A list of the past NFL MVP winners to date: Find out more here

A list of the past NFL MVP winners to date: Find out more here

Ciku Njuguna
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM

Since the 1930s, the National Football League has handed out an annual award to its most outstanding player. This article explores the NFL's most excellent players who received the coveted award throughout history. Stick around and learn more about the complete list of past NFL MVP winners.

Who will win NFL MVP 2023?
From far right, recent NFL MVP winners to date. Aaron Rodgers, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Tom Brady. Photo by John Capella/Sports Imagery, Greg Fiume, David Eulitt, and Ron Elkman.
Source: Getty Images

What makes a player an MVP? Excellent sportsmanship and performance on the field will undeniably distinguish one athlete from the next. However, these players have exceeded the coaching, fans, and teammates' expectations by earning the most valuable player award.

At the time of writing, the Associated Press is responsible for giving out the NFL Most Valuable Player Award. However, past awards were issued by prominent media organisations such as the Newspaper Enterprise Association, the United Press International, and the Pro Football Writers of America.

Who was the first person to win MVP in the NFL?

Although most publications record the 1957 award as the first MVP trophy, Detroit Lions' quarterback, Dutch Clark, received the Gruen Award for excellent sportsmanship. Sponsored by the Gruen Watch company, the award was the equivalent of today's AP NFL most valuable player award.

Has anyone ever won 4 MVPs in the NFL?
New York Giants football captain Mel Hein and Coach Steve Owen whisper to each other during practice at Polo Grounds. Photo by Tom Watson/NY Daily News.
Source: Getty Images

In 1938, New York Giants lineman, Mel Hein, paved the path for future league MVP winners when he received the inaugural award Joe F. Carr trophy. Although he played in various positions throughout his career, he remains the only MVP lineman.

Following the inaugural MVP award under the then NFL president, Joe F. Carr, in 1938, eight more football players received the trophy. This is a complete list of all the Joe F. Carr MVP trophy winners, their positions, and their teams.

Year

Player

Position

Team

1939

Parker Hall

Tailback

Cleveland Rams

1940

Ace Parker

Tailback

Brooklyn Dodgers

1941

Don Hutson

Left end

Green Bay Packers

1942

Don Hutson

Left end

Green Bay Packers

1943

Sid Luckman

Quarterback

Chicago Bears

1944

Frankie Sinkwich

Back

Detroit Lions

1945

Bob Waterfield

Kicker

Cleveland Rams

1946

Bill Dudley

Kicker

Pittsburgh Steelers

Between 1947 and 1956, the award took on different names under the Sporting News and United Press International organizations. However, in 1957, the inaugural Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award was handed to Cleveland Browns' Jim Brown.

Since 1957, there have been 64 winners of the coveted trophy. Here is a list of the last 20 NFL MVPs by year and team since 2013.

Has anyone won an NFL MVP with a losing record?
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson attempts a pass during a match at Gillette Stadium in September 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Photo by Adam Glanzman.
Source: Getty Images

NFL MVP winners by year since 2003

Year

Player

Position

Team

2021

Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback

2020

Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback

2019

Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens

Quarterback

2018

Patrick Mahomes

Kansas City Chiefs

Quarterback

2017

Tom Brady

New England Patriots

Quarterback

2016

Matt Ryan

Atlanta Falcons

Quarterback

2015

Cam Newton

Carolina Panthers

Quarterback

2014

Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback

2013

Peyton Manning

Denver Broncos

Quarterback

2012

Adrian Peterson

Minnesota Vikings

Right backer

2011

Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback

2010

Tom Brady

New England Patriots

Quarterback

2009

Peyton Manning

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback

2008

Peyton Manning

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback

2007

Tom Brady

New England Patriots

Quarterback

2006

LaDainian Tomlinson

San Diego Chargers

Right backer

2005

Shaun Alexander

Seattle Seahawks

Right backer

2004

Peyton Manning

Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback

2003

Steve McNair, Peyton Manning

Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback Quarterback

2002

Rich Gannon

Oakland Raiders

Quarterback

All multiple NFL MVP winners

In 1941 and 1942, Green Bay Packers' left end, Don Hutson, won the first back-to-back NFL MVP award. Since then, eight more football players have won the trophy multiple times. Look at a detailed summary of the players and their illustrious careers.

