# List of NFL Comeback Player of the Year awards

A number of NFL Comeback Player of the Year awards are given to National Football League (NFL) players who have demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury or other circumstances that led them to miss playing time the previous season. The awards have been presented by several organizations, including the Associated Press (AP), Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA), Sporting News, and United Press International (UPI).

## Associated Press

From 1963 to 1966, the award was given by the Associated Press (AP) to both an NFL and AFL player. No award was given between 1966 and 1998. Paul Lowe, Chad Pennington, and Joe Burrow are the only recipients of the award to have won twice.
AP Comeback Player of the Year :
| Year | Player | Position | Team |
| 1963 | Jim Martin | Kicker | Baltimore Colts |
| 1963 | Paul Lowe | Running back | San Diego Chargers |
| 1964 | Lenny Moore | Running back | Baltimore Colts |
| 1964 | Abner Haynes | Running back | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1965 | John Brodie | Quarterback | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1965 | Paul Lowe (2) | Running back | San Diego Chargers |
| 1966 | Dick Bass | Running back | Los Angeles Rams |
| 1966 | Babe Parilli | Quarterback | Boston Patriots |
| No award given between 1967 and 1997 ||||
| 1998 | Doug Flutie | Quarterback | Buffalo Bills |
| 1999 | Bryant Young | Defensive tackle | San Francisco 49ers |
| 2000 | Joe Johnson | Defensive end | New Orleans Saints |
| 2001 | Garrison Hearst | Running back | San Francisco 49ers |
| 2002 | Tommy Maddox | Quarterback | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2003 | Jon Kitna | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 2004 | Drew Brees | Quarterback | San Diego Chargers |
| 2005 | Tedy Bruschi | Linebacker | New England Patriots |
| 2005 | Steve Smith Sr. | Wide receiver | Carolina Panthers |
| 2006 | Chad Pennington | Quarterback | New York Jets |
| 2007 | Greg Ellis | Defensive end | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2008 | Chad Pennington (2) | Quarterback | Miami Dolphins |
| 2009 | Tom Brady | Quarterback | New England Patriots |
| 2010 | Michael Vick | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 2011 | Matthew Stafford | Quarterback | Detroit Lions |
| 2012 | Peyton Manning | Quarterback | Denver Broncos |
| 2013 | Philip Rivers | Quarterback | San Diego Chargers |
| 2014 | Rob Gronkowski | Tight end | New England Patriots |
| 2015 | Eric Berry | Safety | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2016 | Jordy Nelson | Wide receiver | Green Bay Packers |
| 2017 | Keenan Allen | Wide receiver | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 2018 | Andrew Luck | Quarterback | Indianapolis Colts |
| 2019 | Ryan Tannehill | Quarterback | Tennessee Titans |
| 2020 | Alex Smith | Quarterback | Washington Football Team |
| 2021 | Joe Burrow | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 2022 | Geno Smith | Quarterback | Seattle Seahawks |
| 2023 | Joe Flacco | Quarterback | Cleveland Browns |
| 2024 | Joe Burrow (2) | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals |

