National Football League Most Valuable Player Award


The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is an award given by various entities to the American football player who is considered the most valuable in the National Football League during the regular season. Organizations which currently give an NFL MVP award or have in the past include the Associated Press, the Newspaper Enterprise Association, Pro Football Writers of America, and United Press International. The first award described as a most valuable player award was the Joe F. Carr Trophy, awarded by the NFL from to. Today, the AP award is considered the de facto official NFL MVP award. Since the 2011 season, the NFL has held the annual NFL Honors ceremony to recognize the winner of the Associated Press MVP award.

Associated Press NFL MVP award

The AP has presented an MVP award since. The award is voted upon by a panel of 50 sportswriters at the end of the regular season, before the playoffs, though the results are not announced to the public until the day before the Super Bowl.

Pro Football Writers Association NFL MVP award

began naming their most valuable player in and continue to do so as of the season.

''Sporting News'' NFL Player of the Year award

Sporting News began awarding a National Football League player of the year award in 1954. From 1970 to 1979, Sporting News chose American Football Conference and National Football Conference players of the year, and returned to a single winner in 1980. Beginning in 2012 Sporting News chose an offensive player of the year and a defensive player of the year.
SeasonPlayerTeamPosition
1954Lou GrozaCleveland BrownsOffensive tackle-kicker
1955Otto GrahamCleveland BrownsQuarterback
1956Frank GiffordNew York GiantsRunning back
1957Jim BrownCleveland BrownsFullback
1958Jim Brown Cleveland BrownsFullback
1959Johnny UnitasBaltimore ColtsQuarterback
1960Norm Van BrocklinPhiladelphia EaglesQuarterback
1961Paul HornungGreen Bay PackersRunning back
1962Y. A. TittleNew York GiantsQuarterback
1963Y. A. Tittle New York GiantsQuarterback
1964Johnny Unitas Baltimore ColtsQuarterback
1965Jim Brown Cleveland BrownsRunning back
1966Bart StarrGreen Bay PackersQuarterback
1967Johnny Unitas Baltimore ColtsQuarterback
1968Earl MorrallBaltimore ColtsQuarterback
1969Roman GabrielLos Angeles RamsQuarterback
1970NFC- John Brodie
AFC- George Blanda		San Francisco 49ers
Oakland Raiders		Quarterback
Quarterback-kicker
1971NFC- Alan Page
AFC- Bob Griese		Minnesota Vikings
Miami Dolphins		Defensive tackle
Quarterback
1972NFC- Larry Brown
AFC- Earl Morrall 		Washington Redskins
Miami Dolphins		Running back
Quarterback
1973NFC- John Hadl
AFC- O.J. Simpson		Los Angeles Rams
Buffalo Bills		Quarterback
Running back
1974NFC- Chuck Foreman
AFC- Ken Stabler		Minnesota Vikings
Oakland Raiders		Running back
Quarterback
1975NFC- Fran Tarkenton
AFC- O. J. Simpson 		Minnesota Vikings
Buffalo Bills		Quarterback
Running back
1976NFC- Walter Payton
AFC- Ken Stabler 		Chicago Bears
Oakland Raiders		Running back
Quarterback
1977NFC- Walter Payton
AFC- Craig Morton		Chicago Bears
Denver Broncos		Running back
Quarterback
1978NFC- Archie Manning
AFC- Earl Campbell		New Orleans Saints
Houston Oilers		Quarterback
Running back
1979NFC- Ottis Anderson
AFC- Dan Fouts		St. Louis Cardinals
San Diego Chargers		Running back
Quarterback
1980Brian SipeCleveland BrownsQuarterback
1981Ken AndersonCincinnati BengalsQuarterback
1982Mark MoseleyWashington RedskinsKicker
1983Joe TheismannWashington RedskinsQuarterback
1984Dan MarinoMiami DolphinsQuarterback
1985Marcus AllenLos Angeles RaidersRunning back
1986Lawrence TaylorNew York GiantsLinebacker
1987John ElwayDenver BroncosQuarterback
1988Boomer EsiasonCincinnati BengalsQuarterback
1989Joe MontanaSan Francisco 49ersQuarterback
1990Joe Montana San Francisco 49ersQuarterback
1991Thurman ThomasBuffalo BillsRunning back
1992Steve YoungSan Francisco 49ersQuarterback
1993Emmitt SmithDallas CowboysRunning back
1994Steve Young San Francisco 49ersQuarterback
1995Brett FavreGreen Bay PackersQuarterback
1996Brett Favre Green Bay PackersQuarterback
1997Brett Favre Green Bay PackersQuarterback
1997Barry SandersDetroit LionsRunning back
1998Terrell DavisDenver BroncosRunning back
1999Kurt WarnerSt. Louis RamsQuarterback
2000Marshall FaulkSt. Louis RamsRunning back
2001Kurt Warner St. Louis RamsQuarterback
2002Rich GannonOakland RaidersQuarterback
2003Steve McNair
Peyton Manning		Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis Colts		Quarterback
2004Peyton Manning Indianapolis ColtsQuarterback
2005Shaun AlexanderSeattle SeahawksRunning back
2006LaDainian TomlinsonSan Diego ChargersRunning back
2007Tom BradyNew England PatriotsQuarterback
2008Peyton Manning Indianapolis ColtsQuarterback
2009Peyton Manning Indianapolis ColtsQuarterback
2010Tom Brady New England PatriotsQuarterback
2011Aaron RodgersGreen Bay PackersQuarterback
2012Adrian PetersonMinnesota VikingsRunning back
2013Peyton Manning Denver BroncosQuarterback
2014Aaron Rodgers Green Bay PackersQuarterback
2015Cam NewtonCarolina PanthersQuarterback
2016Matt RyanAtlanta FalconsQuarterback
2017Tom Brady New England PatriotsQuarterback
2018Patrick MahomesKansas City ChiefsQuarterback
2019Lamar JacksonBaltimore RavensQuarterback

