2017 was a year to remember for sports. We saw an unbelievable game in the NCAAF championship game, a logic-defying comeback in the Super Bowl, one of the greatest NBA postseason runs of all-time, an incredible NFL rookie class, multiple blockbuster NBA trades, and so much more. So how can we possibly break that down? Why, the 2017 Sports Examiner awards of course. Let's get started.
NFL:
Player of the Year: Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Touchdown Tommy was at it again this year. It started back in February when Brady led his Patriots to a 34-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in OT. That itself is impressive, but let's not forget that the Patriots found themselves down 28-3 before Brady engineered the comeback of a lifetime. He finished the game as MVP after throwing for 466 yards and a touchdown. But that was just on one evening in February. What about the rest of the year? Well, he led the Patriots to a #1 seed in the playoffs, led the league in passing yards, was third in passing touchdowns, and is the favorite to win the regular season MVP award yet again.
2016 Winner: Dallas's Offensive Line
2015 Winner: Tom Brady
Rookie of the Year: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Kamara wasn't supposed to be in contention for this award. It was supposed to be about guys like Corey Davis, Leonard Fournette, Myles Garrett, Derek Barnett, and Jamal Adams. Instead, Kamara emerged from (relative) obscurity and teamed up with Mark Ingram to form the best running back duo in the NFL, taking the crown from their fellow NFC South duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Kamara trailed only Kareem Hunt and Fournette in rushing yards among rookies, led all rookies in receptions, trailed only JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cooper Kupp in rookie receiving yards, and trailed only Deshaun Watson and Deshone Kizer in rookie touchdowns. On top of that, the Saints won the NFC South and are among the favorites to win the NFC Championship.
2016 Winner: Ezekiel Elliot
Coach of the Year: Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams were nothing short of a disappointment next year. Jeff Fisher went 4-9 before he was fired. Enter the devastatingly handsome and shockingly young Sean McVay. It's fitting that he's the coach of the Los Angeles Rams because this is a Hollywood movie waiting to be made. The Rams went 11-5 this year and won the NFC West. On top of that, McVay, known as a QB whisperer, turned around the career of young Jared Goff, turning him from a top-notch bust to a franchise QB. Now it's just a question of who plays him in the upcoming movie. Andrew Garfield maybe? I can see that.
2016 Winner: Bill Belichick
Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Gurley
Gurley may have had a disappointing sophomore year but he bounced back in incredible fashion. It's reasonable to say that he was the biggest offensive juggernaut of the 2017 regular season. He was second in the league in rushing yards (behind only Hunt), led the league in rushing touchdowns, and his L.A. Rams won the NFC West and look like they're set up for the next few seasons.
2016 Winner: Matt Ryan
Defensive Player of the Year: Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars
It goes without reason that the Jaguars have an incredible defensive unit. And while there are a lot of superstars on that unit, such as Malik Jackson and Jalen Ramsey, the heart and soul of the unit. He's second in the NFL in sacks, forced three fumbles, and recorded 67 tackles. He's one of the frontrunners for DPOY and his Jags are a sleeper pick to win it all.
2016 Winner: Von Miller
Most Improved Player: Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
When Goff was selected #1 overall in 2016, there was some skepticism. He had had a quiet career at Cal but flashed enough potential to intrigue the Rams. Flash forward a few months later, and it looked like Goff was just another bust. The Rams had a disappointing season and Goff looked totally out of his league. Flash forward another year and things are totally different. Goff is a proven franchise QB, the Rams won the NFC West, and Goff was even a fringe MVP candidate throughout the season. He finished the regular season with 28 touchdowns, 3,804 passing yards, and accumulated a rating of 100.5.
Breakout Star of the Year: Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt wasn't even supposed to play this year. Drafted in the third round, Hunt was supposed to be a backup to Spencer Ware. Instead, Ware got injured in a preseason game and Hunt was thrust into the starting role. He has yet to look back. Hunt led the league in rushing yards and was the biggest playmaker for the AFC West Champions. Andy Reid may forget about him sometimes but he still racked up 455 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns. Remember his name.
2016 Winner: Dak Prescott
Comeback Star of the Year: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
When the Patriots won the Super Bowl in February, they did so without their biggest offensive weapon. Gronk had been on the sidelines for a few months after getting surgery to repair a herniated disk. He returned with a vengeance in 2017 as the Pats won the AFC East and picked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. He had 1,084 receiving yards in the regular season and eight touchdown catches.
Rising Star of the Year: Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
When Watson started the year on the bench, Houston fans clamored for him to start. And when he finally did, he blew everyone's expectations out of the water. In the six games he started, Watson threw for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns while also rushing for 269 yards and two scores. Among all rookies, he was third in passing yards and first in touchdowns. Watson may seem a strange pick for this award, meant to signify someone on the verge of becoming a superstar, but his injury halted his progress. But he should be healthy next season, so watch out.
2016 Winner: Carson Wentz
Team of the Year: New England Patriots
We've talked a lot about the Patriots so far, so you're undoubtedly aware of everything they accomplished this season. A quick summary: overcame a 25-point deficit to win the Super Bowl in February and then picked up the #1 seed in the AFC.
2016 Winner: Denver Broncos
NBA:
Most Improved Player of the Year: Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers
When the Indiana Pacers traded away franchise star Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Oladipo and Domantis Sabonis. Everyone assumed that the Pacers had been fleeced, that they had been taken for a ride. Instead, pretty much the exact opposite has happened. Paul George and the Thunder have failed to develop chemistry while Oladipo has emerged as a breakout star. Before this season, Oladipo's best stats were: 17.9 ppg, 4.1 apg, 4.8 rpg, 1.7 spg, and 0.8 bpg. Remember, that is over the course of four seasons. Now, Oladipo is averaging 24.5 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, and 1.0 bpg. Furthermore, Indiana is firmly entrenched in the playoff conversation.
Player of the Year: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
When Durant announced he was joining the Golden State Warriors on July 4th, 2016, the basketball world exploded. The Warriors had just come off of the greatest regular season of all-time and Durant was one of the best players in the world. But once the initial excitement wore off, skepticism began to creep in. Could this crazy experiment actually work? Could Steve Kerr strike a balance between all four of his superstar players? It's been about 18 months since that fateful day, and we now know that the experiment has worked. The Warriors claimed their second title in three years while only losing one game in the postseason. Durant meanwhile, was named an All-Star, made the All-NBA Second Team, and was named Finals MVP. He has looked just as impressive thus far in the 2018 season as the Warriors seem ready to win yet another championship. Our runner-up here is James Harden, the runner-up for the 2017 MVP award and Durant's former teammate.
2016 Winner: LeBron James
2015 Winner: Steph Curry
Coach of the Year: Mike D'Antoni, Houston Rockets
The 2017 Coach of the Year is the easy pick here. In his first season with the Houston Rockets, he convinced star James Harden to switch to point guard and totally shift his game. The switch worked and Harden put up MVP numbers while the Rockets won 55 games and made it to the Western Conference semifinals. D'Antoni has also shown his versatility in the 2018 season by successfully integrating new Rocket Chris Paul into the lineup.
2016 Winner: Steve Kerr
Breakout Star of the Year: Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers
With the second pick in the 2017 NBA draft, the Lakers selected UCLA's Lonzo Ball. This was a pick highly covered by the media (thanks to a certain father) and Ball was anointed as the future of the Lakers. And while Ball has played well, the spotlight has shifted on to another rookie: Kyle Kuzma. The former Utah Ute was named the MVP of the Summer League Championship Game, is averaging 17.1 ppg, and was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month in November.
2016 Winner: Kristaps Porzingis
Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
After being taken #1 overall by the 76ers in 2016, Simmons sat out the entire season after breaking his right foot. He returned with a vengeance this season as the 'Sixers make a push for the playoffs. The Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in November has already recorded three triple-doubles and is the first player in NBA history to notch 170 points, 100 rebounds, and 80 assists in the first ten games of the season. Trust the process indeed.
2016 Winner: Karl-Anthony Towns
Comeback Player of the Year: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid's entire professional career has been defined by injuries. Thanks to injuries in his right foot, he missed the first two seasons before finally seeing action in 2016. As many expected, Embiid went on a tear. He was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the first three months of the season and was eventually named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Unfortunately, he suffered another injury in February and missed the rest of the season. He returned to fine form for the 2018 season as he became the first player since Dr. J to get 40 points, seven assists, and seven blocks in a game while keeping Philly in the race for a playoff spot.
2016 Winner: Paul George
Rising Star of the Year: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
The Celtics were pretty high on Tatum when they selected him #3 overall in the latest draft. But even they have to be surprised with his level of play. Injuries to both Gordon Hayward and Marcus Morris could have derailed Boston's title hopes were it not for the upstart rookie. Tatum is not only draining three but is also playing top-notch defense for arguably the league's best defensive team.
2016 Winner: Andre Drummond
Team of the Year: Golden State Warriors
Who else would it be? The Warriors went 16-1 in the 2017 playoffs to win their second championship in three years while cementing themselves as the team to beat in the NBA. And in the 2018 season, nothing has changed. If anything, thanks to rookie Jordan Bell, they're even deeper and more dangerous than ever before. It could be years before we see the Warriors get dethroned.
2016 Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers
NHL:
Coach of the Year: John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets
Tortorella won the 2017 Jack Adams Coach of the Year award, marking the second time he won the award. The 2016-2017 season was one of the best in Columbus history. They won 50 games and finished third in the division.
Player of the Year: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Not only was a finalist for the prestigious Hart Trophy, but he and the Pittsburgh Penguins won yet another Stanley Cup. On top of that, Crosby won the Conn Smythe trophy, given to the MVP of the NHL playoffs. Crosby is only the third player, besides Bernie Parent and Mario Lemieux, to win the award in consecutive years.
2016 Winner: Sidney Crosby
Goalie of the Year: Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
Tortorella wasn't the only reason the Blue Jackets had such a great season. Bobrovsky won the 2017 Vezina Award (given to the best goalie) in a bit of a landslide. He was also a Hart Trophy finalist. Bobrovsky has carried his great 2017 into the 2018 season. His save percentage trails only seven other goalies, he's sixth in goals against average, and is second in shutouts.
2016 Winner: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
Team of the Year: Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have got a bit of a dynasty going on. They won their second Stanley Cup in a row and find themselves in prime position to make the playoffs next year (they are currently fifth in the Metropolitan Division).
2016 Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins
MLB:
Manager of the Year: Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins
Molitor was named AL Manager of the Year after leading the Twins to the postseason. The Twins became the first team in MLB history to lose 100 games in a season and then make the playoffs the next season. Molitor is now the second person, besides Frank Robinson, to be a Hall of Fame player and win Manager of the Year.
2016 Winner: Terry Francona
Pitcher of the Year: Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
Kluber is the only Cleveland Indian to win a Cy Young twice. He won the award after an incredible 2017 that saw him go 18-4, led the MLB with a 2.25 ERA, and had 265 strikeouts. Our runner-up for this award is last year's winner, Max Scherzer. The Washington National won his second consecutive NL Cy Young while throwing an NL-best 268 strikeouts and going 16-6.
