You think you know who the best football players in history are. But when you look at the list of NFL MVPs, things start to look a little weird. Honestly, it’s not always about who had the best stats. It’s about narratives. It’s about who the voters—a small group of 50 media members—decided was "valuable" in that specific four-month window.
We just saw it again. In the 2024 season, Josh Allen took home the hardware in a vote that felt like a logic puzzle. Lamar Jackson was the First-Team All-Pro quarterback, which basically means he was voted the best at his position by the same people. Yet, Allen won the MVP.
That sorta stuff happens more than you'd think.
The Modern Era Dominance
The list of NFL MVPs has basically turned into a "Best Quarterback on a High Seed" award. If you aren't under center, you might as well not show up to the ceremony. Since 2000, only four non-quarterbacks have won it. All of them were running backs who had to do something absolutely superhuman to get noticed.
Think about Adrian Peterson in 2012. He rushed for 2,097 yards—just nine yards short of the all-time record—less than a year after shredding his ACL. That’s what it takes now. If you're a wide receiver? Forget it. Jerry Rice never won one. Randy Moss? Nope. Not even Cooper Kupp during his triple-crown season could crack the ceiling.
The Heavy Hitters
Peyton Manning still sits on the throne with five trophies. He won them across two different teams (Colts and Broncos) and two different decades. Aaron Rodgers is right on his heels with four.
Then you have the three-timers. Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas, and the legendary Jim Brown.
✨ Don't miss: Cincinnati vs Oklahoma State Basketball: What Most People Get Wrong About This Big 12 Grind
Favre’s run was especially wild because he won three in a row from 1995 to 1997. Nobody else has ever done that. Not Brady. Not Montana. Not even Patrick Mahomes, who already has two at age 30 and seems like the only person with a real shot at catching Manning’s record.
Why the List of NFL MVPs is Full of Quirks
If you go back far enough, the list gets really strange.
Did you know a kicker won the MVP? 1982. Mark Moseley. It was a strike-shortened season, sure, but he literally won the league's most prestigious individual award while only playing in nine games. He made 20 of 21 field goals for the Washington Redskins. Imagine a kicker winning today. The internet would actually explode.
Then there’s the 1971 winner, Alan Page. He’s one of only two defensive players to ever win the award. The other was Lawrence Taylor in 1986. For nearly 40 years, no defender has touched it. J.J. Watt came close in 2014, but he lost to Aaron Rodgers.
The Co-MVP Situations
Sometimes the voters just can't decide. It’s rare, but it happens.
- 1997: Brett Favre and Barry Sanders shared the honors.
- 2003: Peyton Manning and Steve McNair split the vote.
It feels kind of cheap, right? Like a "participation trophy" for guys who both deserved it. But honestly, looking back at Sanders' 1997 season where he hit 2,053 rushing yards, it would have been a crime if he didn't get a piece of that trophy.
🔗 Read more: Chase Center: What Most People Get Wrong About the New Arena in San Francisco
The Snubs and the Logic Gaps
The list of NFL MVPs is as much about who isn't there as who is. Drew Brees threw for 5,000 yards five different times. He retired with zero MVPs.
In 1987, Jerry Rice caught 22 touchdowns in just 12 games. 22! That’s a video game stat. He lost the MVP to John Elway. Elway was great, obviously, but he had 19 touchdowns that year. Total. People still argue about that one at sports bars every Sunday.
We also have to talk about the 2024 "Josh Allen over Lamar Jackson" drama. Lamar had the better record and better efficiency stats, but Allen had the "wow" plays—like that touchdown run against the Chiefs that ended their undefeated streak. Sometimes one play in November creates a vibe that no spreadsheet can beat.
The Full Historical Record
While the Associated Press (AP) is the one everyone recognizes as the "official" MVP, there were other groups giving out awards back in the day. But if we stick to the AP list that the NFL recognizes, here is how the timeline of the list of NFL MVPs actually looks:
The 2020s (The Dual-Threat Era)
- 2024: Josh Allen (QB, Buffalo Bills)
- 2023: Lamar Jackson (QB, Baltimore Ravens)
- 2022: Patrick Mahomes (QB, Kansas City Chiefs)
- 2021: Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay Packers)
- 2020: Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay Packers)
The 2010s (The Stat Inflation Years)
Lamar Jackson's 2019 season was only the second time someone won it unanimously. The first? Tom Brady in 2010. During this decade, the league became a passing league, and the MVP list reflects that.
- 2019: Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
- 2018: Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs)
- 2017: Tom Brady (Patriots)
- 2016: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
- 2015: Cam Newton (Panthers)
- 2014: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
- 2013: Peyton Manning (Broncos)
- 2012: Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
- 2011: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
- 2010: Tom Brady (Patriots)
The 2000s (The Transition)
This was the last time we saw running backs consistently competing. Shaun Alexander (2005) and LaDainian Tomlinson (2006) both set touchdown records that got them the trophy.
💡 You might also like: Calendario de la H: Todo lo que debes saber sobre cuando juega honduras 2025 y el camino al Mundial
- 2009: Peyton Manning (Colts)
- 2008: Peyton Manning (Colts)
- 2007: Tom Brady (Patriots)
- 2006: LaDainian Tomlinson (Chargers)
- 2005: Shaun Alexander (Seahawks)
- 2004: Peyton Manning (Colts)
- 2003: Peyton Manning (Colts) & Steve McNair (Titans)
- 2002: Rich Gannon (Raiders)
- 2001: Kurt Warner (Rams)
- 2000: Marshall Faulk (Rams)
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to predict who will join the list of NFL MVPs next season, don't just look at the stats. Look at the storyline.
Voters love a "comeback" or a "breakthrough." Look for a quarterback on a team that wins 12 or 13 games but wasn't expected to be that good. Right now, guys like Drake Maye or C.J. Stroud fit that "rising star" narrative that voters crave.
Also, keep an eye on "Voter Fatigue." If Mahomes has another 40-touchdown season, he might not win it just because people are used to him being great. They'd rather give it to a fresh face like Josh Allen (as we saw in 2024) or a dark horse candidate.
To truly understand the MVP, you have to watch the games, not just the box scores. The award usually goes to the person who feels like the protagonist of that year's NFL "movie."
Check the current betting odds for the 2025-2026 season to see who the "protagonists" are right now. Usually, the top three favorites in August are where the winner eventually comes from.