New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara received The Associated Press' NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award on Saturday night, and afterward thanked teammate Mark Ingram for helping him win it.
A nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters chose Kamara over Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt for the award, with Kamara collecting 28 votes and Hunt getting 21. Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson also received a vote.
A third-round draft choice from Tennessee, Kamara ran for 728 yards and eight touchdowns on 120 carries and caught 81 passes for 826 yards for five TDs for New Orleans in 2017.
Kamara and Ingram became the first pair of running-back teammates to produce more than 1,500 yards from scrimmage apiece in the same season.
Asked after the award presentation in Minneapolis about what Ingram meant to his success as a rookie, Kamara said: "I wish he was here because he's a big reason why I'm standing right here and ya'll are interviewing me as the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Great teammate, great friend, a brother to me, great mentor. I came in and he showed nothing but love to me and helped me with anything I needed, whether it was on or off the field. Our friendship off the field helped us tremendously on Sundays. We created a bond I don't think will ever break."
Ingram won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama in 2009. Kamara spent a redshirt season with the Crimson Tide in 2013. A freshman teammate of Kamara's at Alabama was Reuben Foster.
On Saturday night, Foster finished third in the balloting for the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. New Orleans cornerback Marshon Lattimore was the runaway winner of the honor with 45 votes. Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White came in second with four votes.
Foster got one vote even though he missed six games of his rookie season because of injuries.
Kamara and Lattimore became the first teammates to win the Offensive and Defensive Rookie awards in the same season since Mel Farr and Lem Barney of the Detroit Lions in 1967.
Among the other honors presented on the eve of Super Bowl LII was the AP's NFL Most Valuable Player Award for the 2017 season, which went to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. At 40, Brady became the oldest winner of the MVP Award and a three-time winner after also receiving the honor for the 2007 and 2010 seasons.
Brady received 40 votes to outdistance Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, who had eight, and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who received two votes.
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Other awards for the NFL's 2017 season presented on Saturday night included:
AP Coach of the Year: Sean McVay, Rams
AP Comeback Player of the Year: Keenan Allen, Chargers
AP Offensive Player of the Year: Todd Gurley, Rams
AP Defensive Player of the Year: Aaron Donald, Rams
AP Assistant Coach of the Year: Pat Shurmur, Vikings
Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: Luke Kuechly, Panthers
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year: J.J. Watt, Texans
Deacon Jones Award: Chandler Jones, Cardinals
FedEx Air Player of the Year: Carson Wentz, Eagles
FedEx Ground Player of the Year: Todd Gurley, Rams
Salute to Service Award: Andre Roberts, Falcons
Bridgestone Elite Performance Play of the Year: Minneapolis Miracle, Vikings
Courtyard's Greatness on the Road Award: Deshaun Watson, Texans
Castrol Edge Clutch Performer of the Year: Drew Brees, Saints
Built Ford Tough Offensive Line of the Year: Eagles
Celebration of the Year: Eagles' Electric Slide
Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year: Rob Garrett, Crenshaw High School
Game Changer Award: Sam Gordon
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.