The NFL MVP Award officially took flight in 1961. A look at every winner of the award since its inception. Here are the winners of The AP NFL MVP Awards by year. There was no award given in 1962.
1961: Paul Hornung
The times were far different as were the stats. Paul Hornung rushed for 597 yards in 1961 and scored 8 TDs. He also caught 15 passes for 145 yards and 2 TDs. Oh, and he was the Green Bay kicker, making 15 field goals and connecting on all 41 PATs.
1963: Y.A. Tittle
Y.A. Tittle completed 60.2% of his passes in 1963 for 3,145 yards and a league-leading 36 TDs for the Giants.
1964: Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas threw for 2,824 yards and 19 TDs as Baltimore went 12-2.
1965: Jim Brown
Jim Brown led the league in rushing with 1,544 yards and 17 TDs. He averaged 110.3 yards per game and had a long run of 67 yards, both league-highs. This was his final year in the NFL.
1966: Bart Starr
Green Bay was 11-2 in Bart Starr’s 13 starts in 1966. The former Alabama QB threw for 2,257 yards and led the league in completion percentage at 62.2%.
1967: Johnny Unitas
Johnny Unitas threw for 3,428 yards and 20 TDs in 1967. He led the league in completion percentage at 58.5%.
1968: Earl Morrall
Earl Morrall was 13-1 as a Colts starter in 1968. He threw for 2,909 yards and a league-leading 26 TDs.
1969: Roman Gabriel
Roman Gabriel was a superstar for the Rams. The QB threw for 2,549 yards and a league-leading 24 TDs against 7 picks.
1970: John Brodie
John Brodie starred for the 49ers before they became a dynasty. He led the league in completions (223), yards (2,941) and TDs (24).
1971: Alan Page
Alan Page was one of the famous Purple People Eaters in Minnesota. He recovered 3 fumbles in 1971 and terrorized opposing offenses.
1972: Larry Brown
Larry Brown rushed for 1,216 yards and 8 TDs. He led the league with 101.3 ypg. He also had 32 receptions for 473 yards.
1973: O.J. Simpson
O.J. Simpson rushed for a record 2,003 yards in 1973. He also scored 12 TDs on the ground.
1974: Ken Stabler
Ken Stabler (pictured, right) threw a league-leading 26 TD passes and accounted for 2,469 yards pass for Oakland.
1975: Fran Tarkenton
Fran Tarkenton completed a league-leading 273 passes on 425 attempts and 25 TDs. The scrambling man had calmed down a bit as he only had 108 yards rushing.
1976: Bert Jones
Bert Jones came to Baltimore from LSU. He threw for a league-leading 3,104 yards in 1976. He completed 207 passes of which 24 went for TDs.
1977: Walter Payton
The great Walter Payton rushed a league-high 339 times for 1,852 yards and 14 TDs. He averaged 132.3 ypg.
1978: Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw won 4 Super Bowls. He also captured the MVP Award in 1978 when he threw for 2,915 yards and a league-leading 28 TDs.
1979: Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell was incredible. A power back supreme, the Tyler Rose led the NFL with 1,697 yards and 19 TDs in 1979.
1980: Brian Sipe
Brian Sipe completed 60.8% of his passes for 4,132 yards and 30 TDs in 1980.
1981: Ken Anderson
Another QB who called Ohio home, Ken Anderson, threw for 3,754 yards and 29 TDs while completing 300 passes.
1982: Mark Moseley
A kicker! A straight-on kicker, no less. Mark Moseley was the MVP in the strike-shortened year, connecting on 20-of-21 FGAs. He had 76 points in 9 games.
1983: Joe Theismann
Another Washington MVP. QB Joe Theismann threw for 3,714 yards and 29 TDs.
1984: Dan Marino
Dan Marino led the league in virtually every QB category in 1984. He was 362-for-564 with 5,084 yards in the air and 48 TDs.
1985: Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen rushed for a league-leading 1,759 yards and caught passes for another 555 yards.
1986: Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor was an incredible force for the Giants. LT had 20.5 sacks in 1986.
1987: John Elway
John Elway completed 224 passes for 3,198 yards and 19 TDs.
1988: Boomer Esiason
Boomer Esiason, the lefty from Maryland, threw for 3,572 yards and 28 TDs as he led the Bengals to a 12-4 mark.
