UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year

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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).

Contents

From 1970 — following the AFL–NFL merger — until 1996, UPI then gave two annual player of the year awards. One was given in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the new NFL. The other award was given in the American Football Conference (AFC) of the new NFL. An AFC Player of the Year was named from 1970 through 1984, won each year be an offensive player. An AFC Defensive Player of the Year was named from 1975 to 1996, and an AFC Offensive Player of the Year, which replaced the overall player of the year award in 1985, was issued until 1996. [1]

Winners

SeasonOffense [1] Defense [2]
PlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPosition
1960 Abner Haynes Dallas TexansHalfback---
1961 George Blanda (1)Houston OilersQuarterback---
1962 Cookie Gilchrist Buffalo BillsFullback---
1963 Lance Alworth San Diego ChargersFlanker---
1964 Gino Cappelletti Boston PatriotsFlanker, kicker---
1965 Jack Kemp Buffalo BillsQuarterback---
1966 Jim Nance Boston PatriotsFullback---
1967 Daryle Lamonica (1)Oakland RaidersQuarterback---
1968 Joe Namath New York JetsQuarterback---
1969 Daryle Lamonica (2)Oakland RaidersQuarterback---
1970 George Blanda (2)Oakland RaidersQuarterback, kicker---
1971 Otis Taylor Kansas City ChiefsWide receiver---
1972 O. J. Simpson (1)Buffalo BillsRunning back---
1973 O. J. Simpson (2)Buffalo BillsRunning back---
1974 Ken Stabler Oakland RaidersQuarterback---
1975 O. J. Simpson (3)Buffalo BillsRunning back Mel Blount Pittsburgh SteelersCornerback
1976 Bert Jones Baltimore ColtsQuarterback Jack Lambert (1)Pittsburgh SteelersLinebacker
1977 Craig Morton Denver BroncosQuarterback Lyle Alzado Denver BroncosDefensive end
1978 Earl Campbell [3] Houston OilersRunning back Randy Gradishar Denver BroncosLinebacker
1979 Dan Fouts (1)San Diego ChargersQuarterback Jack Lambert (2) [4] Pittsburgh SteelersLinbebacker
1980 Brian Sipe Cleveland BrownsQuarterback Lester Hayes Oakland RaidersCornerback
1981 Ken Anderson Cincinnati BengalsQuarterback Joe Klecko New York JetsDefensive end
1982 Dan Fouts (2)San Diego ChargersQuarterbackNo award--
1983 Curt Warner (1)Seattle SeahawksRunning back Rod Martin [5] Los Angeles RaidersLinebacker
1984 Dan Marino (1)Miami DolphinsQuarterback Mark Gastineau [6] New York JetsDefensive end
1985 Marcus Allen Los Angeles RaidersRunning back Andre Tippett New England PatriotsLinebacker
1986 Curt Warner (2)Seattle SeahawksRunning back Rulon Jones Denver BroncosDefensive end
1987 John Elway (1)Denver BroncosQuarterback Bruce Smith (1)Buffalo BillsDefensive end
1988 Boomer Esiason Cincinnati BengalsQuarterback Bruce Smith (2) (tie)
Cornelius Bennett (1) (tie)
Buffalo BillsDefensive end
Linebacker
1989 Christian Okoye Kansas City ChiefsRunning back Michael Dean Perry Cleveland BrownsNose tackle
1990 Warren Moon Houston OilersQuarterback Bruce Smith (3)Buffalo BillsDefensive end
1991 Thurman Thomas Buffalo BillsRunning back Cornelius Bennett (2)Buffalo BillsLinebacker
1992 Barry Foster Pittsburgh SteelersRunning back Junior Seau San Diego ChargersLinebacker
1993 John Elway (2)Denver BroncosQuarterback Rod Woodson Pittsburgh SteelersCornerback
1994 Dan Marino (2)Miami DolphinsQuarterback Greg Lloyd Pittsburgh SteelersLinebacker
1995 Jim Harbaugh Indianapolis ColtsQuarterback Bryce Paup Buffalo BillsLinebacker
1996 Terrell Davis Denver BroncosRunning back Bruce Smith (4)Buffalo BillsDefensive end

Multiple-time winners

Total awards won
WinsTeam
13 Buffalo Bills
7 Denver Broncos
Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders
6 Pittsburgh Steelers
4 Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers
3 Boston / New England Patriots
Cleveland Browns
Houston Oilers
Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs
New York Jets
2 Baltimore / Indianapolis Colts
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Seattle Seahawks

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Carroll, Bob (1999). Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League . HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 387–389. ISBN   9780062701749 . Retrieved June 6, 2022 via Internet Archive.
  2. Carroll 1999, p. 389.
  3. "Earl Campbell Collects AFC Player Of Year Crown". The Galveston Daily News. United Press International. December 29, 1978. p. 11. Retrieved March 20, 2017 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Jack Lambert best defensively in AFC". The Berkshire Eagle. UPI. January 9, 1980. p. 25. Retrieved June 8, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  5. Raffo, Dave (January 6, 1984). "Taylor, Martin Top Defensive Players". The Brattleboro Reformer. UPI. p. 11. Retrieved June 8, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Sherman, Joel (December 28, 1984). "Gastineau earns another honor for play". Telegraph-Forum. UPI. p. 11. Retrieved June 8, 2022 via Newspapers.com.