After such a phenomenal season, though he did not receive a single vote for the NFL MVP, Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson has been named the NFL’s offensive player of the year.

His speed during the regular season was obviously blinding and his numbers as well demonstrated that he deserves the award. Considered the fastest player in the NFL, Johnson was not only fast, he was elusive as well.

He set a league record for yards from scrimmage with 2,509 yards and became the sixth player in league history with a 2,000 yard rushing season. He is also the first NFL player to finish with at least 2,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards; he finished the season with 503 receiving yards.

The second-year player, Johnson earned more votes than quarterbacks Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers’ Phillip Rivers when he picked up 38½ votes from a panel of 50 nationwide sportswriters and broadcasters who focus on the league.

“I kind of realize what I did and I feel like I had a dream season,” said Johnson. “I didn’t even get one vote at all [for MVP]. Like the season I had, it seemed like, what more do they want me to do? That just felt like rookie of the year; it's a quarterback thing I guess.”

During his rookie season, in 2008, Johnson lost the NFL Offensive Rookie of the year award to Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan had a great season so it was a well deserved win and also a great story for the league with the Falcons coming off a poor season after losing Michael Vick to dog-fighting charges, made the post season.

This year, Johnson finished the season with 16 touchdowns, 14 which were rushing and only second to Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Johnson also tied the NFL mark with six consecutive games rushing for at least 125 yards.

Johnson’s name is now mentioned in the same category as running backs Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk and Jamal Lewis.

But Johnson hopes to continue breaking records so he can win that elusive MVP award; something Dickerson did the season he rushed for 2,105 yards.

“That gives me something to look forward to next year,” he said. “You go for 2,000 yards. I don’t know what you can really say that makes you want to work harder or anything like that, so it’s kind of a good thing and a bad thing me not getting the record.”

Johnson was one of the major reasons the Titans who started 0-6, finished the season 8-8; quarterback Vince Young was instrumental in the team’s turnaround season as well.

When next season comes around, Johnson will commence the year with a streak of 11 100-yard rushing games, a record held only by Detroit Lions great Barry Sanders at 14.

The month of November was Johnson’s best, he rushed for 800 yards and no NFL running back has ever done that in one month. With Johnson producing, team mate LenDale White’s carries were limited this season compared to 2008 when he finished the year with 15 touchdowns.

“I took a backseat to greatness,” White admitted about his team mate’s performance.

Young agreed with White on Johnson’s performance this season.
“I’m just happy to be a part of it, to make history with him,” Young said. “He’s going to be a great player. This is just his second year, that’s the crazy part.”

In their season finale against the Seattle Seahawks Young was part of history as he continually handed the ball over to Johnson who made runs, broke tackles to join a prestigious group in the NFL.

“I think he’s one player that has a chance to do it again. Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. “He’s special. He has the potential to go the distance and change games and do those kinds of things.”