The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) first gave a National Football League Most Valuable Player Awardin1966toBart Starr. After an eight-season hiatus, the award returned in 1975. As with other PFWA awards, any member of the organisation is eligible to vote.[1]
| Season | Player | Team | Position | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Bart Starr | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | [2] |
| 1967–1974 | Not awarded | |||
| 1975 | Fran Tarkenton | Minnesota Vikings | Quarterback | |
| 1976 | Bert Jones | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback | |
| 1977 | Walter Payton | Chicago Bears | Running back | |
| 1978 | Earl Campbell | Houston Oilers | Running back | |
| 1979 | Earl Campbell (2) | Houston Oilers | Running back | |
| 1980 | Brian Sipe | Cleveland Browns | Quarterback | |
| 1981 | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback | |
| 1982 | Dan Fouts | San Diego Chargers | Quarterback | |
| 1983 | Joe Theismann | Washington Redskins | Quarterback | |
| 1984 | Dan Marino | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback | |
| 1985 | Marcus Allen | Los Angeles Raiders | Running back | |
| 1986 | Lawrence Taylor | New York Giants | Linebacker | |
| 1987 | Jerry Rice | San Francisco 49ers | Wide receiver | |
| 1988 | Boomer Esiason | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback | [3] |
| 1989 | Joe Montana | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback | [2] |
| 1990 | Randall Cunningham | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback | |
| 1991 | Thurman Thomas | Buffalo Bills | Running back | |
| 1992 | Steve Young | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback | |
| 1993 | Emmitt Smith | Dallas Cowboys | Running back | |
| 1994 | Steve Young (2) | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback | [4] |
| 1995 | Brett Favre | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | [2] |
| 1996 | Brett Favre (2) | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | |
| 1997 | Barry Sanders | Detroit Lions | Running back | |
| 1998 | Terrell Davis | Denver Broncos | Running back | |
| 1999 | Kurt Warner | St. Louis Rams | Quarterback | |
| 2000 | Marshall Faulk | St. Louis Rams | Running back | |
| 2001 | Marshall Faulk (2) | St. Louis Rams | Quarterback | |
| 2002 | Rich Gannon | Oakland Raiders | Quarterback | |
| 2003 | Jamal Lewis | Baltimore Ravens | Running back | |
| 2004 | Peyton Manning | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback | |
| 2005 | Shaun Alexander | Seattle Seahawks | Running back | |
| 2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson | San Diego Chargers | Running back | |
| 2007 | Tom Brady | New England Patriots | Quarterback | |
| 2008 | Peyton Manning (2) | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback | |
| 2009 | Peyton Manning (3) | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback | |
| 2010 | Tom Brady (2) | New England Patriots | Quarterback | |
| 2011 | Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | |
| 2012 | Adrian Peterson | Minnesota Vikings | Running back | |
| 2013 | Peyton Manning (4) | Denver Broncos | Quarterback | [5] |
| 2014 | Aaron Rodgers (2) | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | [6] |
| 2015 | Cam Newton | Carolina Panthers | Quarterback | [7] |
| 2016 | Matt Ryan | Atlanta Falcons | Quarterback | [8] |
| 2017 | Tom Brady (3) | New England Patriots | Quarterback | [9] |
| 2018 | Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs | Quarterback | [2] |
| 2019 | Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens | Quarterback | |
| 2020 | Aaron Rodgers (3) | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | [10] |
| 2021 | Aaron Rodgers (4) | Green Bay Packers | Quarterback | [11] |
| 2022 | Patrick Mahomes (2) | Kansas City Chiefs | Quarterback | |
| 2023 | Lamar Jackson (2) | Baltimore Ravens | Quarterback | |
