UPI NFC Player of the Year

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From 1970 to 1984, United Press International (UPI) awarded the NFC Player of the Year award to players from the National Football League's National Football Conference (NFC). An NFC Defensive Player of the Year was named from 1975 to 1996, and an NFC Offensive Player of the Year, which replaced the overall player of the year award in 1985, was issued until 1996.[1]

Winners[edit]

One selection only[edit]

Season Player Team Position
1970 John Brodie San Francisco 49ers Quarterback
1971 Alan Page Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle
1972 Larry Brown Washington Redskins Running back
1973 John Hadl Los Angeles Rams Quarterback
1974 Jim Hart St. Louis Cardinals Quarterback

Offense and Defense selections[edit]

Season Offense Defense
Player Team Position Player Team Position
1975 Fran Tarkenton[2] Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Jack Youngblood Los Angeles Rams Defensive end
1976 Chuck Foreman Minnesota Vikings Running back Wally Chambers Chicago Bears Defensive tackle
1977 Walter Payton (1) Chicago Bears Running back Harvey Martin Dallas Cowboys Defensive tackle
1978 Archie Manning New Orleans Saints Quarterback Randy White Dallas Cowboys Defensive tackle
1979 Ottis Anderson St. Louis Cardinals Running back Lee Roy Selmon Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive end
1980 Ron Jaworski[3] Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Nolan Cromwell Los Angeles Rams Safety
1981 Tony Dorsett Dallas Cowboys Running back Fred Dean San Francisco 49ers Defensive end
1982 Mark Moseley Washington Redskins Kicker No award - -
1983 Eric Dickerson (1) Los Angeles Rams Running back Lawrence Taylor (1) New York Giants Linebacker
1984 Eric Dickerson (2) Los Angeles Rams Running back Mike Singletary (1) Chicago Bears Linebacker
1985 Walter Payton (2) Chicago Bears Running back Mike Singletary (2) Chicago Bears Linebacker
1986 Eric Dickerson (3) Los Angeles Rams Running back Lawrence Taylor (2) New York Giants Linebacker
1987 Jerry Rice[4] San Francisco 49ers Wide receiver Reggie White (1) Philadelphia Eagles Defensive end
1988 Roger Craig San Francisco 49ers Running back Mike Singletary (3) Chicago Bears Linebacker
1989 Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Keith Millard Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle
1990 Randall Cunningham Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Charles Haley (1) San Francisco 49ers Linebacker
1991 Mark Rypien Washington Redskins Quarterback Reggie White (2) Philadelphia Eagles Defensive end
1992 Steve Young (1) San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Chris Doleman Minnesota Vikings Defensive end
1993 Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys Running back Eric Allen Philadelphia Eagles Cornerback
1994 Steve Young (2) San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Charles Haley (2) Dallas Cowboys Defensive end
1995 Brett Favre (1) Green Bay Packers Quarterback Reggie White (3) Green Bay Packers Defensive end
1996 Brett Favre (2) Green Bay Packers Quarterback Kevin Greene Carolina Panthers Linebacker

Multiple-time winners[edit]

Total awards won
Wins Team
9 San Francisco 49ers
6 Chicago Bears
Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams
5 Dallas Cowboys
Minnesota Vikings
Philadelphia Eagles
3 Green Bay Packers
Washington Redskins
2 New York Giants
St. Louis / Phoenix / Arizona Cardinals
1 Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
0 Atlanta Falcons
Detroit Lions

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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. ^ "UPI Names Tarkenton NFC's Player of Year". The Star Press. United Press International. December 30, 1975. p. 9. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  3. ^ "Eagles' Ron Jaworski Named UPI NFC Player of Year". Ukiah Daily Journal. United Press International. January 6, 1981. p. 6. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  4. ^ Murray, William D. (January 8, 1988). "Jerry Rice, the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver who..." United Press International. Retrieved January 8, 2017.