The New York Jets announced team awards for the 2022 season this morning. Among them were seven different awards.
Each of those awards being the Curtis Martin Team MVP, Dennis Byrd/Most Inspirational, Kyle Clifton/Good Guy, Ed Block Courage/Most Courageous Player, Marty Lyons/Community Service, Bill Hampton/”Rookie Who Acts Like a Pro,” and lastly, the Selfless Warrior award.
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2022 New York Jets team award winners:
Curtis Martin Team MVP: Quinnen Williams
No surprise here. In year four, the Jets’ former third-overall draft selection absolutely broke out.
In 14 games played this year, Quinnen Williams has compiled 12 sacks and tackles for loss to go along with 24 quarterback hits. All by far career-bests.
He has accumulated 49 total tackles (33 solo), forced two fumbles (recovered one), and even has four passes defended.
Williams has enjoyed one special year in 2022, leading this Jets football team consistently every week. He is key to the unit ranking third overall in the NFL this season. Williams recently turned 25 years old, is in line to receive the biggest contract from the Jets in the history of the franchise this offseason, and should only keep building on his dominant play from his fourth year.
Dennis Byrd/Most Inspirational: C.J. Mosley
C.J. Mosley is a core leader to the Jets locker room, brings credibility to the organization, and is the vocal presence pre-snap on the Jets’ defense. He has been the Team Captain on defense now for the last two years. With all of his special intangibles, which he is well-known for, Mosley is more than deserving of the Most Inspirational Award.
On the field, Mosley is a tough, physical football player. He has played 100% of the defense’s snaps in all but one game this season, providing the unit was consistent reliability. In 15 games this year, Mosley has totaled 142 tackles, the eighth-most in football.
Mosley has an undeniable work ethic, proving his commitment to turning the Jets around, and his impeccable leadership has played an integral role in the Jets changing the culture around in 2022.
Kyle Clifton/Good Guy: Alijah Vera-Tucker and Quinnen Williams
The Jets staff voted Williams and Alijah Vera-Tucker both as the team’s good guys.
One of the two biggest crushing blows to the 2022 Jets was the season-ending injury of Alijah Vera-Tucker, who the team is now 2-6 in his absence. His selflessness, which dates back to the offseason, has aided this football team tremendously.
When the Jets signed Laken Tomlinson in free agency, Vera-Tucker changed positions from left guard to right guard. Then, due to many injuries, over a two-week span, Vera-Tucker moved from right guard to left tackle, then left tackle to right tackle. He changed not only positions but sides to the line with each change made. Vera-Tucker gave the Jets an identity not only with his dominant on-field play but through his unselfish, team-first demeanor. Vera-Tucker is everything a fan could ask for in a Jet.
This is the second-straight year that Williams has been awarded a team good guy, proving his team-first attitude to the Jets.
Ed Block Courage/Most Courageous Player: Vinny Curry
When the Jets re-signed Vinny Curry this offseason, it was a fairly big surprise. That came as a result of the fact that he did not play in 2021 due to a blood clot that the Jets’ doctors found.
But Curry returned to the Jets, earning a roster spot and a pretty consistent role of 15-25 snaps a week. Curry has made his impact felt as a run defender on early downs.
Curry deserves a ton of credit for coming back from the rare blood disorder he was diagnosed with a year ago.
Marty Lyons/Community Service: Solomon Thomas
Jets defensive tackle Solomon Thomas does a ton of work off the field in the mental health community. He helped start a foundation called “The Defensive Line” following the tragic suicide committed by his sister, Ella, in 2018.
Thomas is focused on helping communicate with the youth in regard to their mental health. The off-field service done by Thomas also led to him being the Jets’ Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Thomas is a caring human being doing great community service and more than deserving of his honor.
Bill Hampton/”Rookie Who Acts Like a Pro”: Garrett Wilson
On the field, Jets fans have come to know rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson as an immense competitor very fast. But clearly, off the field, in the locker room, and around the facility, Wilson is a high-character individual who has earned the respect of many.
Voted on by the equipment staff, Wilson follows fellow wide receivers Elijah Moore and Denzel Mims as the winners of this award, making it three years in a row the honor has gone to this position group.
Selfless Warrior: Duane Brown
This is a brand new award the Jets added this year. It comes as no surprise as to why they would.
Duane Brown, at 37 years old, as accomplished as he is, could have opted for surgery following a shoulder injury sustained in training camp. Instead, he returned from IR as soon as possible and gave this Jets offensive line stability at tackle since returning, something the group has not had all year.
Brown has played 100% of the Jets’ snaps since coming off IR in Week 5. Brown was voted on for this award by the Jets coaching staff for simply giving his all to this football team. For the 2022 Jets, Brown has been beyond valuable and should be fully commended for battling all year.