On Saturday, quarterback Aaron Rodgers joined Don Hutston and Brett Favre as the only Green Bay Packers to win the NFL Most Valuable Player multiple times. This was Rodgers’ second award, and first since the 2011 season when the Packers won Super Bowl XLV.
Rodgers beat out Houston Texans lineman J.J. Watt and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo to win the award. In reality, Rodgers’ only competition was Watt, who also was the first player ever to be unanimously selected as the Defensive Player of the Year. Rodgers received 31 votes, while Watt received 13 and Romo two.
Here is the moment from Saturday’s NFL Honors event.
Rodgers surprisingly opened up his speech by thanking his girlfriend Olivia Munn. He even said “I love you.” Whoa. Seems like things are getting serious on that front. He also went on to thank Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy and others from the coaching staff. He closed out his short speech by thanking the fans and their ability to create incredible environments for the team to play in each week.
In an interview backstage after receiving the award, Rodgers blamed nerves for forgetting to mention certain people in his speech.
“A lot of stuff has to come together. We had two, dynamic receivers this year who really separated themselves – over 90 catches and 1,200 yards. And a great running back, you know, we were balanced. We haven’t had this kind of balance in years with Eddie rushing the ball so well. The key is obviously the offensive line. I got so damn nervous in my speech, I didn’t give them – I was just trying to get out of there. But the offensive line played so great this year. When they give us that kind of time and open up those holes, we’re going to be successful. Mike just dials up plays to get his playmakers in position, and we gotta make those plays.”
Rodgers was also nominated for Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Walter Payton Man of the Year. Those awards went to Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray and Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis, respectively.
Let’s also take a look back at a few of Rodgers’ MVP moments from the 2014 season.
1. Six touchdown passes in the first half against the Bears in Week 10
2. Threading the needle to tight end Richard Rodgers in the playoff game against Dallas
3. The last-second win at Miami in Week 6
