NFL Honors 2019: Mahomes honored as MVP and top offensive player

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Patrick Mahomes' breathtaking breakthrough season earned him the Most Valuable Player award of the National Football League (NFL).

The Chiefs quarterback landed a pair of honors at NFL Honors on Saturday night, taking The Associated Press 2018 MVP and Offensive Player of the Year awards. In his second pro season, Mahomes led Kansas City to its first American Football Conference (AFC) title game since 1993 with some of the most creative and clutch plays the league has seen in years.

"I'm so humbled," he said. "This is just the beginning. We've got a long way to go."

"It is an honor. It's a hard award to win. The next award I hope I can get is the Super Bowl."

Patrick Mahomes attends the 8th Annual NFL Honors at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., February 02, 2019. /VCG Photo

He received 41 votes from a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees got the other nine.

Mahomes' ingenuity — the guy can throw from all angles and make plays inside and outside the pocket — energized the Chiefs' fan base and excited fans across the league.

"The play is never dead. He can find new ways to get you the ball,” Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce said. “It may look like a screwball, a slider here or there, but it'll get to you eventually.”

Mahomes is the sixth straight quarterback and 11th of the past 12 years to win MVP. No Kansas City player had won the award since the Chiefs joined the NFL in 1970.

Earlier, he was selected as the top offensive player, beating Brees 30 votes to 16.

"Yeah, I mean, it's awesome ... I got put into a great situation," he said. "I got to learn behind a great quarterback in Alex Smith. I got to be on a team with a lot of playmakers who helped me excel my game and make me look really good on a daily basis. And, then, to be able to go out there and win football games in front of a passionate fan base is something I get the luxury of doing."

Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams answers a question during media availability for Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, Georgia, January 31, 2019. /VCG Photo

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who will play in the Super Bowl LIII against New England, took his second straight Defensive Player of the Year award.

Donald, the only unanimous All-Pro this season and the first Rams player selected for top defensive honor, joins Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt as players to win the award in back-to-back seasons. Donald led the NFL with 20½ sacks.

"Any time you put a body of work into it and then it pays off," Donald said, "and you're rewarded for it, it means a lot. It's a blessing."

Source(s): AP