# Bert Bell Award

The Bert Bell Award is presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the player of the year in the National Football League (NFL). The award is named in honor of Bert Bell (1895–1959), commissioner of the NFL and founder of the Maxwell Club. Voters for the Pro Awards are NFL owners, football personnel, head and assistant coaches as well as members of the Maxwell Football Club, national media, and local media. The award consists of a trophy in the form of a statue in the likeness of Bell. The award is presented at the club's annual football banquet.

## Winners

| Season | Player | Position | Team | Ref |
| 1959 | Johnny Unitas | Quarterback | Baltimore Colts | |
| 1960 | Norm Van Brocklin | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 1961 | Paul Hornung | Running back | Green Bay Packers | |
| 1962 | Andy Robustelli | Defensive end | New York Giants | |
| 1963 | Jim Brown | Running back | Cleveland Browns | |
| 1964 | Johnny Unitas (2) | Quarterback | Baltimore Colts | |
| 1965 | Pete Retzlaff | Tight end | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 1966 | Don Meredith | Quarterback | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 1967 | Johnny Unitas (3) | Quarterback | Baltimore Colts | |
| 1968 | Leroy Kelly | Running back | Cleveland Browns | |
| 1969 | Roman Gabriel | Quarterback | Los Angeles Rams | |
| 1970 | George Blanda | Quarterback | Oakland Raiders | |
| 1971 | Roger Staubach | Quarterback | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 1972 | Larry Brown | Running back | Washington Redskins | |
| 1973 | O. J. Simpson | Running back | Buffalo Bills | |
| 1974 | Merlin Olsen | Defensive tackle | Los Angeles Rams | |
| 1975 | Fran Tarkenton | Quarterback | Minnesota Vikings | |
| 1976 | Ken Stabler | Quarterback | Oakland Raiders | |
| 1977 | Bob Griese | Quarterback | Miami Dolphins | |
| 1978 | Terry Bradshaw | Quarterback | Pittsburgh Steelers | |
| 1979 | Earl Campbell | Running back | Houston Oilers | |
| 1980 | Ron Jaworski | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 1981 | Ken Anderson | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals | |
| 1982 | Joe Theismann | Quarterback | Washington Redskins | |
| 1983 | John Riggins | Running back | Washington Redskins | |
| 1984 | Dan Marino | Quarterback | Miami Dolphins | |
| 1985 | Walter Payton | Running back | Chicago Bears | |
| 1986 | Lawrence Taylor | Linebacker | New York Giants | |
| 1987 | Jerry Rice | Wide receiver | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 1988 | Randall Cunningham | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 1989 | Joe Montana | Quarterback | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 1990 | Randall Cunningham (2) | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 1991 | Barry Sanders | Running back | Detroit Lions | |
| 1992 | Steve Young | Quarterback | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 1993 | Emmitt Smith | Running back | Dallas Cowboys | |
| 1994 | Steve Young (2) | Quarterback | San Francisco 49ers | |
| 1995 | Brett Favre | Quarterback | Green Bay Packers | |
| 1996 | Brett Favre (2) | Quarterback | Green Bay Packers | |
| 1997 | Barry Sanders (2) | Running back | Detroit Lions | |
| 1998 | Randall Cunningham (3) | Quarterback | Minnesota Vikings | |
| 1999 | Kurt Warner | Quarterback | St. Louis Rams | |
| 2000 | Rich Gannon | Quarterback | Oakland Raiders | |
| 2001 | Marshall Faulk | Running back | St. Louis Rams | |
| 2002 | Rich Gannon (2) | Quarterback | Oakland Raiders | |
| 2003 | Peyton Manning | Quarterback | Indianapolis Colts | |
| 2004 | Peyton Manning (2) | Quarterback | Indianapolis Colts | |
| 2005 | Shaun Alexander | Running back | Seattle Seahawks | |
| 2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson | Running back | San Diego Chargers | |
| 2007 | Tom Brady | Quarterback | New England Patriots | |
| 2008 | Adrian Peterson | Running back | Minnesota Vikings | |
| 2009 | Drew Brees | Quarterback | New Orleans Saints | |
| 2010 | Michael Vick | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 2011 | Aaron Rodgers | Quarterback | Green Bay Packers | |
| 2012 | Adrian Peterson (2) | Running back | Minnesota Vikings | |
| 2013 | Peyton Manning (3) | Quarterback | Denver Broncos | |
| 2014 | J. J. Watt | Defensive end | Houston Texans | |
| 2015 | Cam Newton | Quarterback | Carolina Panthers | |
| 2016 | Matt Ryan | Quarterback | Atlanta Falcons | |
| 2017 | Carson Wentz | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 2018 | Patrick Mahomes | Quarterback | Kansas City Chiefs | |
| 2019 | Lamar Jackson | Quarterback | Baltimore Ravens | |
| 2020 | No award given. | No award given. | No award given. | No award given. |
| 2021 | Jonathan Taylor | Running back | Indianapolis Colts | |
| 2022 | Jalen Hurts | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| 2023 | Lamar Jackson (2) | Quarterback | Baltimore Ravens | |
| 2024 | Saquon Barkley | Running back | Philadelphia Eagles | |