2016 Winner: Max Scherzer
Rookie of the Year: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
While Cody Bellinger made a good case to be the second Dodger in a row to win this award, this honor ultimately goes to Judge. The Yankee led the AL with 52 homers, scored 128 runs, and was named the AL Rookie of the Year unanimously.
2016 Winner: Corey Seager
Player of the Year: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Altuve left 2017 with a lot of hardware. He won the AL Aaron Award (the first Astro to ever do so) thanks to his MLB-best .346 batting average and 24 home runs, won the AL MVP thanks to his 32 stolen bases and AL-best 204 hits, and won the World Series. Oh, and he also became the first player in MLB history to lead either league in hits outright for four consecutive years.
2016 Winner: Kris Bryant
Hitter of the Year: Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees
While Altuve won the AL Aaron Award, Stanton won the NL counterpart. His 59 home runs and 132 RBIs set both career highs and franchise records for the Miami Marlins. Those numbers also topped MLB. It's going to very exciting next year to watch him and Judge make opposing pitchers miserable.
2016 Winner: David Ortiz
Team of the Year: Houston Astros
In late summer, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the U.S. and ravaged a number of cities, including Houston. Harvey eventually became the costliest tropical cyclone on record and caused 91 fatalities. Needless to say, the city of Houston was looking for anything to soothe the pain. That relief came in the form of the Astros, who knocked off the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers to win their second ever World Series.
2016 Winners: Chicago Cubs
NCAAF:
Player of the Year: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Mayfield might be one of the most decisive athletes in all of sports, but you can't deny the guy has talent. A year after finishing third in the Heisman race, Mayfield won it in 2017 in a bit of a blowout. He also walked away with the Maxwell Award and led Oklahoma to a Big 12 Championship and a spot in the fourth-ever college football playoffs.
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
2015 Winner: Christian McCaffrey
Breakout Star of the Year: Bryce Love, Stanford
While Mayfield won the Heisman, Love was the runner-up. He wasn't even supposed to be in contention, let alone be a finalist. The speedster made Cardinals fans forget all about Christian McCaffrey. Love ran for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Cardinals finished 9-5.
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
Rising Star of the Year: Trace McSorley, Penn State
The focus in Penn State may have been on Saquon Barkley, but Trace McSorley managed to get some love as well. McSorley was a fringe Heisman contender for a good part of the season, though he fell off in the end thanks to a string of losses. Still, McSorley is considered one of the top returning QBs in college football and is one of the trendy Heisman picks for 2018.
2016 Winner: Derrius Guice
Coach of the Year: Scott Frost, UCF
Two years ago, Central Florida lost every single game it played. This year, they finished the season undefeated, the only team to do so, and sixth in the final AP rankings. A huge chunk of that credit goes to Scott Frost, who was also named Coach of the Year. He may be going to Nebraska next season, but he's certainly turned the once ailing program around.
2016 Winner: Nick Saban, Alabama
Comeback Star of the Year: Derwin James, Florida State
James played only two games for the 'Noles last season as he tore his meniscus in a game against Charleston Southern. He returned in 2017 healthy and ready to go. He finished the year with two interceptions, one touchdown, and 84 tackles. Although FSU had a disappointing season, James is absolved of all blame. He is considered one of the top defensive prospects in the upcoming NFL draft.
2016 Winner: James Conner
Team of the Year: Clemson
Clemson QB Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow as time expired to win the national championship for Clemson. The Tigers capitalized on that momentum by winning the AFC Championship again and securing the #1 seed in the College Football Playoffs.
2016 Winner: Alabama
Individual Sports:
Female Golfer of the Year: Sung Hyun Park (2017 was her rookie year)
Park topped the 2017 money list by taking in more than $2.3 million. She also won the U.S. Open, giving the South Korean her first major. Of course, 2017 was her rookie year, so expect more of the same next year.
2016 Winner: Ariya Jutanugarn
Female Tennis Player of the Year: Caroline Wozniacki
We give the nod here to Wozniacki over Muguruza in one of this year's toughest categories. Wozniacki finished second in the WTA Rankings, one spot ahead of Muguraza; was third in prize money to Muguruza's second, was tenth in aces (Muguruza did not make the top ten), won Player of the Month in October (Muguruza won it in June), won Shot of the Month and was nominated another three times (Mugurauza was never even nominated), and reached more tournament finals than any other player.
2016 Winner: Angelique Werber
2015 Winner: Serena Williams
Male Tennis Player of the Year: Rafael Nadal
In case you forgot why Rafa is considered one of the best tennis players of this generation, the Spaniard happily reminded you. He was named ATP Player of the Year, ranked #1 in the ATP, won the most prize money, made the most tournament finals, won six titles (behind only Roger Federer's seven), and won the US Open.
2016 Winner: Andy Murray
Male Golfer of the Year: Justin Thomas
Both of our previous winners could have taken the award again, but their fellow American rises to the occasion. Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner, had a huge breakout year in 2017. He was the tour's money leader, won the PGA Championship, was the third best player for the winning U.S. team in the Presidents Cup, won the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, won PGA Player of the Year, and won the FedEx Cup. Let's hope that 2017 was not an anomaly and we see more of the same in years to come.
2016 Winner: Dustin Johnson
2015 Winner: Jordan Spieth
Female Swimmer of the Year: Sarah Sjostrom
The Swedish swimmer is the first woman since 2012 to win Swimming World's Female World Swimmer of the Year and not be named Katie Ledecky. She earned that title (and this one) by winning three gold medals and a silver one at the 2017 World Championships.
