NFL Most Valuable Player Award The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award ( NFL MVP ) is given by various entities , most notably the Associated Press ( AP ) , to the player who is considered most valuable in the league . When the award is referred to without mentioning the organization , it generally means the AP award . The AP NFL MVP has been shared twice , in 1997 and 2003 . Peyton Manning has won the award four times in his career , the most of any NFL player . Jim Brown , Johnny Unitas , and Brett Favre all were named MVP three times , while Joe Montana , Steve Young , Kurt Warner and Tom Brady each won the award twice . The winners of the AP award have overwhelmingly been quarterbacks and running backs ; the only defensive players to win the AP award were Alan Page and Lawrence Taylor , and the only special teams player was Mark Moseley . On January 2 , 2009 , the AP stated that their version of MVP award began in 1961 . It is possible that this is a reaction to an article published at " Pro Football Weekly " that suggests the AP awards as listed by the AP were incorrect . As recently as the morning ( EST ) of January 2 , 2009 , the AP 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 put out by the AP , 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 an article by " Pro Football Weekly " , the terms " Player of the Year " and " Most Valuable Player " were generally interchangeable at the time . Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL MVP Award . This award ran from 1955 through 1996 and was by a poll of NFL players . The award winner is presented with the Jim Thorpe Trophy ( not to be confused with collegiate football ' s Jim Thorpe Award ) . Beginning in 1997 the Jim Thorpe 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 - 79 " The Sporting News " chose AFC and NFC players of the year , returning to an NFL - wide choice in 1980 . 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 .