San Francisco 49ers 2011: 5 Prestigious NFL Awards the 49ers Are Closing in On

Most 49ers fans were confident that the 49ers would eventually put it together and return to dominance again, but it's safe to say that nobody thought it would happen in Jim Harbaugh's rookie coaching campaign.

The 49ers have clinched the NFC West, jumped out to an unforeseen 10-2 record and are putting forth a historic run defense that hasn't allowed a single rushing touchdown all season.

Frank Gore is now the 49ers' all-time leading rusher, a playoff bye seems inevitable and for the first time in a long time and the 49ers are going to be littered with awards when this magical season comes to a close.

There are prestigious awards that the 49ers are closing in on. Some they have locked up already; others are going to take a miracle to haul in.

Here are five awards the 49ers are in the running to obtain.

Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Willis

Award: Defensive Player of the Year

Candidate: Patrick Willis

The 49ers have an elite defense and Patrick Willis is without question the best player on it. They've allowed a league-best 71.8 rushing YPG, a league-low 13.4 PPG and forced a league-high 28 turnovers.

At the heart of their defense is Willis, who has the statistical numbers that put his name in consideration and the successful team that shows that his numbers are equating to a winning effort.

Willis has an interception, two sacks, 12 passes defended and four forced fumbles. He's going to need to boost his stats with the weak schedule ahead in order to push past the competition.

Biggest Competition: Jared Allen

Jared Allen has 14.5 sacks. Like Willis, he's also forced four fumbles. He's got a pick, four fumble recoveries and if stats were all that mattered, he'd be the favorite.

The Vikings are getting rocked though. Being 2-10 puts Allen at a huge disadvantage and voters will be inclined to pass on a player who is on one of the worst teams in the NFL.

Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh

Award: Coach of the Year

Candidate: Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh took over a team that could have easily been considered a contender in the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes. He made a highly unpopular decision to go with Alex Smith at quarterback, he wasn't overly aggressive in free agency, many fans thought he made the wrong call by drafting Aldon Smith and yet, all of his decisions have turned out to be the right moves.

He's truly changed the culture in San Francisco and has virtually the same team that went 6-10 last season sitting with a 10-2 record.

He's maximizing the potential of the 49ers and ability to succeed with Smith under center makes him a runaway favorite for Coach of the Year honors.

Biggest Competition: John Fox

Many would say that since Mike McCarthy and the Packers could go 16-0, he's the biggest competition. John Fox winning the AFC West with Tim Tebow would be more impressive though, as he doesn't have the deepest team in the league and the NFL MVP at his disposal.

Fox reinvented the offense to put Tebow in a position to succeed and has his defense playing lights-out. Unlike Harbaugh, Fox had to turn around his team well into the season and has transformed the Broncos into a playoff contender.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Aldon Smith

Award: Defensive Rookie of the Year

Candidate: Aldon Smith

The 49ers haven't had a player rack up double-digit sacks since Andre Carter did it in 2002. Aldon Smith already has 9.5 sacks on the year.

He's not a three-down linebacker just yet, but he's established himself as a dominant sack artist and he's getting better as the season goes on.

Smith had two sacks against the Rams and the ridiculously easy schedule the 49ers have ahead will undoubtedly inflate his numbers even further.

The 49ers play the Rams, Seahawks, Steelers and Cardinals to close out the season. The Rams allow the most sacks in the league, the Cardinals are second, the Seahawks are third and the Steelers are fifth. Like last week against the Rams, Smith is going to have a field day.

Biggest Competition: Von Miller

Von Miller is the best player on the Broncos already. He's a true three-down linebacker and contributes more to his defense than Smith does. He's got 10.5 sacks and by nearly every measure, he's got the edge on Smith.

Will he be able to hold on though? Miller had to sit last week against the Vikings and Smith's dream matchups will undoubtedly allow him to pass Miller in sacks.

MVP: Patrick Willis

Award: MVP

Candidate: Patrick Willis

This is a huge stretch, as defensive players rarely even come into consideration for this award and Aaron Rodgers is running away with the MVP, but Patrick Willis just might draw a few votes for the award.

The 49ers are making history with their defense and without Willis, it's safe to say that it wouldn't be possible. Willis is taking over games in pass coverage and is a run-stopping machine. There are quarterbacks having historic seasons, but the best player on the best defense in football deserves to at least be in the conversation.

Biggest Competition: Aaron Rodgers

The best player on the best team in the NFL is a great starting place for this award. Right now, it's Rodgers, but does Rodgers mean more to his team than Willis does?

Clearly Justin Smith and Navorro Bowman have been vital to the success of the 49ers defense, but the Packers are so loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, it's hard to imagine them losing without Rodgers.

Just as Jim Harbaugh could win Coach of the Year unanimously, Rodgers looks like he will run away with the MVP unless something absurd happens in the upcoming weeks.

Comeback Player of the Year: Alex Smith

Award: Comeback Player of the Year

Candidate: Alex Smith

Alex Smith spent six miserable seasons in San Francisco coming into this season. The victim of a lack of weapons, a porous offensive line and a new offensive coordinator every year of his NFL career, the former first overall pick was written off by almost everyone in San Francisco.

The 49ers surrounded him with three first-round offensive linemen, three wide receivers who have been selected in the top 10 and the highest-drafted tight end in the history of the NFL, and Harbaugh has helped maximize the potential of the talent around him.

Smith is playing clean football and has taken control of the offense. He's thrown 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions this season. He has a 94.9 QB rating, beating out guys like Ben Roethlisberger, Matthew Stafford, Michael Vick and Philip Rivers.

The 49ers are 10-2 behind Smith and not only is he keeping them from losing games, he's a huge part of their success.

Biggest Competition: Steve Smith

It didn't look like Steve Smith would ever have another decent season. He was drowning in Carolina and is appeared as though his days of being a top-flight receiver were well behind him.

Cam Newton changed everything and Smith trails only Wes Welker in receiving yards, racking up 1,092 yards already this season, after failing to crack the 1,000-yard mark in either of his last two campaigns.