NFL MVP Winners: List of Every Winner by Year

Lance Fernandez lists all Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player winners since 1957 and discusses how the voting process for NFL MVP changed since 2022.

The National Football League has recognized its best player since 1938, starting with the Joe F. Carr Trophy. After this, the United Press International and The Sporting News began to name their Most Valuable Player in 1948 and 1954, respectively.

However, the official MVP winner didn't start until 1957 when the Associated Press chose the winner of the prestigious individual award. Before the 2022 season, 50 sportswriters placed a single vote on who they think deserves to win.

The process changed that year when the sportswriters submitted five names for MVP, with the first getting the most points. Regardless of the change, these superstars and legends have solid cases for winning NFL MVP.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings
• 2025 NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings

List of Associated Press NFL MVP Winners

Lamar Jackson.

Your 2-time NFL MVP!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/YnxmBBx3sy

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) February 9, 2024

1957 – Jim Brown, running back (Cleveland Browns)
1958 – Jim Brown, running back (Cleveland Browns)
1959 – Johnny Unitas, quarterback (Baltimore Colts)
1960 – Norm Van Brocklin, quarterback (Philadelphia Eagles)
1961 – Paul Hornung, running back (Green Bay Packers)
1962 – Jim Taylor, running back (Green Bay Packers)
1963 – Y.A. Tittle, quarterback (New York Giants)
1964 – Johnny Unitas, quarterback (Baltimore Colts)
1965 – Jim Brown, running back (Cleveland Browns)
1966 – Bart Starr, quarterback (Green Bay Packers)
1967 – Johnny Unitas, quarterback (Baltimore Colts)
1968 – Earl Morrall, quarterback (Baltimore Colts)
1969 – Roman Gabriel, quarterback (Los Angeles Rams)
1970 – John Brodie, quarterback (San Francisco 49ers)
1971 – Alan Page, defensive tackle (Minnesota Vikings)
1972 – Larry Brown, running back (Washington Redskins)
1973 – O.J. Simpson, running back (Buffalo Bills)
1974 – Ken Stabler, quarterback (Oakland Raiders)
1975 – Fran Tarkenton, quarterback (Minnesota Vikings)
1976 – Bert Jones, quarterback (Baltimore Colts)
1977 – Walter Payton, running back (Chicago Bears)
1978 – Terry Bradshaw, quarterback (Pittsburgh Steelers)
1979 – Earl Campbell, running back (Houston Oilers)
1980 – Brian Sipe, quarterback (Cleveland Browns)
1981 – Ken Anderson, quarterback (Cincinnati Bengals)
1982 – Mark Moseley, placekicker (Washington Redskins)
1983 – Joe Theismann, quarterback (Washington Redskins)
1984 – Dan Marino, quarterback (Miami Dolphins)
1985 – Marcus Allen, running back (Los Angeles Raiders)
1986 – Lawrence Taylor, linebacker (New York Giants)
1987 – John Elway, quarterback (Denver Broncos)
1988 – Boomer Esiason, quarterback (Cincinnati Bengals)
1989 – Joe Montana, quarterback (San Francisco 49ers)
1990 – Joe Montana, quarterback (San Francisco 49ers)
1991 – Thurman Thomas, running back (Buffalo Bills)
1992 – Steve Young, quarterback (San Francisco 49ers)
1993 – Emmitt Smith, running back (Dallas Cowboys)
1994 – Steve Young, quarterback (San Francisco 49ers)
1995 – Brett Favre, quarterback (Green Bay Packers)
1996 – Brett Favre, quarterback (Green Bay Packers)
1997 – Brett Favre, quarterback (Green Bay Packers); and Barry Sanders, running back (Detroit Lions)
1998 – Terrell Davis, running back (Denver Broncos)
1999 – Kurt Warner, quarterback (St. Louis Rams)
2000 – Marshall Faulk, running back (St. Louis Rams)
2001 – Kurt Warner, quarterback (St. Louis Rams)
2002 – Rich Gannon, quarterback (Oakland Raiders)
2003 – Peyton Manning, quarterback (Indianapolis Colts); and Steve McNair, quarterback (Tennessee Titans)
2004 – Peyton Manning, quarterback (Indianapolis Colts)
2005 – Shaun Alexander, running back (Seattle Seahawks)
2006 – LaDainian Tomlinson, running back (San Diego Chargers)
2007 – Tom Brady, quarterback (New England Patriots)
2008 – Peyton Manning, quarterback (Indianapolis Colts)
2009 – Peyton Manning, quarterback (Indianapolis Colts)
2010 – Tom Brady, quarterback (New England Patriots)
2011 – Aaron Rodgers, quarterback (Green Bay Packers)
2012 – Adrian Peterson, running back (Minnesota Vikings)
2013 – Peyton Manning, quarterback (Denver Broncos)
2014 – Aaron Rodgers, quarterback (Green Bay Packers)
2015 – Cam Newton, quarterback (Carolina Panthers)
2016 – Matt Ryan, quarterback (Atlanta Falcons)
2017 – Tom Brady, quarterback (New England Patriots)
2018 – Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (Kansas City Chiefs)
2019 – Lamar Jackson, quarterback (Baltimore Ravens)
2020 – Aaron Rodgers, quarterback (Green Bay Packers)
2021 – Aaron Rodgers, quarterback (Green Bay Packers)
2022 – Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (Kansas City Chiefs)
2023 – Lamar Jackson, quarterback (Baltimore Ravens)


Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis