Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse's impactful rookie season has earned him one of the league's most distinguished awards.
Verse won the Associated Press 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, it was announced Thursday night at the 14th-annual NFL Honors in New Orleans.
He is the first Rams player to win the award since Aaron Donald in 2014 and the third player overall in franchise history since the award started being handed out in 1967 – linebacker Isiah Robertson took it home for the 1971 season.
"First things first, I got to thank God. Without him, none of this would've been possible, I wouldn't be here today, I wouldn't be in front of all of y'all today," Verse said in his acceptance speech. "My parents, I have to thank them, my beautiful mom, my dad right there, without y'all giving the mindset I have today, I would never be here. My siblings, y'all are some of the people who mean the most to me in this world, I would die for y'all and I love y'all to the moon and back. I want to thank my teammates and my coaches and everybody like that, but I think we have to take a second to realize the other recipients that could've been here today. Shoutout Q (Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell), Coop (Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean), (Rams defensive end Braden) Fiske, it could've been anyone one of y'all up here and y'all would've deserved it. Thank y'all for tonight. Thank you for this."
Verse led all rookies in QB hits (18), pressures (77) and hurries (56) last season. His 11 tackles for loss were second-most among all rookies, his 4.5 sacks fifth-most. Additionally, his hurries were second-most and pressures fourth-most among all defensive players in the NFL. He added 66 total tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries while playing in all 17 regular season games (16 starts).
According to the AP, Verse received 37 of 50 first-place votes to Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell's nine. Rams defensive end Braden Fiske, Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and Dolphins outside linebacker Chop Robinson were the other finalists for the award.
"I think it's a small step towards (becoming one of the best players ever," Verse said in his press conference after receiving the award. "But there's a lot of people that have won this award that after they win it, they get satisfied. That's the main thing, you can't get satisfied. This is just a small step to a big goal."
The former Florida State standout adds this award also winning the 2024 Pro Football Writers of America's (PFWA) Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and being named to the PFWA's All-Rookie Team.
It's an achievement all-the-more meaningful for Verse given how hard he had to work as a former junior college player – who also working for Amazon and DoorDash during that time – before ascending at Florida State and becoming a first-round draft pick.
"It means the world, just showing that hard work can take you anywhere," Verse said in his press conference after receiving the award. "You don't gotta be the biggest, strongest or fastest, as long as you work hard, you're going to become anything, so it's just a testament to that."
Take a look at the best photos of Defensive Rookie of the Year outside linebacker Jared Verse's 2024 season from draft night to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in week 12 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 9 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 18 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Las Vegas Raiders in week 7 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 9 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Jets in week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears in week 4 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 9 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in week 3 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in week 15 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 18 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Miami Dolphins in week 10 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New Orleans Saints in week 13 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in week 3 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Las Vegas Raiders in week 7 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Las Vegas Raiders in week 7 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears s in week 4 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Jets in week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Las Vegas Raiders in week 7 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Detroit Lions in week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Green Bay Packers in week 5 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 17 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Houston Texans in week 2 of the 2024 NFL Preseason.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears in week 4 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 2 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Detroit Lions in week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 17 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Las Vegas Raiders in week 7 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Las Vegas Raiders in week 7 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in week 12 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 2 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Jets in week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears s in week 4 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Jets in week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New Orleans Saints in week 13 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 17 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 18 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 17 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 2 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Miami Dolphins in week 10 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Detroit Lions in week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Jets in week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New Orleans Saints in week 13 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Green Bay Packers in week 5 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 2 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New Orleans Saints in week 13 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 9 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (8) poses for a portrait on Monday, June 10, 2024, in Thousand Oaks, California. (Hailey Stutzman/NFL)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears in week 4 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Detroit Lions in week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in week 15 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Jets in week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 2 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 18 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears s in week 4 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New England Patriots in week 11 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Jets in week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 2 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Miami Dolphins in week 10 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New England Patriots in week 11 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Green Bay Packers in week 5 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Detroit Lions in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Regular Season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 18 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Las Vegas Raiders in week 7 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Detroit Lions in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL Regular Season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Green Bay Packers in week 5 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New Orleans Saints in week 13 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round of the 2024 NFL post season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 9 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Arizona Cardinals in week 2 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Minnesota Vikings in week 8 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New York Jets in week 16 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Las Vegas Raiders in week 7 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks in week 9 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the New Orleans Saints in week 13 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in week 3 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Detroit Lions in week 1 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Philadelphia Eagles in week 12 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Chicago Bears in week 4 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
