NEW YORK — Jan. 9, 2024 — Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams and Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty are the NFC Players of the Month for games played in the months of December and January.
OFFENSE: RB JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS
- Gibbs led the NFL with nine scrimmage touchdowns (six rushing, three receiving), led the NFC in scrimmage yards per game (134.8), ranked first among running backs in receiving yards (235) and fifth in the NFL in scrimmage yards (674) in five games during December and January. Gibbs became the sixth player with 21 games with a touchdown in his first two career seasons in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders (22 games) and Gale Sayers (21) as well as Maurice Jones-Drew (21), Billy Sims (21) and Jonathan Taylor (21).
- This is Gibbs’ first-career Player of the Month honor. He is the second Lions running back to earn Offensive Player of the Month, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (six-time winner).
- Gibbs is the third former Alabama running back to earn Offensive Player of the Month, joining Derrick Henry (three-time winner) and Shaun Alexander (November, 2005).
DEFENSE: DE LEONARD WILLIAMS, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
- Williams tied for the most sacks (six) and tackles for loss (nine) in the NFL, ranked first among NFC defensive linemen with 33 tackles and recorded two passes defensed, including a 92-yard interception-return touchdown, in six games during December and January. Leonard was the only player in the league to record 30-or-more tackles and five-or-more sacks during the span and his interception-return touchdown was the longest among defensive linemen in the past 15 seasons (2010-24).
- This is Williams’ first-career Player of the Month. He is the fourth Seahawks defensive end to earn Defensive Player of the Month, joining Cliff Avril (October, 2016), Patrick Kerney (November, 2007) and Michael McCrary (December, 1996).
- Williams is the fourth former USC player to earn Defensive Player of the Month Honors since 2000, joining Everson Griffen (three-time winner), Clay Matthews (September, 2010) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Junior Seau (September, 2002).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K JOSHUA KARTY, LOS ANGELES RAMS
- Karty recorded 50 points in six games during December and January, converting on each of his 13 field goal attempts, including all three from 50-or-more yards. He was the only player in the NFC to convert 13-or-more field goals without a miss.
- This marks the first-career Player of the Month award for Karty, becoming the first Rams rookie kicker to win Special Teams Player of the Month.
- Karty becomes the first former Stanford player to win a Special Teams Player of the Month award.