2016 Winner: Katie Ledecky
Male Swimmer of the Year: Caeleb Dressel
You may not know Dressel's name, but you will soon. He won seven gold medals at the 2017 World Championships (setting multiple American records while doing so) and was named male swimmer of the meet. The only other swimmer to win seven gold medals at a World Championship- some guy by the name of Michael Phelps.
2016 Winner: Michael Phelps
Soccer:
Premier League Team of the Year: Chelsea
After a disappointing 2015-2016 season, Chelsea rebounded nicely by winning the Premier League. They did so with their 38 wins and 93 points, edging out Tottenham Hotspurs by seven points. They also had the longest winning streak with 13 matches.
2016 Winner: Leicester City
Male Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo wins this award for the second year in a row after winning the Ballon d'Or for the second year in a row (and five times overall). It's hard to argue with his results, as he led Madrid to a La Liga, Champions League, and Spanish Super Club treble in 2017. The Portuguese star scored 49 goals in total this year and became the first player in Champions League history to score in each of his club's group-stage matches.
2016 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2015 Winner: Lionel Messi
Female Player of the Year: Lieke Martens
Martens was named The Best FIFA Women's Player for 2017. This was mainly due to her leading the Netherlands to the UEPA Europe 2017 title. Her three goals and two assists led to her being named player of the tournament. She also helped FC Barcelona reach the round of 16 of the Champions League.
2016 Winner: Melanie Behringer
2015 Winner: Carli Lloyd
MLS Player of the Year: Diego Valeri
The Portland Timbers star won the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award after being just the second player in league history to record at least 20 goals and 10 assists in the same season. He also set the record for scoring goals in consecutive games with nine. The Timbers meanwhile, reached the conference semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs.
2016 Winner: David Villa
MLS Team of the Year: Toronto FC
In 2016, the Sounders defeated Toronto FC to win the MLS Cup. This year, the results were switched. and Toronto won 2-0 to win their first MLS Cup. They used that momentum to capture their second straight Canadian Championship.
2016 Winner: Seattle Sounders
Premier League Player of the Year: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
If a new international soccer star was created this year, it was Kane. The striker's 29 goals led the Premier League and had four of the league's 11 hat-tricks this year. He also was named Player of the Month once and made the PFA Team of the Year. Our runner-up is N'Golo Kante, who was named Premier League Player of the Year and finished eigthth in the Ballon d'Or voting (two spots ahead of Kane).
International Team of the Year: Germany
In June 2017, Germany became the #1 team ranked in the world. Seven months later, they have yet to give up the throne. A big reason for that: they won the 10th FIFA Confederations Cup, beating Chile 1-0 in the finals.
2016 Winner: Argentina
General Awards:
Legend of the Year: Ara Parseghian
The man regarded as one of the most legendary college football coaches of all-time passed away on August 2nd of 2017. The 1980 College Football Hall of Fame inductee won two national championships when he was the Notre Dame coach.
2016 Winner: Muhammad Ali
2015 Winner: Kobe Bryant
Moment of the Year: Houston Astros win the World Series
As I said before, the city of Houston was absolutely devastated by Hurricane Harvey. J.J. Watt's charity efforts did help alleviate some of the pain, but a lot of the credit has to go to George Springer, Charlie Morton, Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Jose Altuve, and the rest of the Astros. This was a big moment for the Astros and for the city of Houston.
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs win the World Series
Upset of the Year: Mississippi State Upsets UCONN in the Final Four
The UCONN women's basketball team might be the closest thing we have to a dynasty in modern sports. Coming into this game, they had won 111 straight games, had won four straight championships, and had made 10 straight Final Four appearances. This game against Mississippi State was supposed to be nothing more than a warm-up for the championship. After all, the Huskies had beaten Mississippi State by 60 points in 2016. Instead, Morgan Williams of the Bulldogs hit a jumped as time expired in overtime to beat the Huskies and end one of the greatest undefeated streaks in sports history.
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs & Cleveland Cavaliers Come Back from 3-1
2015 Winner: Holly Holm beats Ronda Rousey
Play of the Year: Julian Edelman's Catch in the Super Bowl
As we all know, the Patriots fell behind in the Super Bowl. They quickly found themselves in a 28-3 deficit when they slowly but surely started making a comeback. But 25 points is a lot of ground to cover. With just over two minutes left in regulation, the Patriots were down by eight. Tom Brady launched a long pass that was tipped by a Falcons defender and bobbled around before finally being caught by Julian Edelman. Now, that play did not win the game for the Patriots (or even tie it), but it certainly helped. Plus, it was an amazing catch.
2016 Winner: Kris Jenkins's Three wins Villanova the title
Franchise of the Year: Houston Astros
What more is there to say about the Astros? Their story is simply magical and heart-warming. Not only did they lift the entire city of Houston up, but they captured the hearts of fans watching all across America.
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs
2015 Winner: Golden State Warriors
Sports Star of the Year: Jose Altuve
For the first time ever, an individual athlete wins our highest award. And they don't get much more deserving than Altuve. The second baseman won the AL MVP award and batting title en route to helping the Astros win their second World Series title. His on-the-field actions may have made him a national name, but it was his off-the-field actions that really earned him this award. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Altuve performed charity work, donated thousands of dollars to the recovery effort, and arranged a delivery of shoes to the needy for thousands of dollars. For this exemplary year, we are proud to name Jose Altuve our 2017 Sports Star of the Year.
2016 Winner: U.S. Olympic Swim Team
2015 Winner: American Pharaoh
Thanks for reading everyone.
