AP NFL Offensive Player Of The Year Award
Every winner of the award has been either a running back or a quarterback, with the exception of wide receivers Jerry Rice, Michael Thomas, Cooper Kupp, and Justin Jefferson Running backs have been awarded 26 times, followed by quarterbacks, with 20 awards. Of the 49 winners, 28 were also named the AP NFL Most Valuable Player in the same season. Since 2011, both awards have been given out at the annual NFL Honors ceremony along with other AP awards, including the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award and AP NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards.
Players are often awarded after record-breaking or near-record-breaking offensive seasons. Running back O. J. Simpson won the award for 1973 after rushing for a record 2,003 yards, becoming the first NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. When his record was broken by Eric Dickerson in 1984, Dickerson placed second in voting behind quarterback Dan Marino, who that year was the first to pass for 5,000 yards in a season. Marino's 5,084 yards stood as the record for 27 years before being broken by Drew Brees in 2011, who won that season's award. In turn, 2013 winner Peyton Manning set league single-season records for passing yards (5,477) and passing touchdowns (55).
Winners
![Tomlinson running with the football, attempting to evade two defenders](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/LaDainian_Tomlinson_vs_Cleveland_%28cropped%29.jpg/280px-LaDainian_Tomlinson_vs_Cleveland_%28cropped%29.jpg)
![Peterson in full uniform walking on the field](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Adrian_Peterson.jpg/220px-Adrian_Peterson.jpg)
Multiple-time winners
Player | Awards | Position | Team | Seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|
Earl Campbell | 3 | Running back | Houston Oilers | 1978, 1979, 1980 |
Marshall Faulk | 3 | Running back | St. Louis Rams | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Jerry Rice | 2 | Wide receiver | San Francisco 49ers | 1987, 1993 |
Barry Sanders | 2 | Running back | Detroit Lions | 1994, 1997 |
Terrell Davis | 2 | Running back | Denver Broncos | 1996, 1998 |
Tom Brady | 2 | Quarterback | New England Patriots | 2007, 2010 |
Drew Brees | 2 | Quarterback | New Orleans Saints | 2008, 2011 |
Peyton Manning | 2 | Quarterback | Indianapolis Colts Denver Broncos |
2004, 2013 |
See also
- Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
- Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
- FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year
- Kansas City Committee of 101 AFC and NFC Offensive Players of the Year
- National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award, overview of all NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards