Aaron Rodgers capped a record-setting season by walking away from it with the NFL MVP award, as presented by the Associated Press on Saturday night in Indianapolis.
“It means a lot. It really does. It takes a lot of players for this to be an individual award. I appreciate my teammates and coaches,” Rodgers told packers.com shortly after winning the award.
In 2011, Rodgers set the NFL single-season record for passer rating (122.5), topping the previous mark of 121.1 by Peyton Manning in 2004, and became the first Green Bay quarterback to lead the NFL in passer rating since the system was implemented in 1973. Rodgers also became the fifth player in Packers history to win the AP MVP, joining Paul Hornung (1961), Jim Taylor (’62), Bart Starr (’66) and Brett Favre (’95, ’96, ’97).
“It just makes it a little bit more special. When I think back on 2011, I’ll think back to the missed opportunity in the playoffs, but it means a lot to be voted MVP,” Rodgers said, adding that the award is about more than passing yards and touchdown passes. “It’s about your leadership.”
“I would like to congratulate Aaron on this well-deserved honor,” Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. “This award is a reflection of Aaron’s professionalism and record-setting season. He is the leader of the Green Bay Packers and serves as a great example to our entire organization, fans and community.”
The Packers also claimed another honor on Saturday: Rookie Randall Cobb
won the “Play of the Year” award for his 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the opening game of the season against the New Orleans Saints. Cobb’s return tied an NFL record for length.
“I’m excited about the near future,” Rodgers said. “We have a great young team. We probably need to add a few pieces to get back to the Super Bowl, but I have a lot of faith in (General Manager) Ted Thompson and his people.”
Rodgers led the Packers to a 15-1 record, a season after being named Super Bowl MVP in the Packers’ win over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. In 2011.
