Male Professional Athlete of the Year

Eddie George

This past season, Eddie George showed the rest of the country what Titans fans already knew -- he can run around defenders -- or run over them. And, just when opposing defenses thought he was coming down, he'd muscle forward, pick up the extra yard and another crucial first down.

George turned in the most dominant performance of his stellar young career, rushing for 1,304 yards and nine touchdowns, a career high, while leading his team to the AFC Championship and ultimately Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta.

During the 1999 season, George also set career highs in receptions (47), yards receiving (458), receiving touchdowns (4) and total touchdowns (13), and joined Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell and Barry Sanders as the only backs to rush for 1,200 yards in each of their first four seasons.
 

His outstanding performance earned George his third consecutive Pro Bowl invitation, and he finished second in the American Football Conference in total yards from scrimmage (1,762). His 199 yards rushing against Oakland was the highest single-game total in the NFL in 1999.

In the AFC Championship game in Jacksonville, George rushed for 86 yards in 25 carries and gained 19 yards on three receptions. In the Divisional game at Indianapolis, he became the first running back in post season franchise history to rush for 100 yards in consecutive games.

Drafted by the former Oilers in the first round (14th overall) in 1996, Eddie George became the fourth Heisman Trophy winner to be drafted by the Houston organization. He also became only the fifth player in Oiler history to earn Rookie-of-Year honors.