National Football League Most Valuable Player Award

award given by various entities to the American football player

The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is an award by different entities, most notably the Associated Press, to the player who is thought to be the most valuable player in the league.

NFL's Most Valuable Players

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The Joe F. Carr Trophy

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The NFL awarded the Joe F. Carr Trophy (named for the league president, 1921-39) to the league's ABC from 1938 to 1946.

Season Player Team Position
1938 Mel Hein New York Giants Center
1939 Parker Hall Cleveland Rams Halfback
1940 Ace Parker Brooklyn Dodgers Halfback
1941 Don Hutson Green Bay Packers End
1942 Don Hutson (2) Green Bay Packers End
1943 Sid Luckman Chicago Bears Quarterback
1944 Frank Sinkwich Detroit Lions Halfback
1945 Bob Waterfield Cleveland Rams Quarterback
1946 Bill Dudley Pittsburgh Steelers Halfback

As awarded by United Press International

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United Press International gave an NFL MVP Award from 1948 through 1969, excepting 1949-50, and 1952. Beginning in 1970 UPI awarded separate awards for the NFC and AFC. In 1975 UPI added a Defensive Player of the Year Award for both the NFC and AFC.

Season Player Team Position
1948 Pat Harder Chicago Cardinals Fullback [1]
1949 No Selection
1950 No Selection
1951 Otto Graham Cleveland Browns Quarterback
1952 No Selection
1953 Otto Graham (2) Cleveland Browns Quarterback
1954 Joe Perry San Francisco 49ers Fullback
1955 Otto Graham (3) Cleveland Browns Quarterback
1956 Frank Gifford New York Giants Halfback
1957 Y. A. Tittle San Francisco 49ers Quarterback
1958 Jim Brown Cleveland Browns Fullback
1959 Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1960 Norm Van Brocklin Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback
1961 Paul Hornung Green Bay Packers Halfback
1962 Y. A. Tittle New York Giants Quarterback
1963 Jim Brown (2) Cleveland Browns Fullback
1964 Johnny Unitas (2) Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1965 Jim Brown (3) Cleveland Browns Fullback
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

As awarded by the Associated Press

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Season Player Team Position
1957 Jim Brown Cleveland Browns Running back
1958 Jim Brown (2) Cleveland Browns Running back
1959 Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1960 Norm Van Brocklin Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback
1961 Paul Hornung Green Bay Packers Running back
1962 Jim Taylor Green Bay Packers Running back
1963 Y. A. Tittle 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 John Brodie San Francisco 49ers Quarterback
1971 Alan Page Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle
1972 Larry Brown Washington Redskins Running back
1973 O.J. Simpson Buffalo Bills Running back
1974 Ken Stabler Oakland Raiders Quarterback
1975 Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings Quarterback
1976 Bert Jones Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1977 Walter Payton Chicago Bears Running back
1978 Terry Bradshaw Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback
1979 Earl Campbell Houston Oilers Running back
1980 Brian Sipe Cleveland Browns Quarterback
1981 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback
1982 Mark Moseley Washington Redskins Placekicker
1983 Joe Theismann Washington Redskins Quarterback
1984 Dan Marino Miami Dolphins Quarterback
1985 Marcus Allen Los Angeles Raiders Running back
1986 Lawrence Taylor New York Giants Linebacker
1987 John Elway Denver Broncos Quarterback
1988 Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback
1989 Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers Quarterback
1990 Joe Montana (2) San Francisco 49ers Quarterback
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 Brett Favre (3)
Barry Sanders
Green Bay Packers
Detroit Lions
Quarterback
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 Kurt Warner (2) St. Louis Rams Quarterback
2002 Rich Gannon Oakland Raiders Quarterback
2003 Peyton Manning
Steve McNair
Indianapolis Colts
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback
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
2008 Peyton Manning (3) Indianapolis Colts Quarterback
2009 Peyton Manning (4) Indianapolis Colts Quarterback
2010 Tom Brady (2) New England Patriots Quarterback
2011 Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers Quarterback
2012 Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings Running back
2013 Peyton Manning (5) Denver Broncos Quarterback
2014 Aaron Rodgers (2) Green Bay Packers Quarterback
2015 Cam Newton Carolina Panthers Quarterback
2016 Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons Quarterback
2017 Tom Brady (3) New England Patriots Quarterback
2018 Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback
2019 Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens Quarterback
2020 Aaron Rodgers (3) Green Bay Packers Quarterback
2021 Aaron Rodgers (4) Green Bay Packers Quarterback
2022 Patrick Mahomes (2) Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback
2023 Lamar Jackson (2) Baltimore Ravens Quarterback
Season Player Team Position
1975 Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings Quarterback
1976 Bert Jones Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1977 Walter Payton Chicago Bears Running back
1978 Earl Campbell Houston Oilers Running back
1979 Earl Campbell (2) Houston Oilers Running back
1980 Brian Sipe Cleveland Browns Quarterback
1981 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback
1982 Dan Fouts San Diego Chargers Quarterback
1983 Joe Theismann Washington Redskins Quarterback
1984 Dan Marino Miami Dolphins Quarterback
1985 Marcus Allen Los Angeles Raiders Running back
1986 Lawrence Taylor New York Giants Linebacker
1987 Jerry Rice San Francisco 49ers Wide receiver
1988 Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback
1989 Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers Quarterback
1990 Randall Cunningham Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback
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 Jamal Lewis Baltimore Ravens Running Back
2004 Peyton Manning 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
2008 Peyton Manning (2) Denver Broncos Quarterback
2009 Peyton Manning (3) Denver Broncos Quarterback
2010 Tom Brady (2) New England Patriots Quarterback
2011 Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers Quarterback
2012 Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings Running back
2013 Peyton Manning (4) Denver Broncos Quarterback
2014 Aaron Rodgers (2) Green Bay Packers Quarterback
2015 Cam Newton Carolina Panthers Quarterback
2016 Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons Quarterback
2017 Tom Brady (3) New England Patriots Quarterback
2018 Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback
2019 Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens Quarterback
2020 Aaron Rodgers (3) Green Bay Packers Quarterback
2021 Aaron Rodgers (4) Green Bay Packers Quarterback
2022 Patrick Mahomes (2) Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback
2023 Lamar Jackson (2) Baltimore Ravens Quarterback