NFL:
Player of the Year: Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Touchdown Tommy was at it again this year. It started back in February when Brady led his Patriots to a 34-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in OT. That itself is impressive, but let's not forget that the Patriots found themselves down 28-3 before Brady engineered the comeback of a lifetime. He finished the game as MVP after throwing for 466 yards and a touchdown. But that was just on one evening in February. What about the rest of the year? Well, he led the Patriots to a #1 seed in the playoffs, led the league in passing yards, was third in passing touchdowns, and is the favorite to win the regular season MVP award yet again.
2016 Winner: Dallas's Offensive Line
2015 Winner: Tom Brady
Rookie of the Year: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
Kamara wasn't supposed to be in contention for this award. It was supposed to be about guys like Corey Davis, Leonard Fournette, Myles Garrett, Derek Barnett, and Jamal Adams. Instead, Kamara emerged from (relative) obscurity and teamed up with Mark Ingram to form the best running back duo in the NFL, taking the crown from their fellow NFC South duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Kamara trailed only Kareem Hunt and Fournette in rushing yards among rookies, led all rookies in receptions, trailed only JuJu Smith-Schuster and Cooper Kupp in rookie receiving yards, and trailed only Deshaun Watson and Deshone Kizer in rookie touchdowns. On top of that, the Saints won the NFC South and are among the favorites to win the NFC Championship.
2016 Winner: Ezekiel Elliot
Coach of the Year: Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
The Rams were nothing short of a disappointment next year. Jeff Fisher went 4-9 before he was fired. Enter the devastatingly handsome and shockingly young Sean McVay. It's fitting that he's the coach of the Los Angeles Rams because this is a Hollywood movie waiting to be made. The Rams went 11-5 this year and won the NFC West. On top of that, McVay, known as a QB whisperer, turned around the career of young Jared Goff, turning him from a top-notch bust to a franchise QB. Now it's just a question of who plays him in the upcoming movie. Andrew Garfield maybe? I can see that.
2016 Winner: Bill Belichick
Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Gurley
Gurley may have had a disappointing sophomore year but he bounced back in incredible fashion. It's reasonable to say that he was the biggest offensive juggernaut of the 2017 regular season. He was second in the league in rushing yards (behind only Hunt), led the league in rushing touchdowns, and his L.A. Rams won the NFC West and look like they're set up for the next few seasons.
2016 Winner: Matt Ryan
Defensive Player of the Year: Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars
It goes without reason that the Jaguars have an incredible defensive unit. And while there are a lot of superstars on that unit, such as Malik Jackson and Jalen Ramsey, the heart and soul of the unit. He's second in the NFL in sacks, forced three fumbles, and recorded 67 tackles. He's one of the frontrunners for DPOY and his Jags are a sleeper pick to win it all.
2016 Winner: Von Miller
Most Improved Player: Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
When Goff was selected #1 overall in 2016, there was some skepticism. He had had a quiet career at Cal but flashed enough potential to intrigue the Rams. Flash forward a few months later, and it looked like Goff was just another bust. The Rams had a disappointing season and Goff looked totally out of his league. Flash forward another year and things are totally different. Goff is a proven franchise QB, the Rams won the NFC West, and Goff was even a fringe MVP candidate throughout the season. He finished the regular season with 28 touchdowns, 3,804 passing yards, and accumulated a rating of 100.5.
Breakout Star of the Year: Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
Hunt wasn't even supposed to play this year. Drafted in the third round, Hunt was supposed to be a backup to Spencer Ware. Instead, Ware got injured in a preseason game and Hunt was thrust into the starting role. He has yet to look back. Hunt led the league in rushing yards and was the biggest playmaker for the AFC West Champions. Andy Reid may forget about him sometimes but he still racked up 455 receiving yards and 11 total touchdowns. Remember his name.
2016 Winner: Dak Prescott
Comeback Star of the Year: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
When the Patriots won the Super Bowl in February, they did so without their biggest offensive weapon. Gronk had been on the sidelines for a few months after getting surgery to repair a herniated disk. He returned with a vengeance in 2017 as the Pats won the AFC East and picked up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. He had 1,084 receiving yards in the regular season and eight touchdown catches.
Rising Star of the Year: Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
When Watson started the year on the bench, Houston fans clamored for him to start. And when he finally did, he blew everyone's expectations out of the water. In the six games he started, Watson threw for 1,699 yards and 19 touchdowns while also rushing for 269 yards and two scores. Among all rookies, he was third in passing yards and first in touchdowns. Watson may seem a strange pick for this award, meant to signify someone on the verge of becoming a superstar, but his injury halted his progress. But he should be healthy next season, so watch out.
2016 Winner: Carson Wentz
Team of the Year: New England Patriots
We've talked a lot about the Patriots so far, so you're undoubtedly aware of everything they accomplished this season. A quick summary: overcame a 25-point deficit to win the Super Bowl in February and then picked up the #1 seed in the AFC.
2016 Winner: Denver Broncos
NBA:
Most Improved Player of the Year: Victor Oladipo, Indiana Pacers
When the Indiana Pacers traded away franchise star Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Oladipo and Domantis Sabonis. Everyone assumed that the Pacers had been fleeced, that they had been taken for a ride. Instead, pretty much the exact opposite has happened. Paul George and the Thunder have failed to develop chemistry while Oladipo has emerged as a breakout star. Before this season, Oladipo's best stats were: 17.9 ppg, 4.1 apg, 4.8 rpg, 1.7 spg, and 0.8 bpg. Remember, that is over the course of four seasons. Now, Oladipo is averaging 24.5 ppg, 4.1 apg, 5.2 rpg, 1.9 spg, and 1.0 bpg. Furthermore, Indiana is firmly entrenched in the playoff conversation.