## Pro Football Weekly / Pro Football Writers Association

From 1972 to 1991, the Comeback Player of the Year award was presented by Pro Football Weekly (PFW) only. PFW and the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) combined their awards from 1992 to 2012.
| Season | Player | Team | Position |
| 1972 | Earl Morrall | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback |
| 1973 | Roman Gabriel | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback |
| 1974 | Joe Namath | New York Jets | Quarterback |
| 1975 | Dave Hampton | Atlanta Falcons | Running back |
| 1976 | Greg Landry | Detroit Lions | Quarterback |
| 1977 | Craig Morton | Denver Broncos | Quarterback |
| 1978 | John Riggins | Washington Redskins | Running back |
| 1979 | Larry Csonka | Miami Dolphins | Fullback |
| 1980 | Jim Plunkett | Oakland Raiders | Quarterback |
| 1981 | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback |
| 1982 | Lyle Alzado | Los Angeles Raiders | Defensive end |
| 1983 | Billy Johnson | Atlanta Falcons | Wide receiver |
| 1984 | John Stallworth | Pittsburgh Steelers | Wide receiver |
| 1985 | No award given | No award given | No award given |
| 1986 | Joe Montana | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback |
| 1986 | Tommy Kramer | Minnesota Vikings | Quarterback |
| 1987 | Charles White | Los Angeles Rams | Running back |
| 1988 | Greg Bell | Los Angeles Rams | Running back |
| 1989 | Ottis Anderson | New York Giants | Running back |
| 1990 | Barry Word | Kansas City Chiefs | Running back |
| 1991 | Jim McMahon | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback |
| 1992 | Randall Cunningham | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback |
| 1993 | Marcus Allen | Kansas City Chiefs | Running back |
| 1994 | Dan Marino | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback |
| 1995 | Jim Harbaugh | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback |
| 1995 | Garrison Hearst | Arizona Cardinals | Running back |
| 1996 | Jerome Bettis | Pittsburgh Steelers | Running back |
| 1997 | Robert Brooks | Green Bay Packers | Wide receiver |
| 1998 | Doug Flutie | Buffalo Bills | Quarterback |
| 1999 | Bryant Young | San Francisco 49ers | Defensive tackle |
| 2000 | Joe Johnson | New Orleans Saints | Defensive end |
| 2001 | Garrison Hearst (2) | San Francisco 49ers | Running back |
| 2002 | Tommy Maddox | Pittsburgh Steelers | Quarterback |
| 2003 | Jon Kitna | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback |
| 2004 | Willis McGahee | Buffalo Bills | Running back |
| 2005 | Steve Smith | Carolina Panthers | Wide receiver |
| 2006 | Chad Pennington | New York Jets | Quarterback |
| 2007 | Randy Moss | New England Patriots | Wide receiver |
| 2008 | Chad Pennington (2) | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback |
| 2009 | Tom Brady | New England Patriots | Quarterback |
| 2010 | Michael Vick | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback |
| 2011 | Matthew Stafford | Detroit Lions | Quarterback |
| 2012 | Adrian Peterson | Minnesota Vikings | Running Back |
| 2013 | Philip Rivers | San Diego Chargers | Quarterback |
| 2014 | Rob Gronkowski | New England Patriots | Tight end |
| 2015 | Eric Berry | Kansas City Chiefs | Safety |
| 2016 | Jordy Nelson | Green Bay Packers | Wide receiver |
| 2017 | Keenan Allen | Los Angeles Chargers | Wide receiver |
| 2018 | Andrew Luck | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback |
| 2019 | Ryan Tannehill | Tennessee Titans | Quarterback |
| 2020 | Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills | Quarterback |
| 2021 | Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback |
| 2022 | Geno Smith | Seattle Seahawks | Quarterback |
| 2023 | Damar Hamlin | Buffalo Bills | Safety |
| 2024 | Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback |

## Sporting News

* 2008 — Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* 2009 — Vince Young, QB, Tennessee Titans
* 2010 — Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
* 2011 — Plaxico Burress, WR, New York Jets
* 2012 — Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings
* 2013 — Darrelle Revis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* 2014 — Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
* 2015 — Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals
* 2016 — Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers
* 2017 — Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
* 2018 — Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
* 2019 — Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, San Francisco 49ers
* 2020 — Alex Smith, QB, Washington Football Team
* 2021 — Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
* 2022 — Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks
* 2023 — Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
* 2024 — Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

## UPI

In 1962, United Press International (UPI) chose a comeback player for the first time. The winner, Frank Gifford, had made a comeback from a devastating injury from a hit by Chuck Bednarik. The following year, the Associated Press (AP) established a similar award. UPI discontinued the award after 1963, with the exception of 1969. The AP did not give out the award from 1967 to 1998, when the award was reinstituted and given to Doug Flutie.
* 1962 Frank Gifford, WR, New York Giants
* 1963 Ed Brown, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
* 1964–1968 No award given
* 1969 Gale Sayers, RB, Chicago Bears