The Sporting News (formerly Sporting News from 2002 to 2022) began awarding a National Football League (NFL) player of the year award in 1954. From 1970 to 1979, The Sporting News chose American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC) players of the year, and returned to a single winner in 1980. Beginning in 2008 The Sporting News chose an offensive player of the year and a defensive player of the year.
Winners 1954–1969 Season Player Position Team Lou Groza T/K Cleveland Otto Graham QB Cleveland Frank Gifford RB NY Giants Jim Brown FB Cleveland Jim Brown FB Cleveland Johnny Unitas QB Baltimore Norm Van Brocklin QB Philadelphia Paul Hornung RB Green Bay Y. A. Tittle QB NY Giants Y. A. Tittle QB NY Giants Johnny Unitas QB Baltimore Jim Brown RB Cleveland Bart Starr QB Green Bay Johnny Unitas QB Baltimore Earl Morrall QB Baltimore Roman Gabriel QB LA RamsSources
1970–1979 SeasonNFCAFC Player Position Team Player Position Team John Brodie QB San Francisco George Blanda QB/K Oakland Roger Staubach QB Dallas Bob Griese QB Miami Larry Brown RB Washington Earl Morrall QB Miami John Hadl QB LA Rams O. J. Simpson RB Buffalo Chuck Foreman RB Minnesota Ken Stabler QB Oakland Fran Tarkenton QB Minnesota O. J. Simpson RB Buffalo Walter Payton RB Chicago Ken Stabler QB Oakland Walter Payton RB Chicago Craig Morton QB Denver Archie Manning QB New Orleans Earl Campbell RB Houston Ottis Anderson RB St. Louis Dan Fouts QB San Diego
1980–2007 Season Player Team Position Brian Sipe QB Cleveland Ken Anderson QB Cincinnati Mark Moseley K Washington Eric Dickerson RB LA Rams Dan Marino QB Miami Marcus Allen RB LA Raiders Lawrence Taylor LB NY Giants Jerry Rice WR San Francisco Boomer Esiason QB Cincinnati Joe Montana QB San Francisco Jerry Rice WR San Francisco Thurman Thomas RB Buffalo Steve Young QB San Francisco Emmitt Smith RB Dallas Steve Young QB San Francisco Brett Favre QB Green Bay Brett Favre QB Green Bay Barry Sanders RB Detroit Terrell Davis RB Denver Kurt Warner QB St. Louis Marshall Faulk RB St. Louis Marshall Faulk RB St. Louis Rich Gannon QB Oakland Peyton Manning QB Indianapolis Peyton Manning QB Indianapolis Shaun Alexander RB Seattle LaDainian Tomlinson RB San Diego Tom Brady QB New EnglandSources
2008–2025 SeasonOffensiveDefensive Player Position Team Player Position Team Drew Brees QB New Orleans Albert Haynesworth DT Tennessee Drew Brees QB New Orleans Charles Woodson CB Green Bay Tom Brady QB New England Clay Matthews OLB Green Bay Aaron Rodgers QB Green Bay Jared Allen DE Minnesota Adrian Peterson RB Minnesota J. J. Watt DE Houston Peyton Manning QB Denver Luke Kuechly OLB Carolina Aaron Rodgers QB Green Bay J. J. Watt DE Houston Cam Newton QB Carolina J. J. Watt DE Houston Tom Brady QB New England Khalil Mack DE Oakland Antonio Brown WR Pittsburgh Calais Campbell DE Jacksonville Patrick Mahomes QB Kansas City Aaron Donald DT LA Rams Lamar Jackson QB Baltimore Stephon Gilmore CB New England Patrick Mahomes QB Kansas City Aaron Donald DT LA Rams Jonathan Taylor RB Pittsburgh T. J. Watt OLB Pittsburgh Justin Jefferson WR Minnesota Nick Bosa DE San Francisco Tyreek Hill WR Miami Myles Garrett DE Cleveland Saquon Barkley RB Philadelphia Myles Garrett DE Cleveland Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR Seattle Myles Garrett DE ClevelandSources
See also NFL Most Valuable Player Award NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award List of NFL awards
References