National Football League Alumni The NFL Alumni is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) charity that is composed of former NFL players and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth - oriented causes and engage in hands - on service to foster the development of " youth through sports and sports through youth . " The NFL Alumni advances its motto of " Caring for Kids " from its national headquarters in Newark , NJ ' s 1 Washington Park building , and an additional 30 chapters across the country . The NFL Alumni is a dues - paying membership association . Anyone who ever played professional football qualifies to join as a Professional Member . Individuals who did not play in the NFL may enroll as Associate Members . ESPN . com The cornerstone of the NFL Alumni ' s fundraising efforts is its Charity Golf Classic Tour which began in 1979 . Among its programs for former players is the Dire Need Trust that provides financial assistance for former NFL players in need . Another program is the Pro Legends Speakers Bureau which books former NFL players for personal appearances around the country . Since 1982 the NFL Alumni has held the Player of the Year Awards Dinner honoring the top 10 players and coach from the previous NFL season . The players are honored by a unique voting process in which former players cast ballots for their modern counterparts . Former pros vote only for the positions they once played themselves . 2010 Player of the Year winners . OFFENSE DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS OVERALL COACH 2009 Player of the Year winners . OFFENSE DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS COACH 2008 Player of the Year Awards . OFFENSE DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS COACH 2007 Player of the Year winners . OFFENSE DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS COACH 2006 Player of the Year winners . OFFENSE DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS COACH In addition to the Player of the Year Awards , the NFL Alumni also honors past or current players with its Spirit Award for youth - oriented community service , Order of the Leather Helmet Award for individuals who " have made significant contributions to the game of professional football " and the Career Achievement Award given to those " whose accomplishments on and off the field demonstrate the higher values promoted by the organization . " The winner of the 2010 Spirit Award was Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones . NFL Alumni Order of the Leather Helmet . Awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of professional football . 1978 Pete Rozelle George Halas Art Rooney 1979 Paul Brown Red Grange Bronko Nagurski 1980 Don Shula Wellington Mara Dominic Olejniczak Pro Football Hall of Fame 1981 Lamar Hunt Tom Landry 1982 Bill Bidwill Alex Wojciechowicz Bud Grant 1983 F . William Harder LeRoy Neiman 1985 George Preston Marshall Weeb Ewbank 1986 Howard Cosell Vince Lombardi Vic Maitland 1987 Ray Scott Steve Sabol Ed Sabol Bert Bell 1988 Raymond Berry 1989 Tex Schramm 1990 Bill Dudley Ollie Matson Steve Van Buren 1991 Hugh McElhenny 1992 Chuck Bednarik Art Modell 1993 Elroy Hirsch Marion Motley 1994 Sid Luckman Sammy Baugh 1995 Otto Graham Chuck Noll 1996 Johnny Unitas Curt Gowdy 1997 Pat Summerall Ralph Wilson 1998 Jim Brown Al Davis 1999 Bobby Mitchell Paul Tagliabue 2000 Len Dawson Deacon Jones 2001 Mike McCormack Mel Renfro 2002 Mel Blount Jim Otto Jim Tunney 2003 Tom Flores Willie Davis 2004 Dick Vermeil Val Pinchbeck Don Weiss 2005 Larry Wilson Joe Greene 2007 Sonny Jurgensen Jack Youngblood 2008 Eric Dickerson John Madden Alex Spanos NFL Alumni Career Achievement Award . Awarded to individuals whose accomplishments on and off the field demonstrate the higher values promoted by the organization . 1981 Rocky Bleier Roger Staubach 1982 Merlin Olsen O . J . Simpson 1983 George Blanda Earl Morrall 1985 Frank Gifford Jack Kemp 1986 Dan Fortmann Ray Nitschke 1987 Willie Davis Don Hutson 1988 Art Donovan 1989 Bart Starr 1990 Nick Buoniconti 1992 Ken Farragut 1993 Gino Marchetti 1994 Byron White 1995 Alan Page 1996 Mike Reid 1997 Jerry Richardson 1998 Dr . Robert Khayat 1999 Dr . Ed Sutton 2000 Paul Salata 2001 Terry Bradshaw 2002 Steve Largent 2003 Fred Dryer 2004 Bob Griese 2005 Drew Pearson 2007 Mike Haynes