Player of the Year: Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors
When Durant announced he was joining the Golden State Warriors on July 4th, 2016, the basketball world exploded. The Warriors had just come off of the greatest regular season of all-time and Durant was one of the best players in the world. But once the initial excitement wore off, skepticism began to creep in. Could this crazy experiment actually work? Could Steve Kerr strike a balance between all four of his superstar players? It's been about 18 months since that fateful day, and we now know that the experiment has worked. The Warriors claimed their second title in three years while only losing one game in the postseason. Durant meanwhile, was named an All-Star, made the All-NBA Second Team, and was named Finals MVP. He has looked just as impressive thus far in the 2018 season as the Warriors seem ready to win yet another championship. Our runner-up here is James Harden, the runner-up for the 2017 MVP award and Durant's former teammate.
2016 Winner: LeBron James
2015 Winner: Steph Curry
Coach of the Year: Mike D'Antoni, Houston Rockets
The 2017 Coach of the Year is the easy pick here. In his first season with the Houston Rockets, he convinced star James Harden to switch to point guard and totally shift his game. The switch worked and Harden put up MVP numbers while the Rockets won 55 games and made it to the Western Conference semifinals. D'Antoni has also shown his versatility in the 2018 season by successfully integrating new Rocket Chris Paul into the lineup.
2016 Winner: Steve Kerr
Breakout Star of the Year: Kyle Kuzma, Los Angeles Lakers
With the second pick in the 2017 NBA draft, the Lakers selected UCLA's Lonzo Ball. This was a pick highly covered by the media (thanks to a certain father) and Ball was anointed as the future of the Lakers. And while Ball has played well, the spotlight has shifted on to another rookie: Kyle Kuzma. The former Utah Ute was named the MVP of the Summer League Championship Game, is averaging 17.1 ppg, and was named Western Conference Rookie of the Month in November.
2016 Winner: Kristaps Porzingis
Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers
After being taken #1 overall by the 76ers in 2016, Simmons sat out the entire season after breaking his right foot. He returned with a vengeance this season as the 'Sixers make a push for the playoffs. The Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in November has already recorded three triple-doubles and is the first player in NBA history to notch 170 points, 100 rebounds, and 80 assists in the first ten games of the season. Trust the process indeed.
2016 Winner: Karl-Anthony Towns
Comeback Player of the Year: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
Embiid's entire professional career has been defined by injuries. Thanks to injuries in his right foot, he missed the first two seasons before finally seeing action in 2016. As many expected, Embiid went on a tear. He was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for the first three months of the season and was eventually named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Unfortunately, he suffered another injury in February and missed the rest of the season. He returned to fine form for the 2018 season as he became the first player since Dr. J to get 40 points, seven assists, and seven blocks in a game while keeping Philly in the race for a playoff spot.
2016 Winner: Paul George
Rising Star of the Year: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
The Celtics were pretty high on Tatum when they selected him #3 overall in the latest draft. But even they have to be surprised with his level of play. Injuries to both Gordon Hayward and Marcus Morris could have derailed Boston's title hopes were it not for the upstart rookie. Tatum is not only draining three but is also playing top-notch defense for arguably the league's best defensive team.
2016 Winner: Andre Drummond
Team of the Year: Golden State Warriors
Who else would it be? The Warriors went 16-1 in the 2017 playoffs to win their second championship in three years while cementing themselves as the team to beat in the NBA. And in the 2018 season, nothing has changed. If anything, thanks to rookie Jordan Bell, they're even deeper and more dangerous than ever before. It could be years before we see the Warriors get dethroned.
2016 Winner: Cleveland Cavaliers
NHL:
Coach of the Year: John Tortorella, Columbus Blue Jackets
Tortorella won the 2017 Jack Adams Coach of the Year award, marking the second time he won the award. The 2016-2017 season was one of the best in Columbus history. They won 50 games and finished third in the division.
Player of the Year: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Not only was a finalist for the prestigious Hart Trophy, but he and the Pittsburgh Penguins won yet another Stanley Cup. On top of that, Crosby won the Conn Smythe trophy, given to the MVP of the NHL playoffs. Crosby is only the third player, besides Bernie Parent and Mario Lemieux, to win the award in consecutive years.
2016 Winner: Sidney Crosby
Goalie of the Year: Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets
Tortorella wasn't the only reason the Blue Jackets had such a great season. Bobrovsky won the 2017 Vezina Award (given to the best goalie) in a bit of a landslide. He was also a Hart Trophy finalist. Bobrovsky has carried his great 2017 into the 2018 season. His save percentage trails only seven other goalies, he's sixth in goals against average, and is second in shutouts.
2016 Winner: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
Team of the Year: Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have got a bit of a dynasty going on. They won their second Stanley Cup in a row and find themselves in prime position to make the playoffs next year (they are currently fifth in the Metropolitan Division).
2016 Winner: Pittsburgh Penguins
MLB:
Manager of the Year: Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins
Molitor was named AL Manager of the Year after leading the Twins to the postseason. The Twins became the first team in MLB history to lose 100 games in a season and then make the playoffs the next season. Molitor is now the second person, besides Frank Robinson, to be a Hall of Fame player and win Manager of the Year.
2016 Winner: Terry Francona
Pitcher of the Year: Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
Kluber is the only Cleveland Indian to win a Cy Young twice. He won the award after an incredible 2017 that saw him go 18-4, led the MLB with a 2.25 ERA, and had 265 strikeouts. Our runner-up for this award is last year's winner, Max Scherzer. The Washington National won his second consecutive NL Cy Young while throwing an NL-best 268 strikeouts and going 16-6.
