Aaron Donald

Rams rule at NFL Awards: Sean McVay (Coach), Aaron Donald (Defensive POY), Todd Gurley (Offensive POY) honored

Published Feb. 3, 2018 10:50 p.m. ET

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The Rams had a heck of a run in 2017.

And, on Saturday, the club was honored for their success.

Behind first-year coach Sean McVay, the Rams went 11-5, won the NFC West and advanced to the playoffs.

McVay was named the Coach of the Year while Todd Gurley (Offensive Player of the Year) and Aaron Donald (Defensive Player of the Year) were also honored.

https://twitter.com/RamsNFL/status/959969019095695360

New England QB Tom Brady was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the third time in his storied career.

Donald was the first pure defensive tackle to win the award since Warren Sapp in 1999. He said it means ''everything. That's one of the best to ever do it. So, even for my name to be next to that guy's name is beyond a blessing. This is what you dream about as a kid, dreaming about playing in the NFL to have success like this, to be able to (play good enough) to win this trophy.''

Gurley's sensational turnaround season in which he ran for 13 touchdowns and caught six TD passes sparked an equally impressive reversal of fortunes by his team, which won the NFC West at 11-5.

''The Saints got the rookies and we took home the offensive and defensive'' player awards,'' Gurley noted. ''It just tells you the type of players we have on the team. We all help each other out, absolutely. We have some talent, but we're nothing without the whole nine yards and everybody together. And we also have a coach who's up for Coach of the Year.''

A little while later, McVay was handed the coaching award.

https://twitter.com/RamsNFL/status/959950036670058496

In his first season running a team and as the youngest head coach in NFL history, McVay led the Rams to a seven-game improvement. McVay, who turned 32 on Jan. 24, ran away with the voting with 35 votes to 11 for Minnesota's Mike Zimmer.

''What it means is we had a good season that I think we can build on,'' McVay said. ''But you have to earn it every single day. It's a very humbling league.''

The Rams' hat trick of awards was not unprecedented. In 2003, Baltimore's Ray Lewis was top defensive player, Jamal Lewis won best offensive player, and Terrell Suggs was Defensive Rookie of the Year. And in 1999, the St. Louis Rams had three award winners: Kurt Warner (MVP), Marshall Faulk (Offensive Player) and Dick Vermeil (Coach).

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report

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