United Press International NFL Most Valuable Player Award

United Press International gave an NFL Most Valuable Player Award from 1948 through 1969, excepting 1949–50, and 1952.[1] When the NFL's merger with the American Football League formed the National Football Conference (NFC) and American Football Conference (AFC) in 1970, UPI began awarding individual NFC and AFC player of the year awards.[2]

Season Player Team Position Ref[1]
1948 Pat Harder Chicago Cardinals Fullback [3]
1949
No award
1950
1951 Otto Graham Cleveland Browns Quarterback
1952 No award
1953 Otto Graham (2) Cleveland Browns Quarterback [4]
1954 Joe Perry San Francisco 49ers Fullback [5]
1955 Otto Graham (3) Cleveland Browns Quarterback
1956 Frank Gifford New York Giants Halfback
1957 Y. A. Tittle San Francisco 49ers Quarterback [6]
1958 Jim Brown Cleveland Browns Fullback [7]
1959 Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1960 Norm Van Brocklin Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback [8]
1961 Paul Hornung Green Bay Packers Halfback
1962 Y. A. Tittle (2) New York Giants Quarterback
1963 Jim Brown (2) Cleveland Browns Fullback
1964 Johnny Unitas (2) Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1965 Jim Brown (3) Cleveland Browns Fullback
1966 Bart Starr Green Bay Packers Quarterback
1967 Johnny Unitas (3) Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1968 Earl Morrall Baltimore Colts Quarterback
1969 Roman Gabriel Los Angeles Rams Quarterback

References

  1. ^ a b "UPI NFL MVP Winners". pro-football-reference.com.
  2. ^ Carroll, Bob (1999). Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 387–389. ISBN 9780062701749. Retrieved June 6, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "Connerly Named Prize Rookie; Harder Honored". The Tuscaloosa News. United Press. December 15, 1948. p. 13. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  4. ^ "Graham Picked As Top Player In Pro League". Spokane Daily Chronicle. United Press. December 23, 1953. p. 11. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  5. ^ "Perry Top Pro Gridman of '54". The Bend Bulletin. United Press. December 22, 1954. p. 3. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tittle, Francis Feted at Million Dollar Dinner". The Bulletin. United Press. January 29, 1958. p. 3. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  7. ^ Wright, Earl (January 8, 1959). "Brown Named Standout Pro Gridder of Season". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. United Press International. p. 14. Archived from the original on February 26, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Buck Shaw Is Coach Of Year; Van Brocklin Also Honored". Daily Independent Journal. United Press International. December 23, 1960. p. 7. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.