud had 280 yards and two touchdowns that game. The winner of this game will hold first place in the AFC South.
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