A day after the NFL named Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford AFC defensive player of the week, the league had named Ford AFC defensive player of the month for October.
Defensive Players of the Month (October):
— NFL (@NFL) November 1, 2018
AFC: @Chiefs LB Dee Ford
NFC: @RamsNFL DT @AaronDonald97 pic.twitter.com/lek59PFhLI
Ford had an outstanding October, tallying 6.0 sacks, 16 tackles (13 solo), 10 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles and one pass defensed.
Ford commented Wednesday about winning the weekly award.
“It is good,” he said. “It is great for me, but my blinders are on right now. This team is on a bigger mission. There is not a lot of time to celebrate. We have a bigger mission of what we are trying to do. It is great for me individually and I will probably celebrate once the season is over.
“This is just the type of guy I am, I just like to stay committed to the process.”
Ford further explained the idea of staying focused by keeping his “blinders” on developed in him at an early age.
“That’s been my key principle of life,” he said. “We’ve had to kind of endure each hurdle from high school to college to the pros, so that’s the way that I live. Even coming into the league, I didn’t care about first round, second round, third round. You can’t project that. You put the work in, and the result will take care of itself.”
Ford’s is currently in a six-way tie for second in sacks in the league at 8.0, trailing only the Rams’ Aaron Donald. His 44 pressures lead the league among edge rushers.
Ford is in the final year of his Chiefs contract, meaning the team will have an interesting decision to make after the season, especially if he is able to maintain this kind of production.