**
 |
| Running back Chris Johnson is The Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year for 2009. |
• Johnson Unanimous Choice for AP All-Pro Team
• Johnson Dashes off as AP Offensive Player of Year
• Johnson Enjoyed Historical Season for Titans
Johnson, the team's 2008 first-round draft pick, led the NFL with a franchise-record 2,006 rushing yards on 358 carries with 14 touchdowns. Additionally, the two-time Pro Bowler led the team with 50 receptions for 503 receiving yards with two scores, giving him an NFL record 2,509 total yards from scrimmage and breaking the league mark set by Marshall Faulk in 1999.
Johnson became just the sixth player all-time to break the 2,000-yard rushing plateau, joining Eric Dickerson, Jamal Lewis, O.J. Simpson, Terrell Davis and Barry Sanders. He also became the first player in the 2,000-yard group to total 500 yards receiving.
Johnson was remarkably consistent throughout the year, amassing 12 100-yard rushing performances, including each of the last 11 games of season, which is the second longest streak for consecutive 100-yard games in NFL history.
The Orlando, Fla., native was a dynamic threat out of the backfield, registering an NFL record three touchdown runs of 85 or more yards. No running back in NFL history has recorded three touchdown runs of that length over an entire career. He also became the first running back in NFL history to record six consecutive 125-yard rushing performances, while averaging 5.0 yards per carry in each of the six games (10/18-11/29).
Johnson was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November after rushing for an NFL-best 800 yards (6.6 avg.) on 122 attempts and tying for the league-high with seven touchdowns as he helped the Titans post a 5-0 record. His 800 rushing yards were the most by a player in a month since 1970. He was also named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after setting a franchise record with 228 rushing yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns in the Titans' 30-13 victory against Jacksonville (11/1/09). His 228 rushing yards eclipsed the former franchise record of 216 yards which was held by Billy Cannon and Eddie George.
Johnson joins Earl Campbell, who won the award three times (1978-80), and Warren Moon (1990) as the only players in franchise history to be named AP Offensive Player of the Year.
JOHNSON'S REACTION TO AWARD
(thoughts on winning AP Offensive Player of the Year)
I woke up this morning and got the call that I had won the award. I am very honored to get the award. To be honest, I really didn't think I would get it. It makes it even better, because I didn't think it was going to happen.
(why didn't you think you were going to win)
I didn't even get one vote for the MVP out of 50 people, so why would they vote for me for offensive player of the year? And all five guys that got votes for MVP were offensive players.
(with some time now to reflect on the season, what are your thoughts)
It feels like a big dream. It is all hitting me now - what I have done this whole season. I can sit back now and say 'wow, I really had a dream season.' All of the hard work is really paying off.
(how about the response since going back home to Orlando)
It has been a little bit crazy, but fun. It is starting to be like when I go out in Nashville. People are starting to recognize me as being a big player in the NFL. I can start to put my name up there with some of the big-time players in the NFL.
JOHNSON'S 2009 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Rushed for 2,006 yards, becoming only the sixth player in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a single season.
• Broke Marshall Faulk's 1999 NFL record of 2,429 scrimmage yards.
• Became the franchise's all-time, single-season leading rusher, surpassing Earl Campbell's prior standard of 1,934 rushing yards set in 1980.
• Became the first player in NFL history to record over 2,000 rushing yards and 500 yards receiving in the same season.
• Recorded 11 consecutive 100-yard rushing games, tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history
• Posted at least 125 rushing yards in six consecutive games, tying the NFL record.
• Became the first player in NFL history with six consecutive games of 125-plus rushing yards and a 5.0-plus yards per carry average in each of those games.
• In Week 2, became the first player in NFL history to record a 90-plus yard rushing touchdown (91), 50-plus yard rushing touchdown (57), and 60-plus yard receiving touchdown (69) in a game.
• Ranked second in the NFL among non-kickers in scoring with 98 points (16 total touchdowns -- 14 rushing and 2 receiving -- and one two-point conversion).
• Named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November after rushing for an NFL-best 800 yards (6.6 average) on 122 attempts and tying for the league-high with seven touchdowns as he helped the Titans post a 5-0 record. His 800 rushing yards were the most by a player in a single month since 1970.
• Named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after setting a franchise record with 228 rushing yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns in Tennessee's 30-13 victory against Jacksonville (11/1/09). His 228 rushing yards eclipsed the former franchise record of 216 yards which was held by Billy Cannon and Eddie George.
• With three touchdown runs of 85 or more yards in 2009 (91, 89, 85), became the only player in NFL history to register three career touchdown runs of 85 or more yards.
• Led the NFL with 97 total first downs.
• Was nominated for six FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week awards in 2009, winning twice.
• Earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl berth
• Named AP Offensive Player of the Year
• Unanimous choice for AP All-Pro team
