Every winner of the award has been either arunning back or aquarterback, with the exception ofwide receivers Jerry Rice, Michael Thomas, Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.[1] Running backs have been awarded 26 times, followed by quarterbacks, with 20 awards. Of the 53 winners, 28 were also named theAP NFL Most Valuable Player in the same season. Since 2011, both awards have been given out at the annualNFL Honors ceremony along with other AP awards, including theDefensive Player of the Year andRookie of the Year awards.[2]
Players are often awarded after record-breaking or near-record-breaking offensive seasons. Running backO. 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.[3] When his record was broken byEric Dickerson in 1984, Dickerson placed second in voting behind quarterbackDan Marino, who that year was the first topass for 5,000 yards in a season.[4] Marino's 5,084 yards stood as the record for 27 years before being broken byDrew Brees in 2011, who won that season's award.[5] In turn, 2013 winnerPeyton Manning set league single-season records for passing yards (5,477) and passing touchdowns (55).[6]
2006 winnerLaDainian Tomlinson set NFL single-season records for rushing touchdowns (28), touchdowns from scrimmage (31), and points scored (186).[7]Adrian Peterson won the award in 2012 after rushing for 2,097 yards, the second-most all time by a player in a single season.[8]
List of AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year winners
Gellerman, Jacob; Drexler, Sam; Marini, Matt; Cocchiaro, Nicolas; Zerkel, Alex, eds. (2016).2018 Official NFL Record and Fact Book(PDF). National Football League. p. 524.Archived(PDF) from the original on March 15, 2021. RetrievedAugust 14, 2018.
^Hope, Dan (July 7, 2013)."Ranking the Top 25 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Candidates". Bleacher Report. RetrievedMay 26, 2017.The award is typically given to the league's most productive quarterback or running back. Of the 41 times it has been given, it's been won 39 times by either a quarterback or running back. The exception is San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice, who won the award in both 1987 and 1993.
^ab"Simpson Offensive Winner".Kentucky New Era. Associated Press. January 4, 1974. p. 11.Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. RetrievedJuly 5, 2016.
^"Tarkenton Honored".The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. January 13, 1976. p. 2B.Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. RetrievedJuly 5, 2016.
^"Offensive Award to Bert Jones".The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. December 30, 1976. p. 1B.Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. RetrievedJuly 5, 2016.
^"Campbell Wins Offensive Title".Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. January 12, 1979. p. 6B.Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. RetrievedJuly 5, 2016.
^Olderman, Murray (January 18, 1981)."Earl Campbell: a triple champ".The Nevada Daily Mail. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 10.Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. RetrievedJuly 5, 2016.
^"Fouts Tops On Offense".Toledo Blade. Associated Press. January 7, 1983. p. 18.Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. RetrievedJuly 6, 2016.
^Nadel, John (December 30, 1983)."Allen sweeps offensive honors".The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press. p. 5.Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. RetrievedJuly 6, 2016.
^"Dickerson earns offensive honor".The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press. December 30, 1986. p. 10.Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. RetrievedJuly 6, 2016.
^Wilner, Barry (December 29, 1988)."Craig earns offensive award".The Times-News. Associated Press. p. 20.Archived from the original on February 24, 2021. RetrievedJuly 6, 2016.
^"Moon top offensive player".Bangor Daily News. Associated Press. January 10, 1991. p. 11.Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. RetrievedJuly 6, 2016.
^Wilner, Barry (January 6, 1994)."Rice Offensive Player of the Year".Ocala Star-Banner. Associated Press. p. 1B.Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. RetrievedJuly 6, 2016.