"The Chiefs voted linebacker Derrick Johnson as the winner of the Derrick Thomas Award, given to the team's most valuable player. Linebacker Justin Houston is the winner of the Mack Lee Hill Award as the top rookie.

Johnson set a single-season Chiefs record for tackles with 179 and was selected to play in his first Pro Bowl.

"The players vote on it, and whenever you have the respect of the players, that's all you need," said Johnson, who was informed of the award during a team meeting Monday. "People were clapping. People knew they had voted for me, so they were looking at me like I was going to win it. I was looking at Tamba (Hali).""