National Football League Most Valuable Player Award

The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award (NFL MVP) is given by various entities, most notably the Associated Press (AP), to the player who is considered most valuable in the league. When the award is referred to without mentioning the organization, it generally means the AP award.

Five members of the Green Bay Packers have been awarded the honor for a grand total of ten times. In the 1960's under head coach Vince Lombardi, three individuals were voted as the MVP: Paul Hornung (1961), Jim Taylor (1962), and Bart Starr (1966). The award would be represented by a Packer again when Brett Favre first won the award in 1995, then consequently repeated in 1996 and co-winning in 1997 along with Barry Sanders. Aaron Rodgers won the award for the 2011 season, 2014 season, 2020 season, and 2021 season.

Overall, Peyton Manning has won the award five times in his career, the most of any NFL player. Rodgers has won the award four times. Brett Favre, Jim Brown, and Tom Brady, were named MVP on three separate occassions. From a franchise standpoint, players representing the Colts have won the award on eight occassions between four different quarterbacks (Manning, Unitas, Earl Morrall, and Bert Jones). The Packers have the most MVP awards.

The winners of the AP award have overwhelmingly been offensive players; the only defensive players to win the AP award were Alan Page and Lawrence Taylor, and the only special teams player was Mark Moseley.

Winners

NFL Most Valuable Player winners • Presented by the Associated Press •

Year No. Player of the Year Pos Team Rate Yds TD Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD 1957 1957 32  Jim Brown 03  FB cle  Cleveland Browns -- -- -- 202  202 0942 942 09  9 016  16 0055 55 01  1 1958 1958 32  Jim Brown 03  FB cle  Cleveland Browns -- -- -- 257  257 1527 1,527 17  17 016  16 0138 138 01  1 1959 1959 42  Charley Conerly 01  QB nyg  New York Giants 1027 102.7 1706 1,706 14  14 015  15 0038 38 01  1 -- -- -- 1960 1960 11  Norm Van Brocklin 01  QB phi  Philadelphia Eagles 0865 86.5 2471 2,471 24  24 011  11 0000 -13 00  0 -- -- -- 1961 1961 05  Paul Hornung 02  RB gb  Green Bay Packers 0126 126.7 0042 42 01  1 127  127 0597 597 08  8 015  15 0145 145 02  2 1962 1962 31  Jim Taylor 03  FB gb  Green Bay Packers -- -- -- 272  272 1474 1,474 19  19 022  22 0106 106 00  0 1963 1963 14  Y. A. Tittle 01  QB nyg  New York Giants 1048 104.8 3145 3,145 36  36 018  18 0099 99 02  2 -- -- -- 1964 1964 19  Johnny Unitas 01  QB ind  Baltimore Colts 0964 96.4 2824 2,824 19  19 037  37 0162 162 02  2 -- -- -- 1965 1965 32  Jim Brown 03  FB cle  Cleveland Browns 0135 135.4 0039 39 01  1 289  289 1544 1,544 17  17 034  34 0328 328 04  4 1966 1966 15  Bart Starr 01  QB gb  Green Bay Packers 1050 105.0 2257 2,257 14  14 021  21 0104 104 02  2 -- -- -- 1967 1967 19  Johnny Unitas 01  QB ind  Baltimore Colts 0836 83.6 3428 3,428 20  20 022  22 0089 89 00  0 -- -- -- 1968 1968 15  Earl Morrall 01  QB ind  Baltimore Colts 0932 93.2 2909 2,909 26  26 011  11 0018 18 01  1 -- -- -- 1969 1969 18  Roman Gabriel 01  QB stl  Los Angeles Rams 0868 86.8 2549 2,549 24  24 035  35 0156 156 05  5 -- -- -- 1970 1970 12  John Brodie 01  QB saf  San Francisco 49ers 0938 93.8 2941 2,941 24  24 009  9 0029 29 02  2 -- -- -- 1971 1971 88  Alan Page 23  DT min  Minnesota Vikings -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1972 1972 43  Larry Brown 02  RB was  Washington Redskins -- -- -- 285  285 1216 1,216 08  8 032  32 0473  473 04  4 1973 1973 32  O.J. Simpson 02  RB buf  Buffalo Bills 0562 56.2 -0003 -3 00  0 332  332 2003 2,003 12  12 006  6 0070  70 00  0 1974 1974 12  Ken Stabler 01  QB oak  Oakland Raiders 0949 94.9 2469 2,469 12  12 012  12 0002 -2 01  1 -- -- -- 1975 1975 10  Fran Tarkenton 01  QB min  Minnesota Vikings 0918 91.8 2994 2,994 25  25 016  16 0108 108 02  2 -- -- -- 1976 1976 07  Bert Jones 01  QB ind  Baltimore Colts 1025 102.5 3104 3,104 24  24 038  38 0214 214 02  2 -- -- -- 1977 1977 34  Walter Payton 02  RB chi  Chicago Bears -- -- -- 339  339 1852 1,852 14  14 027  27 0269 269 02  2 1978 1978 12  Terry Bradshaw 01  QB pit  Pittsburgh Steelers 0847 84.7 2915 2,915 28  28 032  32 0093 93 01  1 -- -- -- 1979 1979 34  Earl Campbell 02  RB ten  Houston Oilers† -- -- -- 368  368 1697 1,697 19  19 016  16 0094 94 00  0 1980 1980 17  Brian Sipe 01  QB cle  Cleveland Browns 0914 91.4 4132 4,132 30  30 020  20 0055 55 01  1 -- -- -- 1981 1981 14  Ken Anderson 01  QB cin  