The Major MVP Awards—As Found in Total Football: The Official Encyclpedia of the NFL

By John Turney

Note: Joe Carr Trophy, is the only official NFL MVP.  Neither the Associated Press, PFWA, nor any others are official awards. 

1937

• Dutch Clark, Detroit Lions, Quarterback-Halfback (Guren Award)

1938

• Mel Hein, C - NY Giants (Joe Carr Trophy)

• Ace Parker, QB – Brooklyn (United Press International)

1939

• Parker Hall, HB – Cleveland (Joe Carr Trophy)

1940

• Ace Parker, QB – Brooklyn (Joe Carr Trophy, INS)

1941

• Don Hutson, E - Green Bay (Joe Carr Trophy)

1942

• Don Hutson, E - Green Bay (Joe Carr Trophy)

1943

• Sid Luckman, QB - Chicago Bears (Joe Carr Trophy)

1944

• Frank Sinkwich, HB – Detroit (Joe Carr Trophy)

1945

• Bob Waterfield, QB – Cleveland (Joe Carr Trophy)

1946

• (NFL) Bill Dudley, HB – Pittsburgh (Joe Carr Trophy)

• (AAFC) Glenn Dobbs, HB – Brooklyn (Official Award)

1947

• (AAFC) Otto Graham, QB – Cleveland  (Official Award)

1948

• (NFL) Pat Harder, RB - Chicago Cardinals (United Press)

• (AAFC) Otto Graham, QB - Cleveland/Frankie Albert, quarterback - San Francisco (tie) (Official Award)

1949

1950

1951

• Otto Graham, QB - Cleveland (United Press)

1952

1953

• Otto Graham, QB - Cleveland (United Press)

1954

• Joe Perry, FB - San Francisco (United Press)

• Lou Groza, OT - Cleveland (Sporting News)

1955

• Otto Graham, QB - Cleveland (United Press, Sporting News)

• Harlon Hill, E - Chicago Bears (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1956

• Frank Gifford, HB - NY Giants (United Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

1957

• Y.A. Tittle, QB - San Francisco (United Press)

• Jim Brown, FB - Cleveland (Associated Press, Sporting News)

• John Unitas, QB - Baltimore (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1958

• Jim Brown, FB - Cleveland (United Press International, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News,)

1959

• John Unitas, QB - Baltimore (Associated Press, United  Press International, Sporting News)

• Charley Conerly, quarterback - NY Giants (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1960

(NFL)

• Norm Van Brocklin, QB - Philadelphia (United Press International-tie, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

• Joe Schmidt, LB - Detroit (United Press International- tie)

(AFL)

• Abner Haynes, HB - Dallas Texans (United Press International, Sporting News)

1961

(NFL)

• Paul Hornung, HB - Green Bay (United Press International, Associated Press, Sporting News)

• Y.A. Tittle, QB - NY Giants (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

(AFL)

• George Blanda, QB - Houston (United Press International, Associated Press, Sporting News)

1962

(NFL)

• Y.A. Tittle, QB - NY Giants (United Press International, Sporting News)

• Jim Taylor, FB - Green Bay (Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

(AFL)

• Cookie Gilchrist, FB - Buffalo (United Press International, Associated Press)

• Len Dawson, QB - Dallas Texans (Sporting News)

1963

(NFL)

• Jim Brown, FB - Cleveland (United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association (tie))

• Y.A. Tittle, QB - NY Giants (Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association (tie), Sporting News)

(AFL)

• Lance Alworth, WR - San Diego (United Press International)

• Clem Daniels, HB - Oakland (Sporting News)

• Tobin Rote, QB- San Diego Chargers (Associated Press)

1964

(NFL)

• Johnny Unitas, QB - Baltimore (United Press International, Associated Press, Sporting News)

• Lenny Moore, HB - Baltimore (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

(AFL)

• Gino Cappelletti, WR - Boston (United Press International, Associated Press, Sporting News)

1965

(NFL)

• Jim Brown, FB - Cleveland (United Press International, Associated Press, Sporting News, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

(AFL)

• Jack Kemp, QB - Buffalo (United Press International, Associated Press)

• Paul Lowe, HB - San Diego (Sporting News)

1966

(NFL)

• Bart Starr, QB - Green Bay (United Press International, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

• Don Meredith, QB - Dallas (Maxwell Club of Philadelphia)

(AFL)

• Jim Nance, FB - Boston (United Press International, Associated Press, Sporting News)

1967

(NFL)

• Johnny Unitas, QB - Baltimore (United Press International, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

(AFL)

• Daryle Lamonica, QB - Oakland (United Press International, Associated Press, Sporting News,

1968

(NFL)

• Earl Morrall, QB - Baltimore (United Press International, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

 (AFL)

