Cam Newton Officially Named NFL MVP

The Carolina Panthers have the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the first time in franchise history.

Quarterback Cam Newton was officially named the AP's MVP Saturday night at the NFL Honors ceremony in San Francisco. 

Newton, who's spending his Super Bowl eve at the team hotel in San Jose, accepted his award with a video-taped message. 

"I'd like to thank all the AP writers who selected me for this prestigious award. I'd also like to thank my parents, family, friends and loved ones who were there with me through the trying times in my life to get me to this point," he said.

"I would also like to thank Mr. Richardson for giving me the opportunity to be the face of the organization when a lot of people didn't approve of his decision. I would also like to thank the fans, because without the fans, there wouldn't be no me. Thank you for supporting me in an unwavering way for so much in my career.

"I would also like to thank every person that doubted me because you made me better. Dab. Keep pounding. Thank you so much."

Newton received 48 of a possible 50 MVP votes. The other two went to Arizona's Carson Palmer and New England's Tom Brady.

The MVP was Newton's second honor of the night. He also won AP Offensive Player of the Year after tearing up defenses with 3,837 passing yards, 636 rushing yards and 45 total touchdowns in the NFL's highest-scoring offense.

"I’m so happy for Cam," 2015 Coach of the Year Ron Rivera said. "This validates him, and deservedly so. He’s done the things that we’ve asked of him, and he’s developed into a player that a lot of us believed he could be. But for him, there’s still more to come."