Sporting News began awarding a National Football League (NFL) player of the year award in 1954. From 1970 to 1979, Sporting News chose American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC) players of the year, and returned to a single winner in 1980. Beginning in 2008 Sporting News chose an offensive player of the year and a defensive player of the year. [1] [2]
Season | Player | Team | Position | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1954 | Lou Groza | Cleveland Browns | Tackle, kicker | [3] |
1955 | Otto Graham | Cleveland Browns | Quarterback | [1] |
1956 | Frank Gifford | New York Giants | Running back | |
1957 | Jim Brown | Cleveland Browns | Fullback | |
1958 | Jim Brown (2) | Cleveland Browns | Fullback | |
1959 | Johnny Unitas | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback | [4] |
1960 | Norm Van Brocklin | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback | [1] |
1961 | Paul Hornung | Green Bay Packers | Running back | |
1962 | Y. A. Tittle | New York Giants | Quarterback | |
1963 | Y. A. Tittle (2) | New York Giants | Quarterback | |
1964 | Johnny Unitas (2) | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback | |
1965 | Jim Brown (3) | Cleveland Browns | Running back | |
1966 | Bart Starr | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | |
1967 | Johnny Unitas (3) | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback | |
1968 | Earl Morrall | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback | |
1969 | Roman Gabriel | Los Angeles Rams | Quarterback | |
1970 | NFC- John Brodie AFC- George Blanda | San Francisco 49ers Oakland Raiders | Quarterback Quarterback, kicker | |
1971 | NFC- Roger Staubach AFC- Bob Griese | Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins | Quarterback Quarterback | |
1972 | NFC- Larry Brown AFC- Earl Morrall (2) | Washington Redskins Miami Dolphins | Running back Quarterback | |
1973 | NFC- John Hadl AFC- O. J. Simpson | Los Angeles Rams Buffalo Bills | Quarterback Running back | |
1974 | NFC- Chuck Foreman AFC- Ken Stabler | Minnesota Vikings Oakland Raiders | Running back Quarterback | |
1975 | NFC- Fran Tarkenton AFC- O. J. Simpson (2) | Minnesota Vikings Buffalo Bills | Quarterback Running back | |
1976 | NFC- Walter Payton AFC- Ken Stabler (2) | Chicago Bears Oakland Raiders | Running back Quarterback | |
1977 | NFC- Walter Payton (2) AFC- Craig Morton | Chicago Bears Denver Broncos | Running back Quarterback | |
1978 | NFC- Archie Manning AFC- Earl Campbell | New Orleans Saints Houston Oilers | Quarterback Running back | |
1979 | NFC- Ottis Anderson AFC- Dan Fouts | St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Chargers | Running back Quarterback | |
1980 | Brian Sipe | Cleveland Browns | Quarterback | |
1981 | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback | |
1982 | Mark Moseley | Washington Redskins | Kicker | |
1983 | Eric Dickerson | Los Angeles Rams | Running back | |
1984 | Dan Marino | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback | |
1985 | Marcus Allen | Los Angeles Raiders | Running back | [5] |
1986 | Lawrence Taylor | New York Giants | Linebacker | [1] |
1987 | Jerry Rice | San Francisco 49ers | Wide receiver | |
1988 | Boomer Esiason | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback | |
1989 | Joe Montana | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback | |
1990 | Jerry Rice (2) | San Francisco 49ers | Wide receiver | |
1991 | Thurman Thomas | Buffalo Bills | Running back | |
1992 | Steve Young | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback | |
1993 | Emmitt Smith | Dallas Cowboys | Running back | |
1994 | Steve Young (2) | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback | |
1995 | Brett Favre | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | |
1996 | Brett Favre (2) | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | |
1997 | Barry Sanders | Detroit Lions | Running back | |
1998 | Terrell Davis | Denver Broncos | Running back | |
1999 | Kurt Warner | St. Louis Rams | Quarterback | |
2000 | Marshall Faulk | St. Louis Rams | Running back | |
2001 | Marshall Faulk (2) | St. Louis Rams | Running back | |
2002 | Rich Gannon | Oakland Raiders | Quarterback | |
2003 | Peyton Manning | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback | |
2004 | Peyton Manning (2) | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback | |
2005 | Shaun Alexander | Seattle Seahawks | Running back | |
2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson | San Diego Chargers | Running back | |
2007 | Tom Brady | New England Patriots | Quarterback | [6] |
2008 | Offense – Drew Brees Defense – Albert Haynesworth | New Orleans Saints Tennessee Titans | Quarterback Defensive tackle | [7] [8] |
2009 | Offense – Drew Brees (2) Defense – Charles Woodson | New Orleans Saints Green Bay Packers | Quarterback Cornerback | [7] [9] |
2010 | Offense – Tom Brady (2) Defense – Clay Matthews | New England Patriots Green Bay Packers | Quarterback Linebacker | [10] |
2011 | Offense - Aaron Rodgers Defense - Jared Allen | Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings | Quarterback Defensive end | [11] |
