Running back Le'Veon Bell was named the 2014 Most Improved Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America.
Bell, in his second season, set a Steelers' record with 2,215 yards from scrimmage this year, finishing second in the NFL in that category. He also set a single season Steelers' record for running backs in receptions with 83 and receiving yards with 854. Bell set a record with the most first downs in a season with 114 and rushed for the fifth-most yards (1,361) in a single season in team history.
Bell, who was selected to the Pro Bowl and was already named as a 2014 All-NFL and All-AFC selection by the PFWA, tied Walter Payton with an NFL record three straight games of 200 or more yards from scrimmage.
"I think this year was a good individual performance for me," said Bell. "I haven't stopped and really looked at it. The year went really fast. When I go back and look at the games, I see some of the things I did and am happy, but a lot of credit goes to the guys up front. The offensive line did a tremendous job of opening holes for me this year. You have to give those guys on the line and the tight ends and fullback a lot of credit."
As a rookie Bell rushed for 860 yards and added 399 receiving yards for 1,259 all-purpose yards, which was a Steelers' rookie record. He had 956 more all-purpose yards this year.
Former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart received the same honor in 2001 when he was named Most Improved Player of the Year.
