Adrian Peterson Named NFL MVP

Adrian Peterson seemed to be a shoe in for the NFL's comeback player of the year after an incredible return from an ACL tear in 2011.

But his return proved so sensational, he took home Most Valuable Player honors instead.

Peterson, the former Oklahoma Sooner star, was announced as the recipient of the Associated Press' 2012 MVP award on Saturday just hours after winning the Offensive Player of the Year Award.

The Minnesota back finished with 2,097 yards this season – just nine yards shy of Eric Dickerson's NFL record – and had 13 touchdowns on 6 yards per carry.

Peterson edged out Denver Broncos' quarterback Peyton Manning. Manning's four MVP awards are an NFL record and Saturday could have been his fifth.

AD received 30.5 votes from a panel of 50 national media members who cover the NFL. Manning was named the Comeback Player of the Year.

With the victory, Peterson became the first running back to win the MVP award since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006.

The Colts' Bruce Arians was named coach of the year, becoming the first interim coach to ever win the award. He led the Colts to a 9-3 record and the playoffs under his watch when head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with cancer.

Texans' defensive end J.J. Watt was named the Defensive Player of the Year while Panthers' linebacker Luke Kuechly was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and Redskins' QB Robert Griffin III was Offensive Rookie of the Year.