2012 | Offense - Adrian Peterson Defense - J. J. Watt | Minnesota Vikings Houston Texans | Running back Defensive end | [12] |
2013 | Offense - Peyton Manning (3) Defense - Luke Kuechly | Denver Broncos Carolina Panthers | Quarterback Linebacker | |
2014 | Offense - Aaron Rodgers (2) Defense - J. J. Watt (2) | Green Bay Packers Houston Texans | Quarterback Defensive end | |
2015 | Offense - Cam Newton Defense - J. J. Watt (3) | Carolina Panthers Houston Texans | Quarterback Defensive end | |
2016 | Offense - Tom Brady (3) Defense - Khalil Mack | New England Patriots Oakland Raiders | Quarterback Defensive end | |
2017 | Offense - Antonio Brown Defense - Calais Campbell | Pittsburgh Steelers Jacksonville Jaguars | Quarterback Defensive end | [13] |
2018 | Offense - Patrick Mahomes Defense - Aaron Donald | Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Rams | Quarterback Defensive tackle | [14] |
2019 | Offense - Lamar Jackson Defense - Stephon Gilmore | Baltimore Ravens New England Patriots | Quarterback Cornerback | [15] |
2020 | Offense - Patrick Mahomes (2) Defense - Aaron Donald (2) | Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Rams | Quarterback Defensive tackle | [16] |
2021 | Offense - Jonathan Taylor Defense - T. J. Watt | Indianapolis Colts Pittsburgh Steelers | Running back Linebacker | |
2022 | Offense - Justin Jefferson Defense - Nick Bosa | Minnesota Vikings San Francisco 49ers | Wide receiver Defensive end | |
2023 | Offense - Tyreek Hill Defense - Myles Garrett | Miami Dolphins Cleveland Browns | Wide receiver Defensive end | [17] |
Leonard Ray Dawson was an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) for 19 seasons, primarily with the Kansas City Chiefs franchise. After playing college football at Purdue, Dawson began his professional career with the NFL in 1957, spending three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and two with the Cleveland Browns. He left the NFL in 1962 to sign with the AFL's Chiefs, where he spent the last 14 seasons of his career, and rejoined the NFL after the AFL–NFL merger.
Richard Marvin Butkus was an American football linebacker, sports commentator, and actor. He played football for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) from 1965 to 1973. He was invited to eight Pro Bowls in nine seasons, named a first-team All-Pro six times, and was twice recognized by his peers as the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year. Butkus was renowned as a fierce tackler and for the relentless effort with which he played. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intimidating linebackers in professional football history.
Roosevelt "Rosey" Brown Jr. was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants from 1953 to 1965. He previously played college football for Morgan State University.
The Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press (AP) to the most outstanding defensive player in the National Football League (NFL) at the end of every season. It has been awarded since 1971. The winner is decided by votes from a panel of 50 AP sportswriters. Since 2011, the award has been presented at the annual NFL Honors ceremony the day before the Super Bowl, along with other AP awards, such as the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award, AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award, and AP NFL Rookie of the Year Award. The most recent winner of the AP Defensive Player of the Year award is defensive end Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers.
Larry Chatmon Little is an American former professional football player who was an offensive guard in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Bethune–Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 1967. After two years in San Diego, he was then traded to the Miami Dolphins where he played for the rest of his career, establishing himself as one of the best offensive guards in the NFL.
Richard Lane, commonly known as Dick "Night Train" Lane, was an American football cornerback who played for 14 years in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Los Angeles Rams (1952–1953), the Chicago Cardinals (1954–1959), and the Detroit Lions (1960–1965).
Joseph Paul Schmidt is an American former professional football player and coach. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions for 13 years from 1953 to 1965. He won two NFL championships with the Lions, and, between 1954 and 1963, he played in ten consecutive Pro Bowl games and was selected each year as a first-team All-Pro player. He was also voted by his fellow NFL players as the NFL's most valuable defensive player in 1960 and 1963, named to the NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
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 (NFL) during the regular season. Organizations which issue an NFL MVP award include the Associated Press (AP) and the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). Since the 2011 season, the NFL has held the annual NFL Honors ceremony, which recognizes the winner of the Associated Press MVP award.
