Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award


The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is given annually by the Associated Press to the offensive player in the National Football League deemed to have had the most outstanding season. The winner is chosen by votes from a nationwide panel of sportswriters who regularly follow the NFL. Multiple-time awardees include Marshall Faulk and Earl Campbell, both of whom won the award three times, each consecutively. Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, Tom Brady, Terrell Davis, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning have each won the award twice. The award is currently held by Wide Receiver Michael Thomas, Of the New Orleans Saints, who received it for the 2019 NFL season after breaking the NFL record for catches in a season
Every winner of the award has been either a running back or a quarterback, with the exception of wide receivers, Jerry Rice and Michael Thomas. Running backs have been awarded 26 times, followed by quarterbacks, with 20 awards. Of the 47 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 and passing touchdowns.

Winners

SeasonPlayerPositionTeamRef
1972Running backWashington Redskins
1973Running backBuffalo Bills
1974QuarterbackOakland Raiders
1975QuarterbackMinnesota Vikings
1976QuarterbackBaltimore Colts
1977Running backChicago Bears
1978Running backHouston Oilers
1979 Running backHouston Oilers
1980 Running backHouston Oilers
1981QuarterbackCincinnati Bengals
1982QuarterbackSan Diego Chargers
1983QuarterbackWashington Redskins
1984QuarterbackMiami Dolphins
1985Running backLos Angeles Raiders
1986Running backLos Angeles Rams
1987Wide receiverSan Francisco 49ers
1988Running backSan Francisco 49ers
1989QuarterbackSan Francisco 49ers
1990QuarterbackHouston Oilers
1991Running backBuffalo Bills
1992QuarterbackSan Francisco 49ers
1993 Wide receiverSan Francisco 49ers
1994Running backDetroit Lions
1995QuarterbackGreen Bay Packers
1996Running backDenver Broncos
1997 Running backDetroit Lions
1998 Running backDenver Broncos
1999Running backSt. Louis Rams
2000 Running backSt. Louis Rams
2001 Running backSt. Louis Rams
2002Running backKansas City Chiefs
2003Running backBaltimore Ravens
2004QuarterbackIndianapolis Colts
2005Running backSeattle Seahawks
2006Running backSan Diego Chargers
2007QuarterbackNew England Patriots
2008QuarterbackNew Orleans Saints
2009Running backTennessee Titans
2010 QuarterbackNew England Patriots
2011 QuarterbackNew Orleans Saints
2012Running backMinnesota Vikings
2013 QuarterbackDenver Broncos
2014Running backDallas Cowboys
2015QuarterbackCarolina Panthers
2016QuarterbackAtlanta Falcons
2017Running backLos Angeles Rams
2018QuarterbackKansas City Chiefs
2019Wide receiverNew Orleans Saints