Who has the most NFL MVP of all time?
Lamar Jackson reacts to winning MVP Trophy after the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium in January 2020 in Orlando, Florida. Photo by Mark Brown.
Source: Getty Images

Jim Brown

Cleveland Browns fullback Jim Brown, who won the first NFL MVP, also made history after winning it twice in 1957 and 1958. At the time of his retirement, no other players had the most yards or recorded as many touchdowns, rushing touchdowns as Brown had.

Joe Montana

In addition to winning two back-to-back excellence honours, Montana earned himself three Super Bowl MVP awards before retirement. To add to his fame, Montana stamped his name in football greatness after becoming one of the first quarterbacks to win four Super Bowl rings.

Steve Young

Before becoming ESPN's NFL analyst, Young was considered to be one of the greatest NFL players of all time. The Hall of Fame legend won the 1992 and 1994 AP MVP awards and three Super Bowls during his active career.

Who has won NFL MVP 3 times?
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs prepares to throw a first-quarter pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Arrowhead Stadium in November 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo by David Eulitt.
Source: Getty Images

Brett Favre

Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is one of the most impressive back-to-back NFL MVP winners. How many MVPs does Brett Favre have? Between 1995 and 1997, he bagged the Associated Press award in his most dominant stretch in the league.

Kurt Warner

Although claims that Kurt Warner was a rookie when he won MVP in 1999 are untrue, he was named MVP in the first year he played as a starter. Impressively, he earned his first Superbowl title the next year, followed by a second MVP award in 2001.

Peyton Manning

Who has won the most MVP awards in the NFL? 5-time NFL MVP winner Peyton Manning set legendary records in the league after he added two Super Bowl wins in 2007 and 2016. With one of the highest passing yards and touchdown passes in the league's history, he is undoubtedly one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

Who will win NFL MVP this season?
Peyton Manning throws a pass during a game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in September 2007 in Houston, Texas. Photo by Bill Baptist.
Source: Getty Images

Tom Brady

As the true picture of longevity, Brady has gone down in history for recording repeated success as he grows older. The three-time award winner s the oldest player to win Super Bowl MVP and AP NFL MVP awards.

Aaron Rodgers

In 2011, the Green Bay Packers star quarterback began a 4-time NFL MVP winning streak that ended in 2021. Additionally, Rodgers is a long-time stats leader in the league, holding the highest touchdown passes and passing yards.

Heisman and NFL MVP winners

Has anyone won Heisman and NFL MVP? While the Associated Press recognizes outstanding players in the league, the Heisman Trophy is awarded to excellent college football players. However, since 1935, only one awardee of the Heisman Trophy, Marcus Allen, has received the NFL MVP trophy.

When is NFL MVP announced?
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback MVP Terry Bradshaw looks to throw a pass over the Minnesota Vikings at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, in January 1975. Photo by Sylvia Allen.
Source: Getty Images

Unanimous NFL MVP winners

Annually, the league's most valuable player is selected through a vote by a 50-member panel. Since 1957, only two players have received a unanimous vote from all 50 members of the voting panel. These unstoppable quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Lamar Jackson, received their wins in 2010 and 2019, respectively.

Which NFL team has the most MP winners?

As of February 2023, the Green Bay Packers hold the record for the most outstanding players. Here is a summary of the teams with the most NFL MVP winners.

Team

Winners

Green Bay Packers

10

San Francisco 49ers

5

Baltimore Colts

5

Cleveland Browns

4

Indianapolis Colt

4

Washington Redskin

3

St. Louis Rams

3

Minnesota Vikings

3

Denver Broncos

3

New England Patriots

3

Buffalo Bills

2

New York Giants

2

Cincinnati Bengals

2

As the NFL MVP 2023, race heats up, past active NFL MVP winners eagerly await the February ninth announcement. Until then, fans can only speculate on who is the most favoured player to win the trophy.

READ ALSO: Tom Brady vs Aaron Rodgers: Who is the better QB at the moment?

Sports Brief rated who the best National Football League quarterback is between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. A breakdown of the close competitors' prosperous and influential careers give you an inside look at their total, playoff, head-to-head stats, and accolades. Check out the link above and find out who the real QB GOAT is between the two football legends.

Authors
Ciku Njuguna photo
Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.