KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tyreek Hill’s record-setting rookie season for the Kansas City Chiefs continues drawing accolades, with the 22-year-old adding the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December to his ever-growing resume.
Kansas City Chiefs rookie Tyreek Hill celebrates his 78-yard punt return for a touchdown during the team’s win over the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 8, 2016. (Photo by Mike Gunnoe/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
The award came one day after Hill captured the AFC’s week 17 award for special teams in Kansas City’s 37-27 win over the San Diego Chargers. Hill’s 95-yard punt return for a touchdown helped him capture the award.
The rookie also won special teams honors in week 12 for his role in Kansas City’s 23-13 win over the Oakland Raiders Dec. 8. Hill returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown in the game.
Hill’s month included 15 punt returns for 217 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 14.5 yards per return. Hill also returned two kickoffs for 42 yards.
The punt return Sunday against the Chargers boosted Hill’s punt return average to an NFL-leading 15.2 yards for the season. He led the league with 592 punt return yards and tied for the the league lead with two punt returns for touchdowns.
Hill finished fourth in the NFL in all-purpose yards with 1,836 yards behind Arizona’s David Johnson (2,118 yards), Dallas’ Ezekie Elliott (1,987) and Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell (1,888).
The only other Chiefs rookie to win an AFC player of the month award was former wide receiver and kick returner Tamarick Vanover in 1995. Hill’s three AFC player of the week awards this season made him the first rookie to win three weekly awards since Vanover also pulled the trifecta.
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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