List of NFL Rookie of the Year awards


Various entities present an NFL Rookie of the Year award each season to the top rookies in the National Football League. The NFL considers the rookie of the year awards by the Associated Press to be its official honor. Since 2011, the AP awards have been presented at the NFL Honors.

Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

The Pro Football Writers of America Rookie of the Year awards have been given annually to an offensive and defensive rookie in the NFL since 1969, except in 1985. In 2013, PFWA began selecting an overall NFL rookie of the year in addition to its offensive and defensive honors. The winners are chosen by Pro Football Weekly writers/editors and PFWA members.

''The Sporting News''

The Sporting News NFL Rookie of the Year award is chosen annually by NFL players, coaches, and executives. Separate winners were named for the NFL and AFL between 1960 and 1969. After the merger, separate winners continued to be named for both the NFC and AFC through 1979. Since 1980, one winner has been chosen across the entire league.

Pepsi

Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year, sponsored by Pepsi since 2002, is a fan-voted award given to the best performing rookie player in the National Football League. Winners are chosen among five finalists tallied from total votes given to Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week winners by votes on NFL.com. The award is sometimes named after Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar.

Defunct awards

United Press International

United Press International awarded an annual NFL Rookie of the Year award from 1955 to 1959 and two annual awards from 1960 to 1996. From 1960 to 1969 the awards went to a rookie from the NFL and American Football League, and after the AFL–NFL merger in 1970, the awards went to a rookie from the National Football Conference and American Football Conference.

Newspaper Enterprise Association

The NEA NFL Rookie of the Year award was founded in 1964 by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. and was created by Murray Olderman, the senior sports editor for the NEA. From 1971 through 1976 winners for both the American Football Conference and National Football Conference were chosen, except in 1974. The award was discontinued after the 1998 season. Winners were awarded the Bert Bell Memorial Trophy, in honor of former NFL commissioner Bert Bell.
SeasonPlayerTeamPosition
1964Charley TaylorWashingtonWR
1965Gale SayersChicagoRB
1966Tommy NobisAtlantaLB
1967Mel FarrDetroitRB
1968Earl McCullouchDetroitWR
1969Calvin HillDallasRB
1970Raymond ChesterOaklandTE
1971Jim Plunkett New EnglandQB
1971John Brockington Green BayRB
1972Franco Harris PittsburghRB
1972Willie Buchanon Green BayCB
1973Boobie Clark CincinnatiRB
1973Charle Young PhiladelphiaTE
1974Don WoodsSan DiegoRB
1975Robert Brazile HoustonLB
1975Steve Bartkowski AtlantaQB
1976Mike Haynes New EnglandCB
1976Sammy White MinnesotaWR
1977Tony DorsettDallasRB
1978Earl CampbellHoustonRB
1979Ottis AndersonSt. LouisRB
1980Billy SimsDetroitRB
1981Lawrence TaylorNY GiantsOLB
1982Marcus AllenLA RaidersRB
1983Eric DickersonLA RamsRB
1984Louis LippsPittsburghWR
1985Eddie BrownCincinnatiWR
1986Rueben MayesNew OrleansRB
1987Bo JacksonLA RaidersRB
1988John StephensNew EnglandRB
1989Barry SandersDetroitRB
1990Eric GreenPittsburghTE
1991Mike CroelDenverOLB
1992Dale CarterKansas CityCB
1993Jerome BettisLA RamsRB
1994Marshall FaulkIndianapolisRB
1995Joey GallowaySeattleWR
1996Eddie GeorgeHoustonRB
1997Warrick DunnTampa BayRB
1998Randy MossMinnesotaWR

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