Bert Bell Award

For the NFL rookie award, see NEA NFL Rookie of the Year.
Bert Bell Award
Awarded forNFL player of the year
CountryUnited States
Presented byMaxwell Football Club
History
First award1959
Most winsPeyton Manning, Randall Cunningham, & Johnny Unitas (3)
Most recentDrake Maye

The Bert Bell Award is presented by the Maxwell Football Club to the player of the year in the National Football League (NFL). The award is named in honor of Bert Bell (1895–1959), commissioner of the NFL and founder of the Maxwell Club. Voters for the Pro Awards are NFL owners, football personnel, head and assistant coaches as well as members of the Maxwell Football Club, national media, and local media.[1] The award consists of a trophy in the form of a statue in the likeness of Bell. The award is presented at the club's annual football banquet. Many sources refer to it as an NFL Most Valuable Player award.[2][3][4][5]

Winners

Season Player Position Team Ref
1959 Johnny Unitas Quarterback Baltimore Colts [6]
1960 Norm Van Brocklin Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles [7]
1961 Paul Hornung Running back Green Bay Packers [8]
1962 Andy Robustelli Defensive end New York Giants [9]
1963 Jim Brown Running back Cleveland Browns [10]
1964 Johnny Unitas (2) Quarterback Baltimore Colts [11]
1965 Pete Retzlaff Tight end Philadelphia Eagles [12]
1966 Don Meredith Quarterback Dallas Cowboys [13]
1967 Johnny Unitas (3) Quarterback Baltimore Colts [14]
1968 Leroy Kelly Running back Cleveland Browns [15]
1969 Roman Gabriel Quarterback Los Angeles Rams [16]
1970 George Blanda Quarterback Oakland Raiders [17]
1971 Roger Staubach Quarterback Dallas Cowboys [18]
1972 Larry Brown Running back Washington Redskins [19]
1973 O. J. Simpson Running back Buffalo Bills [20]
1974 Merlin Olsen Defensive tackle Los Angeles Rams [21]
1975 Fran Tarkenton Quarterback Minnesota Vikings [22]
1976 Ken Stabler Quarterback Oakland Raiders [23]
1977 Bob Griese Quarterback Miami Dolphins [24]
1978 Terry Bradshaw Quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers [25]
1979 Earl Campbell Running back Houston Oilers [26]
1980 Ron Jaworski Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles [27]
1981 Ken Anderson Quarterback Cincinnati Bengals [28]
1982 Joe Theismann Quarterback Washington Redskins [29]
1983 John Riggins Running back Washington Redskins [30]
1984 Dan Marino Quarterback Miami Dolphins [31]
1985 Walter Payton Running back Chicago Bears [32]
1986 Lawrence Taylor Linebacker New York Giants [33]
1987 Jerry Rice Wide receiver San Francisco 49ers [12]
1988 Randall Cunningham Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles [34]
1989 Joe Montana Quarterback San Francisco 49ers [1]
1990 Randall Cunningham (2) Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles [35]
1991 Barry Sanders Running back Detroit Lions [36]
1992 Steve Young Quarterback San Francisco 49ers [37]
1993 Emmitt Smith Running back Dallas Cowboys [38]
1994 Steve Young (2) Quarterback San Francisco 49ers [38]
1995 Brett Favre Quarterback Green Bay Packers [38]
1996 Brett Favre (2) Quarterback Green Bay Packers [38]
1997 Barry Sanders (2) Running back Detroit Lions [38]
1998 Randall Cunningham (3) Quarterback Minnesota Vikings [38]
1999 Kurt Warner Quarterback St. Louis Rams [38]
2000 Rich Gannon Quarterback Oakland Raiders [38]
2001 Marshall Faulk Running back St. Louis Rams [38]
2002 Rich Gannon (2) Quarterback Oakland Raiders [38]
2003 Peyton Manning Quarterback Indianapolis Colts [38]
2004 Peyton Manning (2) Quarterback Indianapolis Colts [38]
2005 Shaun Alexander Running back Seattle Seahawks [38]
2006 LaDainian Tomlinson Running back San Diego Chargers [38]
2007 Tom Brady Quarterback New England Patriots [38]
2008 Adrian Peterson Running back Minnesota Vikings [38]
2009 Drew Brees Quarterback New Orleans Saints [38]
2010 Michael Vick Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles [38]
2011 Aaron Rodgers Quarterback Green Bay Packers [38]
2012 Adrian Peterson (2) Running back Minnesota Vikings [38]
2013 Peyton Manning (3) Quarterback Denver Broncos [38]
2014 J. J. Watt Defensive end Houston Texans [38]
2015 Cam Newton Quarterback Carolina Panthers [39]
2016 Matt Ryan Quarterback Atlanta Falcons [40]
2017 Carson Wentz Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles [41]
2018 Patrick Mahomes Quarterback Kansas City Chiefs [41]
2019 Lamar Jackson Quarterback Baltimore Ravens [41]
2020 No award given.
2021 Jonathan Taylor Running back Indianapolis Colts [42]
2022 Jalen Hurts Quarterback Philadelphia Eagles [41]
2023 Lamar Jackson (2) Quarterback Baltimore Ravens [41]
2024 Saquon Barkley Running back Philadelphia Eagles [41]
2025 Drake Maye Quarterback New England Patriots [41]