1989: Joe Montana
Joe Montana was the QB masetro for the Niners. In his first of back-to-back awards, the Notre Damer completed 70.2% of his passes for 3,521 yards and 26 TDs.
1990: Joe Montana
Joe Montana followed his MVP season with another brilliant campaign, throwing for 3,944 yards while completing 61.7% of his passes. He also threw for 26 TDs.
1991: Thurman Thomas
Thurman Thomas was the heart of the Bills’ run game. He rushed for 1,407 yards. He also was a major target for Jim Kelly, catching passes for another 631.
1992: Steve Young
Steve Young joined the 49ers’ MVP club. The BYU star completed two-thirds of his 402 passes for 3,465 yards and 25 TDs. He also rushed for 537 yards at a 7.1 ypc clip.
1993: Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith missed the first two games due to a holdout. He still rushed for 1,486 yards and caught passes for another 414 when he returned.
1994: Steve Young
Steve Young returns. He threw 35 TD passes, completing 70.3% of his throws for 3,969 yards. Young added nearly 300 yards rushing and 7 TDs on the ground.
1995: Brett Favre
The Brett Favre show begins. He threw for 4,413 yards and 38 TDs while completing a league-leading 63% of his 551 passes.
1996: Brett Favre
Favre is back at it again, throwing for 3,899 yards and 39 TDs.
1997: Brett Favre, Barry Sanders
Favre had to share the award with Barry Sanders despite throwing for 3,867 yards and another 35 TDs. Sanders rushed for 2,053 yards and 11 TDs to earn his share of the award.
1998: Terrell Davis
Another 2,000-yard rusher as Terrell Davis went for a league-leading 2,008 yards and 21 TDs.
1999: Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner’s storybook career sees his first MVP Award. He throws for 4,353 yards and a league-leading 41 TDs as the Rams go 13-3.
2000: Marshall Faulk
Another Ram earns the MVP. Marshall Faulk rushed for 1,359 yards and 18 TDs and caught 81 passes for 830 yards and 8 more scores.
2001: Kurt Warner
Keeping it in the Ramily for the third straight season. Warner throws for a league-leading 4,830 yards while completing 68.7% of his passes. He also led the league with 36 TDs.
2002: Rich Gannon
Rich Gannon completes 418-of-618 passes for a league-high 4,689 yards and 26 TDs.
2003: Peyton Manning, Steve McNair
Another split as QBs Peyton Manning and Steve McNair share honors. McNair threw for 3,215 yards and 24 TDs. Manning went for 4,267 yards and 29 TDs.
2004: Peyton Manning
Manning, again. This time a solo honor as he throws for 4,557 yards and 49 TDs.
2005: Shaun Alexander
Shaun Aleander led the league in carries (370), yards (1,880), and TDs (27) for Seattle.
2006: LaDainian Tomlinson
Back-to-back RBs as San Diego’s LaDainian Tomlinson earns his honor. Tomlinson rushes for 1,815 yards and 28 TDs. He adds on 56 receptions for 508 yards.
2007: Tom Brady
Welcome to the club, Tom Brady. The G.O.A.T. throws 50 TD passes while going for 4,806 yards and completing 68.9% of his passes.
2008: Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is back and he is about to go back-to-back. This time he throws for 4,002 yards and 27 TDs.
2009: Peyton Manning
And Manning follows by throwing for 4,500 yards and 33 TDs.
2010: Tom Brady
A return to Tom Brady. The Pats’ QB throws for 3,900 yards and a league-leading 36 TDs.
2011: Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers joins Bart Starr and Brett Favre as NFL MVPs who played for Green Bay. Rodgers completes 343 passes for 4,643 yards and 45 TDs.
2012: Adrian Peterson
A running back slips into the QB show, again, as the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson goes for 2,097 yards and a dozen TDs.
2013: Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning earns honors for a second team, the Denver Broncos. He throws for 5,477 yards and 55 TDs at the age of 37,
2014: Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers doubles up. The Packers’ star throws for 4,381 yards and 38 TDs.
2015: Cam Newton
Cam Newton has his best season as a pro, throwing for 3,837 yards and 35 TDs as the Panthers go 15-1.
2016: Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan of the Falcons throws for 4,944 yards and 38 TDs as the Falcons go 11-5.
2017: Tom Brady
Tom Brady is back. He earns MVP honors at age 40 by throwing for 4,577 yards and 32 TDs as the Pats go 13-3.
2018: Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes throws for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in his first full year as a starter for Kansas City.
