Los Angeles Rams duo Todd Gurley II and Aaron Donald capped off a sensational season by respectively winning the The Associated Press Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Gurley's 13 touchdowns and six TD passes during the Rams' NFC West-winning campaign earned him top offensive honors for the year. The third-year running back was the AP's top offensive rookie in 2015, then had a mediocre second season.
When Sean McVay took over as coach and Jared Goff was installed as the No. 1 quarterback, it was imperative that Gurley rebound. Did he ever, rushing for 1,305 yards and dominating defenses as LA went 11-5 to win the division. Gurley got 37 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league.
Only two other Rams players have ever won the award -- Eric Dickerson (one) and Marshall Faulk (three).
That put him far ahead of Pittsburgh receiver Antonio Brown, who received eight votes. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady got 4 and Houston receiver DeAndre Hopkins had one.
Donald, Gurley's teammate, became the first pure defensive tackle to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year award since 1999.
Often the province of outside pass rushers and backs, the Los Angeles Rams star broke the trend by earning 23 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league.
"Words can't express what I'm feeling right now," Donald said. "Trying to hold back the tears."
Warren Sapp of Tampa Bay was the previous tackle to win the award.
"That's one of the best to ever do it so for my name to be next to that guy's name is beyond a blessing," said Donald. "My dad's been telling me since I was 12 years old working out in my basement trying to work to this point, all the work paid off. You put the body of work in, it's going to pay off for you."
Other tackles to win the award have been Hall of Famers Joe Greene and Cortez Kennedy.
While the Rams' defense didn't rank highly in league stats, Donald was a force. The 2014 top defensive rookie spent 2017 destroying blockers, leading all players at his position with 11 sacks and had 58 pressures while usually being double-teamed.
Donald enters the final year of his rookie contract. He sat out last summer in hopes of getting a new deal and did not return in time for the season opener.
End Calais Campbell, in his first season with the Jaguars, was second with 17 votes. Arizona's Chandler Jones got five.
Saints' Kamara, Lattimore wins Rookie honors
The future is bright in The Big Easy as New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and cornerback Marshon Lattimore won the top rookie awards.
In a year featuring outstanding rookie running backs, Kamara, third-round draft pick from Tennessee, beat another third-rounder, Kansas City RB Kareem Hunt, for The Associated Press 2017 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Kamara, selected 19 spots ahead of Hunt, received 28 votes to 21 for Hunt. Houston rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson, despite playing in only seven games before a season-ending knee injury, got the other vote.
Kamara shared duties with veteran Mark Ingram as the Saints won the NFC South. He rushed for 728 yards with a 6.1-yard average, and scored eight times. He also caught 81 passes for 826 yards, with five touchdowns.
No rookie had more impact on his NFL team this season than Marshon Lattimore, won won the Associated Press 2017 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
The 11th overall draft pick and first from his position selected, Lattimore was a shutdown defender as the Saints won the NFC South with an 11-5 record.
The Ohio State product had five interceptions and 18 passes defensed in 13 games, was a sure tackler and, by midseason, was someone opposing quarterbacks tended to avoid.
He missed three games, one because of a concussion and two with an ankle injury.
Lattimore got 45 votes, far ahead of Buffalo CB Tra'Davious White with four and San Francisco LB Reuben Foster got one.
ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Alden Gonzalez, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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