Kansas City Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire has earned the top honor handed out to rookies in the franchise.
The team announced on Thursday, that Edwards-Helaire would receive the Mack Lee Hill Award. The award is named in memory of former Chiefs RB Mack Lee Hill who tragically passed away during his rookie season. The award denotes outstanding performance by a rookie or first-year player with the team.
Edwards-Helaire was selected in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. At the time he was thought to be a backup to Damien Williams, but he was unexpectedly thrust into a starting role when the COVID-19 pandemic saw Williams opt-out of the season. The rookie met the challenge head-on and impressed in the process.
Our Mack Lee Hill Award winner this year for most outstanding rookie is Clyde Edwards-Helaire! pic.twitter.com/8a6b4baFIR
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 11, 2021
Edwards-Helaire finished his rookie season in the top-20 in rushing yards, finishing the year with 181 carries for 803 yards and four touchdowns. He also caught 36 receptions on 54 targets for 297 yards and a touchdown. Edwards-Helaire missed the final two games of the season and the divisional round of the playoffs due to injury.
The Chiefs had a number of deserving rookies this season including CB L’Jarius Sneed and LB Willie Gay Jr., but the team went with Edwards-Helaire, who figures to be a big part of the offense moving forward.