Multiple-time winners

List of multiple-time winners
Awards Player Team(s) Years Hall of Fame induction
3 Randall Cunningham Philadelphia Eagles (2) / Minnesota Vikings (1) 1988, 1990, 1998 No
Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts (2) / Denver Broncos (1) 2003, 2004, 2013 2021
Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts 1959, 1964, 1967 1979
2 Brett Favre Green Bay Packers 1995, 1996 2016
Rich Gannon Oakland Raiders 2000, 2002 No
Lamar Jackson Baltimore Ravens 2019, 2023 Active
Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings 2008, 2012 Eligible in 2027
Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 1991, 1997 2004
Steve Young San Francisco 49ers 1992, 1994 2005

See also

References

General
  • "Bert Bell Award Winners". Maxwell Football Club. Archived from the original on March 2, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  • "Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year) Winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
Footnotes
  1. ^ a b "Joe Montana Wins Bert Bell Award Handily". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 17, 1990. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  2. ^ Click "Career Highlights" tab: "Barry Sanders". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 28, 2026. 1991 MVP/Player of the Year (MX)
  3. ^ Carroll, Bob. Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. HarperCollins. p. 387. ISBN 0062701746. Retrieved February 28, 2026 – via Internet Archive. In 1959, the Maxwell Club of Philadelphia joined the field by awarding the first annual Bert Bell Trophy to its NFL most valuable player.
  4. ^ "Taylor wins Bert Bell Award". The York Dispatch. UPI. January 16, 1987. p. 20. Retrieved February 28, 2026. Linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who led a New York Giants defense all the way to the Super Bowl, Thursday was named the most valuable player in the NFL by the Maxwell Football Club of Philadelphia.
  5. ^ Best, Neil (December 7, 2010). "Nobody Like Don". Newsday. p. A60. Retrieved February 28, 2026 – via Newspaper.com. In 1966, Meredith won the Bert Bell Award as the NFL's Most Valuable Player.
  6. ^ "Unitas Wins Bell Award". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. December 18, 1959. p. 34. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  7. ^ "Van Brocklin To Receive Bert Bell Award". Park City Daily News. Associated Press. December 21, 1960. p. 18. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  8. ^ "Hornung, Ferguson Honored as 'Best'". The Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. February 6, 1962. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  9. ^ "Robustelli Says Award Recognition For Linemen". St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. February 5, 1963. p. 4-C. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  10. ^ "Jim Brown to Get Bell Award". The New York Times. United Press International. January 8, 1964. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  11. ^ "Unitas, Ressler To Receive Awards". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. December 4, 1964. p. 17. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Bell award goes to Rice". Lakeland Ledger. January 15, 1988. p. 5D. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  13. ^ "Maxwell Club Cites Lynch, Meredith". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. January 24, 1967. p. 2B. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  14. ^ "Beban, Unitas Win Awards". The Morning Record. Associated Press. December 20, 1967. p. 9. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  15. ^ "Simpson, Kelly Win Maxwell Awards". The Pittsburgh Press. United Press International. December 18, 1968. p. 74. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  16. ^ "Reid, Gabriel Are Top Rated". Lodi News-Sentinel. United Press International. January 20, 1970. p. 8. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  17. ^ "New Award For Blanda". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 18, 1970. p. 21. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  18. ^ "Staubach Wins Bert Bell Award". Ludington Daily News. United Press International. December 23, 1971. p. 6. