List of NFL awards
In the National Football League, the highest level of professional American football in North America, there are a variety of awards presented to recognize players and teams for outstanding achievements. Each year on the night before the Super Bowl, the NFL Honors ceremony is held to present many of the league's most prestigious awards. In addition to these awards, there are many other organizations that present their own awards after each NFL season, often accompanied by a banquet and other festivities. Because of this, there is a much wider range of awards recognized in football compared to that of other major North American sports.
Team awards
Vince Lombardi Trophy
The Vince Lombardi Trophy is awarded to the winning team of each season's Super Bowl, the NFL's championship game. The original trophy, designed by jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co., was awarded in 1967 to the winner of the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game, known retroactively as Super Bowl I. It was named in 1970 in honor of longtime Green Bay Packers head coach, Vince Lombardi.George Halas Trophy
The George Halas Trophy is awarded each season to the National Football Conference champion, i.e., the winner of that season's NFC Championship Game. It is named after the founder, owner, and longtime head coach of the Chicago Bears, George Halas.Lamar Hunt Trophy
The Lamar Hunt Trophy is awarded each season to the American Football Conference champion, i.e., the winner of that season's AFC Championship Game. It is named in honor of Lamar Hunt, the founder of the Kansas City Chiefs.Brunswick-Balke-Collender Cup
The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Cup was awarded only once—in 1920 to the Akron Pros after winning that season's APFA championship. The trophy was lost soon after, and its whereabouts are unknown.Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy
The Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy was awarded to the champions of the NFL from 1934 through 1969, the final NFL championship Game prior to the AFL–NFL merger. It was named in honor of longtime NFL referee, Ed Thorp, who died in 1934. The trophy was deemed lost for decades; it was believed the Minnesota Vikings, who were the last to win the trophy, somehow lost it when the league switched over to the Lombardi Trophy the following year. However, in 2015, the trophy was found to be in the possession of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, along with two replicas.Individual awards
Most Valuable Player
A most valuable player award is handed out each year to the player adjudged to be the most valuable in the NFL that season. While the Associated Press MVP award is the most widely recognized today, many selectors have chosen MVPs over the years, including the Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, and Pro Football Writers Association. The first award to recognize the NFL's "most valuable player" was the Joe F. Carr Trophy, first given in 1938. Named in honor of NFL commissioner Joseph Carr, it was awarded until 1946, and remains the only MVP award officially sanctioned by the NFL until. The AP MVP award has been presented annually at the NFL Honors since 2012.Offensive Player of the Year
The NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is an annual award given by various organizations to the player who is considered the top offensive player during the regular season. Organizations which issue the award include AP, PFWA, and Sporting News. The AP's award is recognized at the annual NFL Honors ceremony.Defensive Player of the Year
A Defensive Player of the Year has been recognized annually by various selectors. Awards include the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, Pro Football Writers Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and Newspaper Enterprise Association Defensive Player of the Year Award. The Associated Press award has been presented annually at the NFL Honors since 2012.Rookie of the Year
Several organizations have given an award to honor each season's top rookie, usually on both offense and defense. United Press International gave an NFL rookie of the year award from 1955 to 1969, and from 1970 to 1996 honored the top rookies in both the NFC and AFC. From 1964 to 1996, the Newspaper Enterprise Association gave the Bert Bell Memorial Trophy to the NFL's most outstanding rookie. The Associated Press has given an offensive rookie of the year award since 1957 and a defensive rookie of the year award since 1967. Pepsi began awarding an overall rookie of the year in 2002. Since 2011, the AP and Pepsi awards have been presented at the NFL Honors.Comeback Player of the Year
Several organizations give an award for the comeback player of the year in the NFL, honoring a player who showed significant improvement or overcame an injury from previous season. The AP award has been presented annually at the NFL Honors since 2012.Super Bowl MVP
The Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award is presented annually to the MVP of the Super Bowl. The winner is chosen by a fan vote during the game and by a panel of 16 football writers and broadcasters who vote after the game. The media panel's ballots count for 80 percent of the vote tally, while the viewers' ballots make up the other 20 percent. The Super Bowl MVP has been awarded annually since the game's inception in 1967. Through 1989, the award was presented by SPORT magazine. Since 1990, the award has been presented by the NFL. At Super Bowl XXV, the league first awarded the Pete Rozelle Trophy, named after the former NFL commissioner, to the Super Bowl MVP. Most award winners have received cars from various sponsors.Coach of the Year
Several organizations give a coach of the year award to the head coach adjudged to have had the most outstanding season. The Associated Press has also handed out an Assistant Coach of the Year Award since 2014.Executive of the Year
This award, which is handed out by the Sporting News, is awarded to an NFL executive adjudged to have had the best season building a roster by way of drafting, free agency, and/or trades. It was first awarded by the Sporting News in 1955 and was discontinued until being revived in 1972.Pro Bowl
The Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the NFL. The first Pro Bowl was held in 1951 to recognize the league's outstanding performers of the 1950 season. Prior to that, the NFL held an All-Star Game for the 1938 through 1942 seasons.All-Pro Team
Various media selectors compile an All-Pro team after each season, an honorary team of the best players at each position. There has been at least one selector of an All-Pro team every season since the NFL began play in 1920. Today, the teams by the Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, and Sporting News are designated in the NFL Players Association's collective bargaining agreement for purposes of player incentives, and are thus the most widely recognized teams.All-Rookie Team
The Pro Football Writers Association honors the top rookies at each position after each season by naming them to its All-Rookie Team.Butkus Award
The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985 by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football. The award, named in honor of College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Dick Butkus, is presented by the Butkus Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports a number of health and wellness activities including the "I Play Clean" anti-steroid program. The award was first established by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando, which relinquished control of the award in 2008 following a lawsuit by Butkus.Traditionally, the award was given only to the top collegiate linebacker. The Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to include high school and professional winners as part of a makeover by the Butkus family to help end anabolic steroid abuse among young athletes.