• Joe Namath, QB - NY Jets (United Press  International, Associated Press, Sporting News)

1969

(NFL)

• Roman Gabriel, QB - LA Rams (United Press International, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

(AFL)

• Joe Kapp, QB - Minnesota (PFWA—NY Chapter)

• Daryle Lamonica, QB - Oakland (United Press International, Sporting News)

• Joe Namath, QB - NY Jets (Associated Press)

1970

• John Brodie, QB - San Francisco (Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1971

• Alan Page, DT - Minnesota (Associated Press)

• Bob Griese, QB - Miami (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1972

• Larry Brown, RB - Washington (Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1973

• O.J. Simpson, RB - Buffalo (Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1974

• Ken Stabler, QB - Oakland (Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1975

• Fran Tarkenton, QB - Minnesota (Pro Football Writers of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

 1976

• Bert Jones, QB - Baltimore (Pro Football Writers of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1977

• Walter Payton, RB -  Chicago (Pro Football Writers of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1978

• Earl Campbell, RB - Houston (Pro Football Writers of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

• Terry Bradshaw, QB - Pittsburgh (Associated Press)

1979

• Earl Campbell, RB - Houston (Pro Football Writers of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1980

• Brian Sipe, QB - Cleveland (Pro Football Writers of America, Associated Press, Sporting News)

• Earl Campbell, RB - Houston (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1981

• Ken Anderson, QB - Cincinnati (Pro Football Writers of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

1982

• Dan Fouts, QB - San Diego (Pro Football Writers of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

• Mark Moseley, K - Washington (Associated Press, Sporting News)

1983

• Joe Theismann, QB - Washington (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

• Eric Dickerson, RB - LA Rams (Sporting News)

1984

• Dan Marino, QB - Miami (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

1985

• Marcus Allen, RB - LA Raiders (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Sporting News)

• Walter Payton, RB - Chicago Bears (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1986

• Lawrence Taylor, LB - NY Giants (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Sporting News)

• Phil Simms, QB - NY Giants (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1987

• Jerry Rice, WR - San Francisco (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

• John Elway, QB - Denver (Associated Press)

1988

• Boomer Esiason, QB - Cincinnati (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Sporting News)

• Roger Craig, RB - San Francisco (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1989

• Joe Montana, QB - San Francisco (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

1990

• Randall Cunningham, QB - Philadelphia (Pro Football Writers Association of America)

• Joe Montana, QB - San Francisco (Associated Press)

• Warren Moon, QB, Houston Oilers (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

• Jerry Rice, WR - San Francisco (Sporting News)

1991

• Thurman Thomas, RB - Buffalo (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

1992

• Steve Young, QB - San Francisco (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Sporting News)

• Emmitt Smith, RB - Dallas (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1993

• Emmitt Smith, RB - Dallas (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

1994

• Steve Young, QB - San Francisco (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

1995

• Brett Favre, QB - Green Bay (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

1996

• Brett Favre, QB - Green Bay (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

1997

• Barry Sanders, RB - Detroit (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press (tie), Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

• Brett Favre, QB - Green Bay (Associated Press - tie)

1998

• Terrell Davis, RB - Denver (Pro Football Writers Association of America, Associated Press, Sporting News)

• Randall Cunningham, QB - Minnesota (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

1999

• Kurt Warner, QB - St. Louis Rams (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

2000

• Marshall Faulk, RB - St. Louis Rams (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

2001

• Kurt Warner, QB - St. Louis Rams (Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association )

• Marshall Faulk, RB - St. Louis Rams (Pro Football Writers Association of America Sporting News)

2002

• Rich Gannon, QB - Oakland Raiders (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association)

2003

• Peyton Manning, QB - Indianapolis Colts (Associated Press – tie, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

• Steve McNair, QB - Tennessee Titans (Associated Press - tie)

• Jamaal Lewis, RB, Baltimore Ravens (Pro Football Writers Association of America)

2004

• Peyton Manning, QB - Indianapolis Colts (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

2005

• Shaun Alexander, RB - Seattle Seahawks (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

2006

• LaDainian Tomlinson, RB - San Diego Chargers (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

2007

• Tom Brady, QB - New England Patriots (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Sporting News)

2008

• Peyton Manning, QB - Indianapolis Colts (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News)

• Kurt Warner, QB – Arizona Cardinals (Newspaper Enterprise Association)

2009

• Peyton Manning, QB - Indianapolis Colts (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News)

2010

• Tom Brady, QB - New England Patriots (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News)

2011

• Aaron Rodgers, QB - Green Bay Packers (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News)

2012

• Adrian Peterson, RB- Minnesota Vikings (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News*)

2013

• Peyton Manning, QB - Denver Broncos (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News*)

2014

• Aaron Rodgers, QB - Green Bay Packers (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News*)