From 1960 to 1969, the United Press International (UPI) gave the annual AFL Player of the Year award in the American Football League, whose teams in 1970 became the American Football Conference (AFC) of the new National Football League (NFL).

From 1970 — following the AFL–NFL merger — until 1996, UPI then gave two annual player of the year awards. One was given in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the new NFL. The other award was given in the American Football Conference (AFC) of the new NFL. An AFC Player of the Year was named from 1970 through 1984, won each year be an offensive player. An AFC Defensive Player of the Year was named from 1975 to 1996, and an AFC Offensive Player of the Year, which replaced the overall player of the year award in 1985, was issued until 1996.[1]

Winners

Season Offense[1]Defense[2]
PlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPosition
1960Abner HaynesDallas TexansHalfback---
1961George Blanda (1)Houston OilersQuarterback---
1962Cookie GilchristBuffalo BillsFullback---
1963Lance AlworthSan Diego ChargersFlanker---
1964Gino CappellettiBoston PatriotsFlanker, kicker---
1965Jack KempBuffalo BillsQuarterback---
1966Jim NanceBoston PatriotsFullback---
1967Daryle Lamonica (1)Oakland RaidersQuarterback---
1968Joe NamathNew York JetsQuarterback---
1969Daryle Lamonica (2)Oakland RaidersQuarterback---
1970George Blanda (2)Oakland RaidersQuarterback, kicker---
1971Otis TaylorKansas City ChiefsWide receiver---
1972O. J. Simpson (1)Buffalo BillsRunning back---
1973O. J. Simpson (2)Buffalo BillsRunning back---
1974Ken StablerOakland RaidersQuarterback---
1975O. J. Simpson (3)Buffalo BillsRunning back Mel BlountPittsburgh SteelersCornerback
1976Bert JonesBaltimore ColtsQuarterback Jack Lambert (1)Pittsburgh SteelersLinebacker
1977Craig MortonDenver BroncosQuarterback Lyle AlzadoDenver BroncosDefensive end
1978Earl Campbell[3]Houston OilersRunning back Randy GradisharDenver BroncosLinebacker
1979Dan Fouts (1)San Diego ChargersQuarterback Jack Lambert (2)[4]Pittsburgh SteelersLinbebacker
1980Brian SipeCleveland BrownsQuarterback Lester HayesOakland RaidersCornerback
1981Ken AndersonCincinnati BengalsQuarterback Joe KleckoNew York JetsDefensive end
1982Dan Fouts (2)San Diego ChargersQuarterback No award--
1983Curt Warner (1)Seattle SeahawksRunning back Rod Martin[5]Los Angeles RaidersLinebacker
1984Dan Marino (1)Miami DolphinsQuarterback Mark Gastineau[6]New York JetsDefensive end
1985Marcus AllenLos Angeles RaidersRunning back Andre TippettNew England PatriotsLinebacker
1986Curt Warner (2)Seattle SeahawksRunning back Rulon JonesDenver BroncosDefensive end
1987John Elway (1)Denver BroncosQuarterback Bruce Smith (1)Buffalo BillsDefensive end
1988Boomer EsiasonCincinnati BengalsQuarterback Bruce Smith (2) (tie)
Cornelius Bennett (1) (tie)
Buffalo BillsDefensive end
Linebacker
1989Christian OkoyeKansas City ChiefsRunning back Michael Dean PerryCleveland BrownsNose tackle
1990Warren MoonHouston OilersQuarterback Bruce Smith (3)Buffalo BillsDefensive end
1991Thurman ThomasBuffalo BillsRunning back Cornelius Bennett (2)Buffalo BillsLinebacker
1992Barry FosterPittsburgh SteelersRunning back Junior SeauSan Diego ChargersLinebacker
1993John Elway (2)Denver BroncosQuarterback Rod WoodsonPittsburgh SteelersCornerback
1994Dan Marino (2)Miami DolphinsQuarterback Greg LloydPittsburgh SteelersLinebacker
1995Jim HarbaughIndianapolis ColtsQuarterback Bryce PaupBuffalo BillsLinebacker
1996Terrell DavisDenver BroncosRunning back Bruce Smith (4)Buffalo BillsDefensive end

Multiple-time winners

Total awards won
Wins Team
13 Buffalo Bills
7 Denver Broncos
Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders
6 Pittsburgh Steelers
4 Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers
3 Boston / New England Patriots
Cleveland Browns
Houston Oilers
Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs
New York Jets
2 Baltimore / Indianapolis Colts
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Seattle Seahawks

See also

References

  1. 1 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.
  2. Carroll 1999, p. 389.
  3. "Earl Campbell Collects AFC Player Of Year Crown". The Galveston Daily News. United Press International. December 29, 1978. p. 11. Retrieved March 20, 2017 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Jack Lambert best defensively in AFC". The Berkshire Eagle. UPI. January 9, 1980. p. 25. Retrieved June 8, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  5. Raffo, Dave (January 6, 1984). "Taylor, Martin Top Defensive Players". The Brattleboro Reformer. UPI. p. 11. Retrieved June 8, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
  6. Sherman, Joel (December 28, 1984). "Gastineau earns another honor for play". Telegraph-Forum. UPI. p. 11. Retrieved June 8, 2022 via Newspapers.com.
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