The NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award was first awarded to Larry Brown in 1972. The award exemplifies the player's offensive rating and how his offense have led to the team's success. Looking at the overall list of players who have won this award since its inception, this award has been completely dominated by the quarterbacks who have won 20 times, and the running backs with 27 wins (via Pro Football Network). The Offensive Player of the Year award is given by three distinct organizations. This award was started in 1972 by the Associated Press (AP) and is the one which the NFL’s honors ceremony recognizes. The other two organizations to hand out the award are Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) and Sporting News (SN).
List of AP NFL's Offensive Player of the Year winners
As of January 2025, the winners of NFL Offensive Players of the Year are as follows:
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
| 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 | Earl Campbell | Running back | Houston Oilers |
| 1979 | Earl Campbell | Running back | Houston Oilers |
| 1980 | Earl Campbell (3) | Running back | Houston Oilers |
| 1981 | Ken Anderson | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1982 | Dan Fouts | Quarterback | San Diego Chargers |
| 1983 | Joe Theismann | Quarterback | Washington Redskins |
| 1984 | Dan Marino | Quarterback | Miami Dolphins |
| 1985 | Marcus Allen | Running back | Los Angeles Raiders |
| 1986 | Eric Dickerson | Running back | Los Angeles Rams |
| 1987 | Jerry Rice | Wide receiver | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1988 | Roger Craig | Running back | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1989 | Joe Montana | Quarterback | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1990 | Warren Moon | Quarterback | Houston Oilers |
| 1991 | Thurman Thomas | Running back | Buffalo Bills |
| 1992 | Steve Young | Quarterback | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1993 | Jerry Rice (2) | Wide receiver | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1994 | Barry Sanders | Running back | Detroit Lions |
| 1995 | Brett Favre | Quarterback | Green Bay Packers |
| 1996 | Terrell Davis | Running back | Denver Broncos |
| 1997 | Barry Sanders (2) | Running back | Detroit Lions |
| 1998 | Terrell Davis (2) | Running back | Denver Broncos |
| 1999 | Marshall Faulk | Running back | St. Louis Rams |
| 2000 | Marshall Faulk | Running back | St. Louis Rams |
| 2001 | Marshall Faulk (3) | Running back | St. Louis Rams |
| 2002 | Priest Holmes | Running back | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2003 | Jamal Lewis | Running back | Baltimore Ravens |
| 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 | Drew Brees | Quarterback | New Orleans Saints |
| 2009 | Chris Johnson | Running back | Tennessee Titans |
| 2010 | Tom Brady (2) | Quarterback | New England Patriots |
| 2011 | Drew Brees (2) | Quarterback | New Orleans Saints |
| 2012 | Adrian Peterson | Running back | Minnesota Vikings |
| 2013 | Peyton Manning (2) | Quarterback | Denver Broncos |
| 2014 | DeMarco Murray | Running back | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2015 | Cam Newton | Quarterback | Carolina Panthers |
| 2016 | Matt Ryan | Quarterback | Atlanta Falcons |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley | Running back | Los Angeles Rams |
| 2018 | Patrick Mahomes | Quarterback | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2019 | Michael Thomas | Wide receiver | New Orleans Saints |
| 2020 | Derrick Henry | Running back | Tennessee Titans |
| 2021 | Cooper Kupp | Wide receiver | Los Angeles Rams |
| 2022 | Justin Jefferson | Wide receiver | Minnesota Vikings |
| 2023 | Christian McCaffrey | Running back | San Francisco 49ers |
FAQs on NFL
A. Patrick Mahomes won Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl LVIII.
A. Marshall Faulk and Earl Campbell both have won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards a record three times (via Statmuse).
A. Running Back Christian MCaffrey won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in 2023.
