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 [ ]
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 [ ]
References [ ]