# The Sporting News NFL Player of the Year

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

| Season | Player | Team | Position |
| 1954 | Lou Groza | Cleveland Browns | Tackle, kicker |
| 1955 | Otto Graham | Cleveland Browns | Quarterback |
| 1956 | Frank Gifford | New York Giants | Running back |
| 1957 | Jim Brown | Cleveland Browns | Fullback |
| 1958 | Jim Brown (2) | Cleveland Browns | Fullback |
| 1959 | Johnny Unitas | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback |
| 1960 | Norm Van Brocklin | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback |
| 1961 | Paul Hornung | Green Bay Packers | Running back |
| 1962 | Y. A. Tittle | New York Giants | Quarterback |
| 1963 | Y. A. Tittle (2) | New York Giants | Quarterback |
| 1964 | Johnny Unitas (2) | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback |
| 1965 | Jim Brown (3) | Cleveland Browns | Running back |
| 1966 | Bart Starr | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback |
| 1967 | Johnny Unitas (3) | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback |
| 1968 | Earl Morrall | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback |
| 1969 | Roman Gabriel | Los Angeles Rams | Quarterback |
| 1970 | NFC- John Brodie AFC- George Blanda | San Francisco 49ers Oakland Raiders | Quarterback Quarterback, kicker |
| 1971 | NFC- Roger Staubach AFC- Bob Griese | Dallas Cowboys Miami Dolphins | Quarterback Quarterback |
| 1972 | NFC- Larry Brown AFC- Earl Morrall (2) | Washington Redskins Miami Dolphins | Running back Quarterback |
| 1973 | NFC- John Hadl AFC- O. J. Simpson | Los Angeles Rams Buffalo Bills | Quarterback Running back |
| 1974 | NFC- Chuck Foreman AFC- Ken Stabler | Minnesota Vikings Oakland Raiders | Running back Quarterback |
| 1975 | NFC- Fran Tarkenton AFC- O. J. Simpson (2) | Minnesota Vikings Buffalo Bills | Quarterback Running back |
| 1976 | NFC- Walter Payton AFC- Ken Stabler (2) | Chicago Bears Oakland Raiders | Running back Quarterback |
| 1977 | NFC- Walter Payton (2) AFC- Craig Morton | Chicago Bears Denver Broncos | Running back Quarterback |
| 1978 | NFC- Archie Manning AFC- Earl Campbell | New Orleans Saints Houston Oilers | Quarterback Running back |
| 1979 | NFC- Ottis Anderson AFC- Dan Fouts | St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Chargers | Running back Quarterback |
| 1980 | Brian Sipe | Cleveland Browns | Quarterback |
| 1981 | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback |
| 1982 | Mark Moseley | Washington Redskins | Kicker |
| 1983 | Eric Dickerson | Los Angeles Rams | Running back |
| 1984 | Dan Marino | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback |
| 1985 | Marcus Allen | Los Angeles Raiders | Running back |
| 1986 | Lawrence Taylor | New York Giants | Linebacker |
| 1987 | Jerry Rice | San Francisco 49ers | Wide receiver |
| 1988 | Boomer Esiason | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback |
| 1989 | Joe Montana | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback |
| 1990 | Jerry Rice (2) | San Francisco 49ers | Wide receiver |
| 1991 | Thurman Thomas | Buffalo Bills | Running back |
| 1992 | Steve Young | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback |
| 1993 | Emmitt Smith | Dallas Cowboys | Running back |
| 1994 | Steve Young (2) | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback |
| 1995 | Brett Favre | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback |
| 1996 | Brett Favre (2) | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback |
| 1997 | Barry Sanders | Detroit Lions | Running back |
| 1998 | Terrell Davis | Denver Broncos | Running back |
| 1999 | Kurt Warner | St. Louis Rams | Quarterback |
| 2000 | Marshall Faulk | St. Louis Rams | Running back |
| 2001 | Marshall Faulk (2) | St. Louis Rams | Running back |
| 2002 | Rich Gannon | Oakland Raiders | Quarterback |
| 2003 | Peyton Manning | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback |
| 2004 | Peyton Manning (2) | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback |
| 2005 | Shaun Alexander | Seattle Seahawks | Running back |
| 2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson | San Diego Chargers | Running back |
| 2007 | Tom Brady | New England Patriots | Quarterback |
| 2008 | Offense – Drew Brees Defense – Albert Haynesworth | New Orleans Saints Tennessee Titans | Quarterback Defensive tackle |
| 2009 | Offense – Drew Brees (2) Defense – Charles Woodson | New Orleans Saints Green Bay Packers | Quarterback Cornerback |
| 2010 | Offense – Tom Brady (2) Defense – Clay Matthews | New England Patriots Green Bay Packers | Quarterback Linebacker |
| 2011 | Offense - Aaron Rodgers Defense - Jared Allen | Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings | Quarterback Defensive end |
| 2012 | Offense - Adrian Peterson Defense - J. J. Watt | Minnesota Vikings Houston Texans | Running back Defensive end |
| 2013 | Offense - Peyton Manning (3) Defense - Luke Kuechly | Denver Broncos Carolina Panthers | Quarterback Linebacker |
| 2014 | Offense - Aaron Rodgers (2) Defense - J. J. Watt (2) | Green Bay Packers Houston Texans | Quarterback Defensive end |
| 2015 | Offense - Cam Newton Defense - J. J. Watt (3) | Carolina Panthers Houston Texans | Quarterback Defensive end |
| 2016 | Offense - Tom Brady (3) Defense - Khalil Mack | New England Patriots Oakland Raiders | Quarterback Defensive end |
| 2017 | Offense - Antonio Brown Defense - Calais Campbell | Pittsburgh Steelers Jacksonville Jaguars | Quarterback Defensive end |
| 2018 | Offense - Patrick Mahomes Defense - Aaron Donald | Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Rams | Quarterback Defensive tackle |
| 2019 | Offense - Lamar Jackson Defense - Stephon Gilmore | Baltimore Ravens New England Patriots | Quarterback Cornerback |
| 2020 | Offense - Patrick Mahomes (2) Defense - Aaron Donald (2) | Kansas City Chiefs Los Angeles Rams | Quarterback Defensive tackle |
| 2021 | Offense - Jonathan Taylor Defense - T. J. Watt | Indianapolis Colts Pittsburgh Steelers | Running back Linebacker |
| 2022 | Offense - Justin Jefferson Defense - Nick Bosa | Minnesota Vikings San Francisco 49ers | Wide receiver Defensive end |
| 2023 | Offense - Tyreek Hill Defense - Myles Garrett | Miami Dolphins Cleveland Browns | Wide receiver Defensive end |
| 2024 | Offense - Saquon Barkley Defense - Myles Garrett (2) | Philadelphia Eagles Cleveland Browns | Running back Defensive end |