Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones has received many honors for his play in 2019. However, he misses out on one, as voted on by the Pro Football Writers of America, the collection of hundreds of writers who cover the NFL across the country.
The PFWA announced its selections for MVP, offensive player of the year and defensive player of the year.
Jones was not the pick. Instead, it was New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore.
Gilmore had a fantastic season for New England, one of the top defensive units in the league. He picked off six passes, returning two for touchdowns, broke up 20 passes, recovered a fumble and had 53 total tackles. He was AFC defensive player of the month once.
Jones, on the other hand, had 19 sacks, which was second in the league, tied for the league lead with eight forced fumbles and seven strip-sacks. He was defensive player of the week twice and defensive player of the month once. He had two four-sack games, something that hadn’t been accomplished in the same season since the 80s. With three consecutive seasons with at least 13 sacks, only Hall of Famer Reggie White had more in a row. He had four consecutive seasons.
It is disappointing for Cardinals fans and surely for Jones as well, but Gilmore did have a fantastic season.
The official league award for Defensive Player of the Year will be announced the day before the Super Bowl.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
Ep. 255
Ep. 254
