Jamaal Charles Named Chiefs MVP, Poe Is Rookie Of The Year

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs have announced that running back Jamaal Charles has been named the Derrick Thomas Award winner given to the team’s most valuable player.

Charles is so fantastic he’d be the unquestioned MVP on a number of teams.

“It is a great honor that my teammates selected me for this award,” Charles said. “I have a number of people to thank for my success this past season, including my offensive line. They did an excellent job up front and never gave up, even in tough circumstances. This award is really a tribute to them as well. It is a blessing.”

On the defensive side of the ball, NT Dontari Poe took home the Mack Lee Hill Award for the rookie of the year.

“I’m very grateful to be joining this prestigious list of players that have won the Mack Lee Hill Award in the past,” Poe said. “To even have my name listed among players like Jan Stenerud, Derrick Thomas, Tony Gonzalez and many other current and former Chiefs greats is an honor. I’d like to thank my teammates and the Hunt family for giving me the opportunity to join this proud franchise. I’m looking forward to many great years as a member of the Chiefs.”

While Charles is a top player in the NFL, Poe has a long, long way to go. He was clearly in over his head last season and though he showed some improvement as the season went on, only four players on the defense finished the year with worse grades from Pro Football Focus.

Hopefully Poe will flourish in new defensive coordinator, Bob Sutton’s system.

Charles, on the other hand, will flourish in any system.