Alexander Mattison named Craig Long Award recipient

HENDERSON, Nev. – Las Vegas Raiders running back Alexander Mattison was named the recipient of the 11th annual Craig Long Award, the team announced Friday.

Chosen by a select group of local media and facilitated by the Las Vegas Raiders' Media Relations department, the Craig Long Award is presented annually to the player who best exemplifies professionalism and collaboration with the media at large. The award is presented to a Raider each year by the President of the Las Vegas chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

In his first season with the Raiders, Mattison enters Week 18 as the team's leading rusher, totaling 400 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. An all-purpose back, Mattison has also hauled in 32 passes for 283 yards and one score. He spent his first four NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the Silver and Black this offseason. Mattison is the second running back to receive the Craig Long Award, and the first since Jalen Richard in 2017.

The award is named for Craig Long, a valuable member of the Raiders' Public Relations staff from 1997-2004. Long, who passed away in 2007 at age 36, grew up in Laurens, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin before fulfilling his childhood dream of working for his favorite team.

Here is a complete list of previous Craig Long Award winners:

2024 – RB Alexander Mattison

2023 – T Jermaine Eluemunor

2022 – RB Josh Jacobs

2021 – DE Maxx Crosby

2020 – TE Darren Waller

2019 – TE Darren Waller

2018 – DE Frostee Rucker

2017 – RB Jalen Richard

2016 – T Donald Penn

2015 – S Charles Woodson

2014 – DL Antonio Smith