Carolina Panthers 2019 season awards
By Luke Tucker
Most Valuable Player — Christian McCaffrey, RB
Undoubtedly the Panthers’ best player in 2019, Christian McCaffrey earns the team MVP, and it’s not even close. The 23-year-old emerged as not only one of the best–if not the best–running backs in the league, but also was a contender for the league MVP prior to Carolina’s eight-game losing streak to close out the year. McCaffrey will likely get a massive contract extension either this offseason or next, and is by far the team’s best player heading into the 2020 season. Whoever is at quarterback, CMC will be making their life a whole lot easier.
In 16 games McCaffrey totalled an astounding 2,392 total yards and 19 touchdowns. Not only did he lead the league in both categories, but he also challenged Chris Johnson’s single-season yards from scrimmage record. 2019 marked his second-straight 1,000-yard campaign, as he became just the third running back to ever record 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.
McCaffrey finished third in rushing yards, and outpaced all other running backs in receiving yards and receptions. In an offense that struggled throughout most of the year, that’s quite a feat, and plenty enough to justify him being the team MVP. Not bad for a guy originally dubbed “too small to play in the NFL.”