This award ran from 1955 through 1996 and was a poll of NFL players. The award winner is given with the Jim Thorpe Trophy (different from the collegiate football's Jim Thorpe Award). Beginning in 1997 the Jim Thorpe Trophy was given by the Jim Thorpe Association, with the winner determined by a "vote of NFLPA representatives".[2]

Season Player Team Position
1955 Harlon Hill Chicago Bears End
1956 Frank Gifford New York Giants Running back
1957 John Unitas Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1958 Jim Brown Cleveland Browns Fullback
1959 Charlie Conerly New York Giants Quarterback
1960 Norm Van Brocklin Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback
1961 Y. A. Tittle New York Giants Quarterback
1962 Jim Taylor Green Bay Packers Running back
1963 Y. A. Tittle (2)
Jim Brown (2)
New York Giants
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Running Back
1964 Lenny Moore Baltimore Colts Halfback
1965 Jim Brown (3) Cleveland Browns Running back
1966 Bart Starr Green Bay Packers Quarterback
1967 Johnny Unitas (2) Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1968 Earl Morrall Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1969 Roman Gabriel Los Angeles Rams Quarterback
1970 John Brodie San Francisco 49ers Quarterback
1971 Bob Griese Miami Dolphins Quarterback
1972 Larry Brown Washington Redskins Running back
1973 O. J. Simpson Buffalo Bills Running back
1974 Ken Stabler Oakland Raiders Quarterback
1975 Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings Quarterback
1976 Bert Jones Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1977 Walter Payton Chicago Bears Running back
1978 Earl Campbell Houston Oilers Running back
1979 Earl Campbell (2) Houston Oilers Running back
1980 Earl Campbell (3) Houston Oilers Running back
1981 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback
1982 Dan Fouts San Diego Chargers Quarterback
1983 Joe Theismann Washington Redskins Quarterback
1984 Dan Marino Miami Dolphins Quarterback
1985 Walter Payton (2) Chicago Bears Running back
1986 Phil Simms New York Giants Quarterback
1987 Jerry Rice San Francisco 49ers Wide Receiver
1988 Roger Craig San Francisco 49ers Running back
1989 Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers Quarterback
1990 Warren Moon Houston Oilers Quarterback
1991 Thurman Thomas Buffalo Bills Running back
1992 Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys Running back
1993 Emmitt Smith (2) Dallas Cowboys Running back
1994 Steve Young 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 Randall Cunningham Minnesota Vikings Quarterback
1999 Kurt Warner St. Louis Rams Quarterback
2000 Marshall Faulk St. Louis Rams Running back
2001 Kurt Warner (2) St. Louis Rams Quarterback
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 LaDanian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers Running back
2007 Tom Brady New England Patriots Quarterback
  1. Modesto Bee, December 17, 1948, pg. 17
  2. Jim Thorpe Association Yearbook, 2007.

Other websites

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