Cincinnati Bengals 0984 98.4 3574 3,754 29  29 046  46 0320 320 01  1 -- -- -- 1982 1982 03  Mark Moseley 30  K was  Washington Redskins -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1983 1983 07  Joe Theismann 01  QB was  Washington Redskins 0970 97.0 3714 3,714 29  29 037  37 0234 234 01  1 -- -- -- 1984 1984 13  Dan Marino 01  QB mia  Miami Dolphins 1089 108.9 5084 5,084 48  48 028  28 0000 -7 00  0 -- -- -- 1985 1985 32  Marcus Allen 02  RB oak  Los Angeles Raiders 0077 77.1 0016 16 00  0 380  380 1759 1,759 11  11 011  11 0067 67 03  3 1986 1986 56  Lawrence Taylor 26  OLB nyg  New York Giants -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1987 1987 07  John Elway 01  QB den  Denver Broncos 0834 83.4 3198 3,198 19  19 066  66 0304 304 04  4 -- -- -- 1988 1988 07  Boomer Esiason 01  QB cin  Cincinnati Bengals 0974 97.4 3572 3,572 28  28 043  43 0248 248 01  1 -- -- -- 1989 1989 16  Joe Montana 01  QB saf  San Francisco 49ers 1124 112.4 3521 3,521 26  26 049  49 0237 237 03  3 -- -- -- 1990 1990 16  Joe Montana 01  QB saf  San Francisco 49ers 0890 89.0 3944 3,944 26  26 040  40 0162 162 01  1 -- -- -- 1991 1991 34  Thurman Thomas 02  RB buf  Buffalo Bills -- -- -- 288  288 1407 1,407 07  7 062  62 0631 631 05  5 1992 1992 08  Steve Young 01  QB saf  San Francisco 49ers 1070 107.0 3465 3,465 25  25 076  76 0537 537 04  4 -- -- -- 1993 1993 22  Emmitt Smith 02  RB dal  Dallas Cowboys -- -- -- 283  283 1486 1,486 09  9 057  57 0414 414 01  1 1994 1994 08  Steve Young 01  QB saf  San Francisco 49ers 1128 112.8 3969 3,969 35  35 058  58 0292 292 07  7 -- -- -- 1995 1995 04  Brett Favre 01  QB gb  Green Bay Packers 0995 99.5 4413 4,413 38  38 039  39 0181 181 03  3 -- -- -- 1996 1996 04  Brett Favre 01  QB gb  Green Bay Packers 0958 95.8 3899 3,899 39  39 049  49 0136 136 02  2 -- -- -- 1997 1997 04  Brett Favre 01  QB gb  Green Bay Packers 0926 92.6 3867 3,867 35  35 058  58 0187 187 01  1 -- -- -- 1997 1997 20  Barry Sanders 02  RB det  Detroit Lions -- -- -- 335  335 2053 2,053 11  11 033  33 0305 305 03  3 1998 1998 30  Terrell Davis 02  RB den  Denver Broncos -- -- -- 392  392 2008 2,008 21  21 025  25 0217 217 02  2 1999 1999 13  Kurt Warner 01  QB stl  St. Louis Rams 1092 109.2 4353 4,353 41  41 023  23 0092 92 01  1 -- -- -- 2000 2000 28  Marshall Faulk 02  RB stl  St. Louis Rams -- -- -- 253  253 1359 1,359 18  18 081  81 0830 830 08  8 2001 2001 13  Kurt Warner 01  QB stl  St. Louis Rams 1014 101.4 4830 4,830 36  36 028  28 0060 60 01  1 -- -- -- 200 2002 12  Rich Gannon 01  QB oak  Oakland Raiders 0973 97.3 4689 4,689 26  26 050  50 0156  156 03  3 -- -- -- 2003 2003 18  Peyton Manning 01  QB ind  Indianapolis Colts 0990 99.0 4267 4,267 29  29 028  28 0026 26 00  0 001  1 0000 -1 00  0 2003 2003 09  Steve McNair 01  QB ten  Tennessee Titans 1004 100.4 3215 3,215 24  24 038  38 0138 138 04  4 001  1 0004 4 00  0 2004 2004 18  Peyton Manning 01  QB ind  Indianapolis Colts 1211 121.1 4557 4,557 49  49 025  25 0038 38 00  0 -- -- -- 2005 2005 37  Shaun Alexander 02  RB sea  Seattle Seahawks -- -- -- 370  370 1880 1,880 27  27 015  15 0078 78 01  1 2006 2006 21  LaDainian Tomlinson 02  RB sad  San Diego Chargers 0125 125.0 0020 20 02  2 348  348 1815 1,815 28  28 056  56 0508 508 03  3 2007 2007 12  Tom Brady 01  QB nee  New England Patriots 1172 117.2 4806 4,806 50  50 037  37 0098 98 02  2 -- -- -- 2008 2008 18  Peyton Manning 01  QB ind  Indianapolis Colts 0950 95.0 4002 4,002 27  27 020  20 0021 21 01  1 -- -- -- 2009 2009 18  Peyton Manning 01  QB ind  Indianapolis Colts 0999 99.9 4500 4,500 33  33 019  19 0000 -13 00  0 -- -- -- 2010 2010 12  Tom Brady 01  QB nee  New England Patriots 1110 111.0 3900 3,900 36  36 031  31 0030 30 01  1 -- -- -- 2011 2011 12  Aaron Rodgers 01  QB gb  Green Bay Packers 1225 122.5 4643 4,643 45  45 060  60 0257 257 03  3 -- -- -- 2012 2012 28  Adrian Peterson 02  RB min  Minnesota Vikings -- -- -- 348  348 2097 2,097 12  12 040  40 0217 217 01  1 2013 2013 18  Peyton Manning 01  QB den  Denver Broncos 1151 115.1 5477 5,477 55  55 032  32 -0031 -31 01  1 -- -- -- 2014 2014 12  Aaron Rodgers 01  QB gb  Green Bay Packers 1122 112.2 4381 4,381 38  38 043  43 0269 269 02  2 -- -- -- 2015 2015 01  Cam Newton 01  QB car  Carolina Panthers 0994 99.4 3837 3,837 35  35 132  132 0636 636 10  10 -- -- -- 2016 2016 02  Matt Ryan 01  QB atl  Atlanta Falcons 1171 117.1 4944 4,944 38  38 035  35 0117 117 00  0 -- -- -- 2017 2017 12  Tom Brady 01  QB nee  New England Patriots 1028 102.8 4577 4,577 32  32 025  25 0028 28 00  0 -- -- --

