From 1960 to 1969, the United Press International (UPI) gave the annual AFL Player of the Year award in the American Football League, whose teams in 1970 became the American Football Conference (AFC) of the new National Football League (NFL).
From 1970 — following the AFL–NFL merger — until 1996, UPI then gave two annual player of the year awards. One was given in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the new NFL. The other award was given in the American Football Conference (AFC) of the new NFL. An AFC Player of the Year was named from 1970 through 1984, won each year by an offensive player. An AFC Defensive Player of the Year was named from 1975 to 1996, and an AFC Offensive Player of the Year, which replaced the overall player of the year award in 1985, was issued until 1996.
Winners SeasonOffense DefenseCarroll 1999, p. 389. Player Team Position Player Team Position1960 Abner Haynes Dallas Texans Halfback - - -1961 George Blanda (1) Houston Oilers Quarterback - - -1962 Cookie Gilchrist Buffalo Bills Fullback - - -1963 Lance Alworth San Diego Chargers Flanker - - -1964 Gino Cappelletti Boston Patriots Flanker, kicker - - -1965 Jack Kemp Buffalo Bills Quarterback - - -1966 Jim Nance Boston Patriots Fullback - - -1967 Daryle Lamonica (1) Oakland Raiders Quarterback - - -1968 Joe Namath New York Jets Quarterback - - -1969 Daryle Lamonica (2) Oakland Raiders Quarterback - - -1970 George Blanda (2) Oakland Raiders Quarterback, kicker - - -1971 Otis Taylor Kansas City Chiefs Wide receiver - - -1972 O. J. Simpson (1) Buffalo Bills Running back - - -1973 O. J. Simpson (2) Buffalo Bills Running back - - -1974 Ken Stabler Oakland Raiders Quarterback - - -1975 O. J. Simpson (3) Buffalo Bills Running back Mel Blount Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback1976 Bert Jones Baltimore Colts Quarterback Jack Lambert (1) Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker 1977 Craig Morton Denver Broncos Quarterback Lyle Alzado Denver Broncos Defensive end1978 Earl Campbell Houston Oilers Running back Randy Gradishar Denver Broncos Linebacker1979 Dan Fouts (1) San Diego Chargers Quarterback Jack Lambert (2) Pittsburgh Steelers Linbebacker1980 Brian Sipe Cleveland Browns Quarterback Lester Hayes Oakland Raiders Cornerback1981 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Joe Klecko New York Jets Defensive end 1982 Dan Fouts (2) San Diego Chargers Quarterback No award - -1983 Curt Warner (1) Seattle Seahawks Running back Rod Martin Los Angeles Raiders Linebacker 1984 Dan Marino (1) Miami Dolphins Quarterback Mark Gastineau New York Jets Defensive end 1985 Marcus Allen Los Angeles Raiders Running back Andre Tippett New England Patriots Linebacker 1986 Curt Warner (2) Seattle Seahawks Running back Rulon Jones Denver Broncos Defensive end 1987 John Elway (1) Denver Broncos Quarterback Bruce Smith (1) Buffalo Bills Defensive end 1988 Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Bruce Smith (2) (tie) Cornelius Bennett (1) (tie) Buffalo Bills Defensive end Linebacker1989 Christian Okoye Kansas City Chiefs Running back Michael Dean Perry Cleveland Browns Nose tackle 1990 Warren Moon Houston Oilers Quarterback Bruce Smith (3) Buffalo Bills Defensive end 1991 Thurman Thomas Buffalo Bills Running back Cornelius Bennett (2) Buffalo Bills Linebacker1992 Barry Foster Pittsburgh Steelers Running back Junior Seau San Diego Chargers Linebacker 1993 John Elway (2) Denver Broncos Quarterback Rod Woodson Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback 1994 Dan Marino (2) Miami Dolphins Quarterback Greg Lloyd Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker 1995Jim Harbaugh Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Bryce Paup Buffalo Bills Linebacker 1996 Terrell Davis Denver Broncos Running back Bruce Smith (4) Buffalo Bills Defensive end
Multiple-time winners + Total awards won Wins Team13Buffalo Bills7Denver BroncosOakland / Los Angeles Raiders6Pittsburgh Steelers4Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers3Boston / New England PatriotsCleveland BrownsHouston OilersDallas Texans / Kansas City ChiefsNew York Jets2 Baltimore / Indianapolis Colts Cincinnati Bengals Miami Dolphins Seattle Seahawks
See also UPI NFC Player of the Year United Press International NFL Most Valuable Player Award American Football League Most Valuable Player Award National Football League Most Valuable Player Award NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
References