National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award

The National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award is a number of awards that are given to a National Football League (NFL) player who has become better after a bad season before. The awards have been chosen by some groups, including the Associated Press (AP), Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA), Sporting News, and United Press International (UPI). As of the 2022 season, Chad Pennington has been the only player to have won the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award in multiple seasons.

AP Comeback Player of the Year award (1963–1966, 1998–present)
From 1963 to 1966, the award was given to both an NFL and AFL player. No award was given between 1966 and 1998.

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AP Comeback Player of the YearYearPlayerPositionTeam1963Jim MartinKickerBaltimore ColtsPaul LoweRunning backSan Diego Chargers1964Lenny MooreBaltimore ColtsAbner HaynesKansas City Chiefs1965John BrodieQuarterbackSan Francisco 49ersPaul Lowe (2)Running backSan Diego Chargers1966Dick BassLos Angeles RamsBabe ParilliQuarterbackBoston PatriotsNo award given between 1967 and 19971998Doug FlutieQuarterbackBuffalo Bills1999Bryant YoungDefensive tackleSan Francisco 49ers2000Joe JohnsonDefensive endNew Orleans Saints2001Garrison HearstRunning backSan Francisco 49ers2002Tommy MaddoxQuarterbackPittsburgh Steelers2003Jon KitnaCincinnati Bengals2004Drew BreesSan Diego Chargers2005Tedy BruschiLinebackerNew England PatriotsSteve Smith Sr.Wide receiverCarolina Panthers2006Chad PenningtonQuarterbackNew York Jets2007Greg EllisDefensive endDallas Cowboys2008Chad Pennington (2)QuarterbackMiami Dolphins2009Tom BradyNew England Patriots2010Michael VickPhiladelphia Eagles2011Matthew StaffordDetroit Lions2012Peyton ManningDenver Broncos2013Philip RiversSan Diego Chargers2014Rob GronkowskiTight endNew England Patriots2015Eric BerrySafetyKansas City Chiefs2016Jordy NelsonWide receiverGreen Bay Packers2017Keenan AllenLos Angeles Chargers2018Andrew LuckQuarterbackIndianapolis Colts2019Ryan TannehillTennessee Titans2020Alex SmithWashington Football Team2021Joe BurrowCincinnati Bengals2022Geno SmithSeattle Seahawks

PFW/PFWA Comeback Player of the Year award (1972–present)
From 1972 to 1991, the Comeback Player of the Year award was given by Pro Football Weekly (PFW) only. PFW and the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) combined their awards from 1992–2012.

 Season  Player  Team  Position 1972  Earl Morrall  Miami Dolphins Quarterback 1973  Roman Gabriel  Philadelphia Eagles 1974  Joe Namath  New York Jets 1975  Dave Hampton  Atlanta Falcons  Running back 1976  Greg Landry  Detroit Lions  Quarterback 1977  Craig Morton  Denver Broncos 1978  John Riggins  Washington Redskins  Running back 1979  Larry Csonka  Miami Dolphins  Fullback 1980  Jim Plunkett  Oakland Raiders  Quarterback 1981  Ken Anderson  Cincinnati Bengals 1982  Lyle Alzado  Los Angeles Raiders  Defensive end 1983  Billy Johnson  Atlanta Falcons  Wide receiver 1984  John Stallworth  Pittsburgh Steelers 1985 1986  Joe Montana  San Francisco 49ers  Quarterback Tommy KramerMinnesota Vikings1987 Charles White Los Angeles Rams Running back 1988 Greg Bell Los Angeles Rams 1989 Ottis Anderson New York Giants1990 Barry Word Kansas City Chiefs1991 Jim McMahon Philadelphia Eagles  Quarterback 1992  Randall Cunningham 1993  Marcus Allen  Kansas City Chiefs  Running back 1994  Dan Marino  Miami Dolphins  Quarterback 1995  Jim Harbaugh  Indianapolis Colts Garrison HearstArizona CardinalsRunning back1996  Jerome Bettis  Pittsburgh Steelers 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 2004  Willis McGahee  Buffalo Bills Running back2005  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 2010  Michael Vick  Philadelphia Eagles 2011  Matthew Stafford  Detroit Lions 2012  Peyton Manning  Denver Broncos 2013  Philip Rivers  San Diego Chargers 2014  Rob Gronkowski  New England Patriots  Tight end 2015  Eric Berry  Kansas City Chiefs  Safety2016  Jordy Nelson  Green Bay Packers  Wide receiver 2017  Keenan Allen  Los Angeles Chargers 2018  Andrew Luck  Indianapolis Colts  Quarterback2019  Ryan Tannehill  Tennessee Titans2020  Alex Smith  Washington Football Team2021  Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals2022  Geno Smith Seattle Seahawks 

UPI Comeback Player of the Year award (1962–1969)
In 1962, United Press International (UPI) chose a comeback player for the first time. The winner, Frank Gifford, had made a comeback from a bad injury from a hit by Chuck Bednarik. The following year, the Associated Press (AP) made a similar award. UPI stopped the award after 1963. They gave it one more time in 1969. The AP did not give out the award from 1967 to 1998.

1962 Frank Gifford, WR, New York GiantsUnited Press International (1-04-1963). NFL Comeback-of-the-Year Award Voted to Frank Gifford of Giants  Hartford Courant, Hartford CT. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
1963 Ed Brown, QB, Pittsburgh SteelersUnited Press International. (12-21-1963).Steelers' Brown Comeback Winner Lodi News-Sentinel. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
1964–1968 No award given
1969 Gale Sayers, RB, Chicago Bears

Sporting News NFL Comeback Player of the Year award
 2008 — Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay BuccaneersSporting News. (January 15, 2009). SN's Comeback Player of the Year: Antonio Bryant Sporting News Retrieved 12-20-2009.
 2009 — Vince Young, QB, Tennessee TitansSporting News. (January 14, 2010). Titans QB Vince Young voted Sporting News 2009 NFL Comeback Player of the Year  Sporting News Retrieved 12-20-2009.
 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

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Category:National Football League trophies and awards