National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award


The National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award refers to a number of awards that are given to a National Football League player who has shown perseverance in overcoming adversity, in the form of not being in the NFL the previous year, a severe injury, or simply poor performance. The awards have been presented by several organizations, including the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association, Sporting News, and United Press International.

AP Comeback Player of the Year award (1963–1966, 1998–present)

From 1972 to 1991, the Comeback Player of the Year award was presented by Pro Football Weekly only. PFW and the Professional Football Writers of America combined their awards from 1992–2012.

UPI Comeback Player of the Year award (1962–1969)

In 1962, United Press International chose a comeback player for the first time. The winner, Frank Gifford, had made a comeback from a devastating injury from a hit by Chuck Bednarik. The following year, the Associated Press established a similar award. UPI discontinued the award after 1963, with the exception of 1969. The AP did not give out the award from 1967 to 1998, when the award was reinstituted and given to Doug Flutie.