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  19. ^ Bernstein, Ralph (December 15, 1972). "Redskins' Larry Brown Is Presented Bert Bell Award As Top Gridder Of Year". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. p. 15. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  20. ^ "O.J. Is Two-Timer: Cappolletti, Simpson Maxwell Winners". Observer-Reporter. Associated Press. December 21, 1973. p. B4. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  21. ^ "Joachim, Olsen Get Top Awards". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. December 13, 1974. p. 28. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  22. ^ "Two Small Players Who Became Big Stars Receive Annual Maxwell Club Award". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. December 19, 1975. p. 13. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  23. ^ "Dorsett, Stabler Receive Maxwell, Bert Bell Awards". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. United Press International. January 20, 1977. p. 2-D. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  24. ^ "Griese Named Pro Football's Player Of Year". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. December 16, 1977. p. 1E. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  25. ^ "Fusina, Bradshaw Maxwell Picks". Reading Eagles. Associated Press. December 21, 1978. p. 37. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  26. ^ "Campbell, White capture awards". Gadsden Times. Associated Press. December 20, 1979. p. 23. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  27. ^ "Jaworski Wins Bert Bell Award". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. January 8, 1981. p. 3B. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  28. ^ "Ken Anderson Named Winner Of Maxwell's Bert Bell Award". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. January 20, 1982. p. 39. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  29. ^ "Theismann better doing less". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. January 22, 1983. p. 18. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  30. ^ Lyon, Bill (February 23, 1984). "Riggins: I'm not as good as I was". The Day. p. 28. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  31. ^ "Marino winner of Bert Bell Award". The Evening News. Associated Press. January 11, 1985. p. 3B. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  32. ^ "Payton wins Maxwell Club Bell award". Lodi News-Sentinel. United Press International. January 17, 1986. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  33. ^ "Taylor named Bell Award winner". Herald-Journal. Associated Press. January 16, 1987. p. D4. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  34. ^ "Eagles' QB Cunningham Gets Bell Award". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. January 10, 1989. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  35. ^ "Cunningham wins Maxwell's Award". The Prescott Courier. January 23, 1991. p. 9A. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  36. ^ Rule, Bruce (January 10, 1992). "Sanders, Fontes cop NFL honors". Standard-Speaker. Associated Press. p. 22. Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Sports People: Football; Young Wins Award As N.F.L.'s Top Player". The New York Times. Associated Press. January 15, 1993. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v "Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year) Winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  39. ^ Inabinett, Mark (January 24, 2016). "NFL Playoffs: Cam Newton won't put the cart before the horse". The Birmingham News. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  40. ^ Broome, Anthony (January 20, 2017). "Matt Ryan wins Bert Bell Professional Player of the Year Award". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  41. ^ a b c d e f g "Bert Bell Award (Player of the Year) Winners | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  42. ^ "Colts' Running Back Jonathan Taylor Named Winner for 2021 Bert Bell Award". 4 February 2022.
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