2016 Winner: Max Scherzer
Rookie of the Year: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
While Cody Bellinger made a good case to be the second Dodger in a row to win this award, this honor ultimately goes to Judge. The Yankee led the AL with 52 homers, scored 128 runs, and was named the AL Rookie of the Year unanimously.
2016 Winner: Corey Seager
Player of the Year: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Altuve left 2017 with a lot of hardware. He won the AL Aaron Award (the first Astro to ever do so) thanks to his MLB-best .346 batting average and 24 home runs, won the AL MVP thanks to his 32 stolen bases and AL-best 204 hits, and won the World Series. Oh, and he also became the first player in MLB history to lead either league in hits outright for four consecutive years.
2016 Winner: Kris Bryant
Hitter of the Year: Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees
While Altuve won the AL Aaron Award, Stanton won the NL counterpart. His 59 home runs and 132 RBIs set both career highs and franchise records for the Miami Marlins. Those numbers also topped MLB. It's going to very exciting next year to watch him and Judge make opposing pitchers miserable.
2016 Winner: David Ortiz
Team of the Year: Houston Astros
In late summer, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the U.S. and ravaged a number of cities, including Houston. Harvey eventually became the costliest tropical cyclone on record and caused 91 fatalities. Needless to say, the city of Houston was looking for anything to soothe the pain. That relief came in the form of the Astros, who knocked off the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers to win their second ever World Series.
2016 Winners: Chicago Cubs
NCAAF:
Player of the Year: Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Mayfield might be one of the most decisive athletes in all of sports, but you can't deny the guy has talent. A year after finishing third in the Heisman race, Mayfield won it in 2017 in a bit of a blowout. He also walked away with the Maxwell Award and led Oklahoma to a Big 12 Championship and a spot in the fourth-ever college football playoffs.
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
2015 Winner: Christian McCaffrey
Breakout Star of the Year: Bryce Love, Stanford
While Mayfield won the Heisman, Love was the runner-up. He wasn't even supposed to be in contention, let alone be a finalist. The speedster made Cardinals fans forget all about Christian McCaffrey. Love ran for 2,118 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Cardinals finished 9-5.
2016 Winner: Lamar Jackson
Rising Star of the Year: Trace McSorley, Penn State
The focus in Penn State may have been on Saquon Barkley, but Trace McSorley managed to get some love as well. McSorley was a fringe Heisman contender for a good part of the season, though he fell off in the end thanks to a string of losses. Still, McSorley is considered one of the top returning QBs in college football and is one of the trendy Heisman picks for 2018.
2016 Winner: Derrius Guice
Coach of the Year: Scott Frost, UCF
Two years ago, Central Florida lost every single game it played. This year, they finished the season undefeated, the only team to do so, and sixth in the final AP rankings. A huge chunk of that credit goes to Scott Frost, who was also named Coach of the Year. He may be going to Nebraska next season, but he's certainly turned the once ailing program around.
2016 Winner: Nick Saban, Alabama
Comeback Star of the Year: Derwin James, Florida State
James played only two games for the 'Noles last season as he tore his meniscus in a game against Charleston Southern. He returned in 2017 healthy and ready to go. He finished the year with two interceptions, one touchdown, and 84 tackles. Although FSU had a disappointing season, James is absolved of all blame. He is considered one of the top defensive prospects in the upcoming NFL draft.
2016 Winner: James Conner
Team of the Year: Clemson
Clemson QB Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow as time expired to win the national championship for Clemson. The Tigers capitalized on that momentum by winning the AFC Championship again and securing the #1 seed in the College Football Playoffs.
2016 Winner: Alabama
Individual Sports:
Female Golfer of the Year: Sung Hyun Park (2017 was her rookie year)
Park topped the 2017 money list by taking in more than $2.3 million. She also won the U.S. Open, giving the South Korean her first major. Of course, 2017 was her rookie year, so expect more of the same next year.
2016 Winner: Ariya Jutanugarn
Female Tennis Player of the Year: Caroline Wozniacki
We give the nod here to Wozniacki over Muguruza in one of this year's toughest categories. Wozniacki finished second in the WTA Rankings, one spot ahead of Muguraza; was third in prize money to Muguruza's second, was tenth in aces (Muguruza did not make the top ten), won Player of the Month in October (Muguruza won it in June), won Shot of the Month and was nominated another three times (Mugurauza was never even nominated), and reached more tournament finals than any other player.
2016 Winner: Angelique Werber
2015 Winner: Serena Williams
Male Tennis Player of the Year: Rafael Nadal
In case you forgot why Rafa is considered one of the best tennis players of this generation, the Spaniard happily reminded you. He was named ATP Player of the Year, ranked #1 in the ATP, won the most prize money, made the most tournament finals, won six titles (behind only Roger Federer's seven), and won the US Open.
2016 Winner: Andy Murray
Male Golfer of the Year: Justin Thomas
Both of our previous winners could have taken the award again, but their fellow American rises to the occasion. Thomas, the 2017 PGA Championship winner, had a huge breakout year in 2017. He was the tour's money leader, won the PGA Championship, was the third best player for the winning U.S. team in the Presidents Cup, won the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, won PGA Player of the Year, and won the FedEx Cup. Let's hope that 2017 was not an anomaly and we see more of the same in years to come.
2016 Winner: Dustin Johnson
2015 Winner: Jordan Spieth
Female Swimmer of the Year: Sarah Sjostrom
The Swedish swimmer is the first woman since 2012 to win Swimming World's Female World Swimmer of the Year and not be named Katie Ledecky. She earned that title (and this one) by winning three gold medals and a silver one at the 2017 World Championships.