Defunct awards

Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL MVP award

The Newspaper Enterprise Association presented its MVP award from 1955 to 2008. The winner was chosen by a poll of NFL players and received the Jim Thorpe Trophy, which by 1975 was described as "one of the pros' most coveted honors." Beginning in 1997, the trophy was presented by the Jim Thorpe Association, with the winner determined by a "vote of NFLPA representatives".
SeasonPlayerTeamPositionRef
1955Harlon HillChicago BearsEnd
1956Frank GiffordNew York GiantsRunning back
1957Johnny UnitasBaltimore ColtsQuarterback
1958Jim BrownCleveland BrownsFullback
1959Charlie ConerlyNew York GiantsQuarterback
1960Norm Van BrocklinPhiladelphia EaglesQuarterback
1961Y. A. TittleNew York GiantsQuarterback
1962Jim TaylorGreen Bay PackersRunning back
1963Y. A. Tittle
Jim Brown 		New York Giants
Cleveland Browns		Quarterback
Running back
1964Lenny MooreBaltimore ColtsHalfback
1965Jim Brown Cleveland BrownsRunning back
1966Bart StarrGreen Bay PackersQuarterback
1967Johnny Unitas Baltimore ColtsQuarterback
1968Earl MorrallBaltimore ColtsQuarterback
1969Roman GabrielLos Angeles RamsQuarterback
1970John BrodieSan Francisco 49ersQuarterback
1971Bob GrieseMiami DolphinsQuarterback
1972Larry BrownWashington RedskinsRunning back
1973O. J. SimpsonBuffalo BillsRunning back
1974Ken StablerOakland RaidersQuarterback
1975Fran TarkentonMinnesota VikingsQuarterback
1976Bert JonesBaltimore ColtsQuarterback
1977Walter PaytonChicago BearsRunning back
1978Earl CampbellHouston OilersRunning back
1979Earl Campbell Houston OilersRunning back
1980Earl Campbell Houston OilersRunning back
1981Ken AndersonCincinnati BengalsQuarterback
1982Dan FoutsSan Diego ChargersQuarterback
1983Joe TheismannWashington RedskinsQuarterback
1984Dan MarinoMiami DolphinsQuarterback
1985Walter Payton Chicago BearsRunning back
1986Phil SimmsNew York GiantsQuarterback
1987Jerry RiceSan Francisco 49ersWide receiver
1988Roger CraigSan Francisco 49ersRunning back
1989Joe MontanaSan Francisco 49ersQuarterback
1990Warren MoonHouston OilersQuarterback
1991Thurman ThomasBuffalo BillsRunning back
1992Emmitt SmithDallas CowboysRunning back
1993Emmitt Smith Dallas CowboysRunning back
1994Steve YoungSan Francisco 49ersQuarterback
1995Brett FavreGreen Bay PackersQuarterback
1996Brett Favre Green Bay PackersQuarterback
1997Barry SandersDetroit LionsRunning back
1998Randall CunninghamMinnesota VikingsQuarterback
1999Kurt WarnerSt. Louis RamsQuarterback
2000Marshall FaulkSt. Louis RamsRunning back
2001Kurt Warner St. Louis RamsQuarterback
2002Rich GannonOakland RaidersQuarterback
2003Peyton ManningIndianapolis ColtsQuarterback
2004Peyton Manning Indianapolis ColtsQuarterback
2005Shaun AlexanderSeattle SeahawksRunning back
2006LaDainian TomlinsonSan Diego ChargersRunning back
2007Tom BradyNew England PatriotsQuarterback
2008Kurt Warner Arizona CardinalsQuarterback

Joe F. Carr Trophy

The Joe F. Carr Trophy was the first award in the NFL to recognize a most valuable player. It was named in honor of NFL commissioner Joseph Carr.
SeasonPlayerTeamPosition
1938Mel HeinNew York GiantsCenter, linebacker
1939Parker HallCleveland RamsQuarterback, halfback
1940Ace ParkerBrooklyn DodgersQuarterback, halfback
1941Don HutsonGreen Bay PackersEnd
1942Don Hutson Green Bay PackersEnd
1943Sid LuckmanChicago BearsQuarterback
1944Frank SinkwichDetroit LionsHalfback
1945Bob WaterfieldCleveland RamsQuarterback
1946Bill DudleyPittsburgh SteelersHalfback

United Press International NFL MVP/POY award

United Press International gave an NFL MVP/player of the year award from 1948 through 1969, excepting 1949–50, and 1952. In 1970 UPI instituted separate awards for the NFC and AFC. In 1975 UPI added a Defensive Player of the Year Award for both the NFC and AFC.