National Football League Most Valuable Player Award The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award ( NFL MVP ) is an award given by various entities to the American football player who is considered most valuable in the National Football League . Today , when the award is referred to without mentioning the awarding entity , that of the Associated Press is generally meant . Associated Press NFL POY / MVP Award . The AP NFL MVP has been shared twice , in 1997 and 2003 . Peyton Manning has won the award four times , the most of any player . Jim Brown , Johnny Unitas , and Brett Favre were named MVP three times , while Joe Montana , Steve Young , Kurt Warner , and Tom Brady have each won the award twice . Most awardees have been quarterbacks and running backs ; the only defensive players to be so honored have been Alan Page and Lawrence Taylor , and the only special teams player was Mark Moseley . Confusion . On January 1 , 2008 , the AP stated that it awarded its first MVP in 1961 . It is possible that this is a reaction to an article in " Pro Football Weekly " that suggests the AP ' s listing of its awards was incorrect . As recently as the morning ( EST ) of the same date , the AP ' s web site listed the 1957 MVP as Jim Brown , the 1958 MVP as Gino Marchetti , the 1959 MVP as Charlie Conerly , and the 1960 co - MVPs as Norm Van Brocklin and Joe Schmidt . The " Pro Football Weekly . com " article disputes the 1958 , 1959 , and 1960 winners . Since , as the " PFW " article points out , the AP began using the term " MVP " in 1961 , it seems the pre - 1960 winners are no longer considered " MVPs " but " Players of the Year " . Adding to the confusion , the 1962 winner , Jim Taylor ( in the story that moved across the AP wire in 1962 ) was the " Player of the Year " , not the " Most Valuable Player " . In 1963 the term " MVP " was used once again . According to another article by " Pro Football Weekly " , the terms " Player of the Year " and " Most Valuable Player " were interchangeable at the time . Awardees . To sort table , click on heading . Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL MVP Award . The Newspaper Enterprise Association presented an MVP award from 1955 through 1996 , decided by a poll of NFL players . The award winner receives the Jim Thorpe Trophy ( not to be confused with collegiate football ' s Jim Thorpe Award ) . Beginning in 1997 , the trophy was presented by the Jim Thorpe Association , with the winner determined by a " vote of NFLPA representatives " . " The Sporting News " NFL MVP Award . Beginning in 1954 , " The Sporting News " NFL MVP is still in existence . From 1970 to 1979 " The Sporting News " chose AFC and NFC players of the year , returning to an NFL - wide choice in 1980 . Bert Bell Award . The Bert Bell Award is presented annually to the NFL MVP by the Maxwell Club . Joe F . Carr Trophy . The NFL awarded the Joe F . Carr Trophy ( named after the league president , 1921 – 39 ) to the league ' s MVP from 1938 to 1946 . " Football Digest " NFL MVP Award . " Football Digest " named an NFL Most Valuable Player from 1973 to 1988 . Miller Lite NFL Player of the Year . Award discontinued after 2006 . United Press International NFL POY Award . United Press International gave an NFL Player of the Year Award from 1948 through 1969 , excepting 1949 - 50 , and 1952 . In 1970 UPI instituted separate awards for the NFC and AFC . In 1975 UPI added a Defensive Player of the Year Award for both the NFC and AFC .