2016 Winner: Katie Ledecky
Male Swimmer of the Year: Caeleb Dressel
You may not know Dressel's name, but you will soon. He won seven gold medals at the 2017 World Championships (setting multiple American records while doing so) and was named male swimmer of the meet. The only other swimmer to win seven gold medals at a World Championship- some guy by the name of Michael Phelps.
2016 Winner: Michael Phelps
Soccer:
Premier League Team of the Year: Chelsea
After a disappointing 2015-2016 season, Chelsea rebounded nicely by winning the Premier League. They did so with their 38 wins and 93 points, edging out Tottenham Hotspurs by seven points. They also had the longest winning streak with 13 matches.
2016 Winner: Leicester City
Male Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo wins this award for the second year in a row after winning the Ballon d'Or for the second year in a row (and five times overall). It's hard to argue with his results, as he led Madrid to a La Liga, Champions League, and Spanish Super Club treble in 2017. The Portuguese star scored 49 goals in total this year and became the first player in Champions League history to score in each of his club's group-stage matches.
2016 Winner: Cristiano Ronaldo
2015 Winner: Lionel Messi
Female Player of the Year: Lieke Martens
Martens was named The Best FIFA Women's Player for 2017. This was mainly due to her leading the Netherlands to the UEPA Europe 2017 title. Her three goals and two assists led to her being named player of the tournament. She also helped FC Barcelona reach the round of 16 of the Champions League.
2016 Winner: Melanie Behringer
2015 Winner: Carli Lloyd
MLS Player of the Year: Diego Valeri
The Portland Timbers star won the Landon Donovan MLS MVP award after being just the second player in league history to record at least 20 goals and 10 assists in the same season. He also set the record for scoring goals in consecutive games with nine. The Timbers meanwhile, reached the conference semifinals of the MLS Cup playoffs.
2016 Winner: David Villa
MLS Team of the Year: Toronto FC
In 2016, the Sounders defeated Toronto FC to win the MLS Cup. This year, the results were switched. and Toronto won 2-0 to win their first MLS Cup. They used that momentum to capture their second straight Canadian Championship.
2016 Winner: Seattle Sounders
Premier League Player of the Year: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur
If a new international soccer star was created this year, it was Kane. The striker's 29 goals led the Premier League and had four of the league's 11 hat-tricks this year. He also was named Player of the Month once and made the PFA Team of the Year. Our runner-up is N'Golo Kante, who was named Premier League Player of the Year and finished eigthth in the Ballon d'Or voting (two spots ahead of Kane).
International Team of the Year: Germany
In June 2017, Germany became the #1 team ranked in the world. Seven months later, they have yet to give up the throne. A big reason for that: they won the 10th FIFA Confederations Cup, beating Chile 1-0 in the finals.
2016 Winner: Argentina
General Awards:
Legend of the Year: Ara Parseghian
The man regarded as one of the most legendary college football coaches of all-time passed away on August 2nd of 2017. The 1980 College Football Hall of Fame inductee won two national championships when he was the Notre Dame coach.
2016 Winner: Muhammad Ali
2015 Winner: Kobe Bryant
Moment of the Year: Houston Astros win the World Series
As I said before, the city of Houston was absolutely devastated by Hurricane Harvey. J.J. Watt's charity efforts did help alleviate some of the pain, but a lot of the credit has to go to George Springer, Charlie Morton, Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Jose Altuve, and the rest of the Astros. This was a big moment for the Astros and for the city of Houston.
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs win the World Series
Upset of the Year: Mississippi State Upsets UCONN in the Final Four
The UCONN women's basketball team might be the closest thing we have to a dynasty in modern sports. Coming into this game, they had won 111 straight games, had won four straight championships, and had made 10 straight Final Four appearances. This game against Mississippi State was supposed to be nothing more than a warm-up for the championship. After all, the Huskies had beaten Mississippi State by 60 points in 2016. Instead, Morgan Williams of the Bulldogs hit a jumped as time expired in overtime to beat the Huskies and end one of the greatest undefeated streaks in sports history.
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs & Cleveland Cavaliers Come Back from 3-1
2015 Winner: Holly Holm beats Ronda Rousey
Play of the Year: Julian Edelman's Catch in the Super Bowl
As we all know, the Patriots fell behind in the Super Bowl. They quickly found themselves in a 28-3 deficit when they slowly but surely started making a comeback. But 25 points is a lot of ground to cover. With just over two minutes left in regulation, the Patriots were down by eight. Tom Brady launched a long pass that was tipped by a Falcons defender and bobbled around before finally being caught by Julian Edelman. Now, that play did not win the game for the Patriots (or even tie it), but it certainly helped. Plus, it was an amazing catch.
2016 Winner: Kris Jenkins's Three wins Villanova the title
Franchise of the Year: Houston Astros
What more is there to say about the Astros? Their story is simply magical and heart-warming. Not only did they lift the entire city of Houston up, but they captured the hearts of fans watching all across America.
2016 Winner: Chicago Cubs
2015 Winner: Golden State Warriors
Sports Star of the Year: Jose Altuve
For the first time ever, an individual athlete wins our highest award. And they don't get much more deserving than Altuve. The second baseman won the AL MVP award and batting title en route to helping the Astros win their second World Series title. His on-the-field actions may have made him a national name, but it was his off-the-field actions that really earned him this award. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Altuve performed charity work, donated thousands of dollars to the recovery effort, and arranged a delivery of shoes to the needy for thousands of dollars. For this exemplary year, we are proud to name Jose Altuve our 2017 Sports Star of the Year.
2016 Winner: U.S. Olympic Swim Team
2015 Winner: American Pharaoh
Thanks for reading everyone.
