Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray has been named the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year for the 2014 season. The award is given annually to the offensive player who had the most outstanding season in the NFL. This is the first time Murray has won the award, and he is the first Cowboy to receive the honor, which has been given out by the AP since 1972.
Murray beat out an outstanding group of candidates for the honor, including Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell.
This is the latest of several honors for Murray, who finished the 2014 season as the NFL’s leading rusher. He set career-highs and broke several Cowboys records this past season, rushing 392 times for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns. That broke Emmitt Smith's previous record of 1,773 yards in a single season. He also set a Cowboys franchise single-season rushing record with 12 games rushing for 100-plus yards.
In the first eight games to start the season, Murray broke Jim Brown's rushing record for most consecutive 100-yard games to start the season. Brown's record, which he set in 1958, was for the first six games. Murray was also the Cowboys’ fifth-leading receiver with 57 receptions for another 416 yards, giving him 2,261 all-purpose yards this year. His contributions on offense helped guide Dallas to its first playoff appearance in five years.
In addition to this award, Murray was also named the PFWA Offensive Player of the Year while earning a berth in the Pro Bowl and being named first-team NFL All-Pro.
He also did all of this in a contract year. The fourth-year running back is now set to hit free agency for the first time in his career. Murray picked the best time to have a record-breaking season, and he hopes it translates to a big payday.