Charles Louis Trippi was an American professional football player for the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL) from 1947 to 1955. Although primarily a halfback, his versatility allowed him to fill a multitude of roles over his career, including quarterback, safety, punter, and return specialist. A "quintuple-threat", Trippi was adept at running, catching, passing, punting, and defense.
Emlen Lewis Tunnell, nicknamed "the Gremlin", was an American football player and coach. He was the first African-American to play for the New York Giants and also the first to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
From 1960 to 1969, the United Press International (UPI) gave the annual AFL Player of the Year award in the American Football League, whose teams in 1970 became the American Football Conference (AFC) of the new National Football League (NFL).
Bruce Rankin Matthews is an American former professional football player who played as a guard, center, offensive tackle, and long snapper in the National Football League (NFL) for 19 seasons, from 1983 to 2001. He spent his entire career playing for the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans franchise. Highly versatile, Matthews played every position on the offensive line throughout his NFL career, starting in 99 games as a left guard, 87 as a center, 67 as a right guard, 22 as a right tackle, 17 as a left tackle, and was the long snapper on field goals, PATs, and punts. Having never missed a game due to injury, Matthews' 293 NFL games started is the third most of all time, behind quarterbacks Brett Favre and Tom Brady.
All-Pro is an honor bestowed upon professional American football players that designates the best player at each position during a given season. All-Pro players are typically selected by press organizations, who select an "All-Pro team," a list that consists of at least 22 players, one for each offensive and defensive position, plus various special teams players depending on the press organization that compiles the list. All-Pro lists are exclusively limited to the major leagues, usually only the National Football League; in the past, other leagues recognized as major, such as the American Football League of the 1960s or the All-America Football Conference of the 1940s, have been included in All-Pro lists.
Several organizations give out NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards that are listed in the NFL Record and Fact Book and Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. The Associated Press (AP) has been giving the award since 1972; Pro Football Writers of America/Pro Football Weekly since 1970; and Sporting News has announced winners since 2008. The Newspaper Enterprise Association was the originator of the award in 1966. However, it became defunct after 1997. Also going defunct was the United Press International (UPI) AFC-NFC Defensive Player of the Year Awards that began in 1975.
The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award is presented annually by the Associated Press (AP) to a player in the National Football League (NFL) deemed to have been the "most valuable" in that year's regular season. While there have been many selectors of NFL MVPs in the past, today the MVP award presented by the AP is considered the de facto official NFL MVP award and the most prestigious. Since 2011, the NFL has held the annual NFL Honors ceremony to recognize the winner of each year's AP MVP award, along with other AP awards, such as the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year and AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. The most recent AP NFL MVP is quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year Award is an annual award given to the top offensive and defensive first-year players in the National Football League (NFL) as adjudged by the Associated Press (AP). Winners are selected by a nationwide panel of 50 members of the AP who regularly cover the league. The AP has chosen an offensive rookie of the year since 1957 and a defensive rookie of the year since 1967.
This page lists the awards won by players of the Miami Dolphins, a professional American football team who compete in the National Football League. The Dolphins' most recent award winner was Jason Taylor, who won the Defensive Player of the year and the Walter Payton Man of the Year awards in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
The Mob Squad is a nickname that was officially used by the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League during both their last season in St. Louis and their first seasons back in Los Angeles. The nickname referred to the team's return to glory in Los Angeles under such players as Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, Cooper Kupp, and head coach Sean McVay. The naming also extends to fans of the Rams, primarily used by multiple booster clubs around Southern California.
The Jim Thorpe Memorial Trophy was an American football award presented by the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) to the most valuable player (MVP) of the National Football League (NFL) from 1955 to 2008. It was the only NFL MVP award whose winner was chosen by a poll of NFL players. By 1975, the Jim Thorpe Trophy was described by the TimesDaily as "one of the pros' most coveted honors." In 1983, the Del Rio News Herald called it the "highest professional football award, period." Earl Campbell was the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons, capturing three straight from 1978 to 1980. Quarterbacks Charlie Conerly (1959) and Roman Gabriel (1969) won the trophy despite not being voted to the NEA's All-Pro first team in their respective seasons—Johnny Unitas was named to the first team over Conerly, while Sonny Jurgensen got the nod over Gabriel.
Even then, the man The Sporting News named its Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 seemed worth the headaches.