Aidan Hutchinson, a defensive lineman for the Detroit Lions, was named the 2022 NFL Rookie of the Year by the league.
With 9.5 sacks in the 2022 season, the 22-year-old topped all newcomers and made history by becoming the first rookie since 1982 to have at least nine sacks and three interceptions. Also, since 1982, he was the fourth player to have at least nine sacks, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions in a single season.
In the last game of the regular season, Hutchinson led the Detroit Lions to a decisive away win over the Green Bay Packers, guiding them to a 9-8 overall record. Despite barely missing the postseason, the Lions emerged with the second-best result in the NFC North Division, indicating that there’s already a great deal of confidence in the organization going into the upcoming year.
In a release, Hutchinson remarked:
“There are so many excellent players in this rookie class, it’s definitely an honor for me to be selected the 2022 Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Year.”
Not to be mistaken, this is different from the Associated Press-chosen Defensive Rookie of the Year honor, which was handed out during the NFL Honors ceremony. Rather, fans choose the winner of this award.
The fact that the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft picked up the award for all rookies, not just young defensive players, is still quite noteworthy.
Which players were nominated for Pepsi NFL rookie of the year?
New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets CB Sauce Gardner, Seattle Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen, New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave and Aidan Hutchinson were the six nominees for the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Year award.
.@Lions DL @aidanhutch97 is the first @NFL player to produce a season with 9.5 sacks, 3 INTs & 2 FRs since Hall of Fame DE Richard Dent in 1990.Hutchinson and Dent are the only DLs in NFL history to produce such a season.#OnePride https://t.co/79IFesdAyT
The selection committee chose the six candidates based on their outstanding accomplishments during the 2022 NFL season. The Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week was decided by a public vote on NFL.com, with six candidates nominated.
The NFL has had Pepsi as its authorized soft drink partner for 22 years. Pepsi has also given the NFL Rookie of the Year and NFL Rookie of the Week awards for 21 years.
Hutchinson had 9.5 sacks, 51 total tackles for the season, two pass deflections, nine tackles for loss and three interceptions. He was twice selected NFC Rookie of the Month and was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week Eleven.