Clarification

On January 2, 2009, the AP stated that their version of MVP award began in 1961. It is possible that this is a reaction to an article published at Pro Football Weekly that suggests the AP awards as listed by the AP were incorrect. On January 2, 2009, the AP listed the 1957 MVP as Jim Brown, the 1958 MVP as Gino Marchetti, the 1959 MVP as Charlie Conerly, and the 1960 co-MVPs as Norm Van Brocklin and Joe Schmidt. The Pro Football Weekly.com article disputes the 1958, 1959, and 1960 winners. Since, as the PFW article points out, the AP began using the term "MVP" in 1961, it seems the pre-1960 winners are no longer considered "MVPs" but "Players of the Year". Adding to the confusion put out by the AP, the 1962 winner, Jim Taylor, in the story that moved across the AP wire in 1962, was the "Player of the Year" not the "Most Valuable Player". In 1963 the term "MVP" was used once again. According to an article by Pro Football Weekly, the terms "Player of the Year" and "Most Valuable Player" were generally interchangeable at the time.

See also

• Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award
• National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award
• National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award

References

• NFL.com - Associated Press NFL Most Valuable/Outstanding Players
• Pro Football Reference.com - AP Most Valuable Player of the Year Award
• Football Almanac - Most Valuable Player of the Year Award
• List of AP NFL Most Valuable Players
• Jersey Database - MVP jerseys
• Chris Creamer's Sportslogo.net - Team logos