On Saturday, the Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley took home Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press at NFL Honors after an incredible 2017 season that saw him explode under new coach Sean McVay. “Coach McVay he’s just such an offensive-minded coach,” Gurley said this week on FOX Sports. “And just, you know, how he changed the whole offense around. You know, obviously last year we were, you know, last in offense and this year we were number one.”
Gurley was rewarded with the most prestigious award that can go to an offensive player besides the obvious, MVP, which was awarded to Tom Brady. The vote wasn’t particularly close, with Steelers receiver Antonio Brown coming up 29 votes shy of Gurley. The Rams went 11-5 this year, and a good chunk of that was due to Gurley’s play. He rushed for a 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also had 788 receiving yards and 6 touchdown catches. All of those numbers were career best for Gurley. Gurley’s memorable season played a decisive role in helping the Rams reach the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
Before Gurley went pro, he began as a running back at the University of Georgia where he rushed for 3,285 rushing yards and 36 career touchdowns in his three seasons at the school. When he left school, Gurley was Georgia’s second all-time leading rusher, but he has since been surpassed by Sony Michel and Nick Chubb who will join Gurley in the NFL next season.
Earlier on Saturday night at NFL Honors, Gurley’s teammate, Aaron Donald, won Defensive Player of the Year, which means two Rams players took home OPOY and DPOY honors. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, it’s the first time since 2003 that teammates won the awards, when the Ravens’ Ray Lewis and Jamal Lewis won the honors.