List of NFL Comeback Player of the Year awards

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A number of NFL Comeback Player of the Year awards are given to National Football League (NFL) players who have demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity by overcoming illness, physical injury or other circumstances that led them to miss playing time the previous season.[1] [2] The awards have been presented by several organizations, including the Associated Press (AP), Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA), Sporting News, and United Press International (UPI).

Associated Press

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From 1963 to 1966, the award was given by the Associated Press (AP) to both an NFL and AFL player. No award was given between 1966 and 1998. Paul Lowe, Chad Pennington, and Joe Burrow are the only recipients of the award to have won twice.

More information Year, Player ...
AP Comeback Player of the Year
Year Player Position Team
1963 Jim Martin Kicker Baltimore Colts
Paul Lowe Running back San Diego Chargers
1964 Lenny Moore Baltimore Colts
Abner Haynes Kansas City Chiefs
1965 John Brodie Quarterback San Francisco 49ers
Paul Lowe (2) Running back San Diego Chargers
1966 Dick Bass Los Angeles Rams
Babe Parilli Quarterback Boston Patriots
No award given between 1967 and 1997
1998 Doug Flutie Quarterback Buffalo Bills
1999 Bryant Young Defensive tackle San Francisco 49ers
2000 Joe Johnson Defensive end New Orleans Saints
2001 Garrison Hearst Running back San Francisco 49ers
2002 Tommy Maddox Quarterback Pittsburgh Steelers
2003 Jon Kitna Cincinnati Bengals
2004 Drew Brees San Diego Chargers
2005 Tedy Bruschi Linebacker New England Patriots
Steve Smith Sr. Wide receiver Carolina Panthers
2006 Chad Pennington Quarterback New York Jets
2007 Greg Ellis Defensive end Dallas Cowboys
2008 Chad Pennington (2) Quarterback Miami Dolphins
2009 Tom Brady New England Patriots
2010 Michael Vick Philadelphia Eagles
2011 Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions
2012 Peyton Manning Denver Broncos
2013 Philip Rivers San Diego Chargers
2014 Rob Gronkowski Tight end New England Patriots
2015 Eric Berry Safety Kansas City Chiefs
2016 Jordy Nelson Wide receiver Green Bay Packers
2017 Keenan Allen Los Angeles Chargers
2018 Andrew Luck Quarterback Indianapolis Colts
2019 Ryan Tannehill Tennessee Titans
2020 Alex Smith Washington Football Team
2021 Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals
2022 Geno Smith Seattle Seahawks
2023 Joe Flacco Cleveland Browns
2024 Joe Burrow (2) Cincinnati Bengals
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Pro Football Weekly / Pro Football Writers Association

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Perspective

From 1972 to 1991, the Comeback Player of the Year award was presented by Pro Football Weekly (PFW) only. PFW and the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) combined their awards from 1992 to 2012.[3]

More information Season, Player ...
SeasonPlayerTeamPosition
1972Earl MorrallMiami DolphinsQuarterback
1973Roman GabrielPhiladelphia Eagles
1974Joe NamathNew York Jets
1975Dave HamptonAtlanta FalconsRunning back
1976Greg LandryDetroit LionsQuarterback
1977Craig MortonDenver Broncos
1978John RigginsWashington RedskinsRunning back
1979Larry CsonkaMiami DolphinsFullback
1980Jim PlunkettOakland RaidersQuarterback
1981Ken AndersonCincinnati Bengals
1982Lyle AlzadoLos Angeles RaidersDefensive end
1983Billy JohnsonAtlanta FalconsWide receiver
1984John StallworthPittsburgh Steelers
1985
No award given
1986Joe MontanaSan Francisco 49ersQuarterback
Tommy Kramer Minnesota Vikings
1987Charles WhiteLos Angeles RamsRunning back
1988Greg BellLos Angeles Rams
1989Ottis AndersonNew York Giants
1990Barry WordKansas City Chiefs
1991Jim McMahonPhiladelphia EaglesQuarterback
1992Randall Cunningham
1993Marcus AllenKansas City ChiefsRunning back
1994Dan MarinoMiami DolphinsQuarterback
1995Jim HarbaughIndianapolis Colts
Garrison Hearst Arizona Cardinals Running back
1996Jerome BettisPittsburgh Steelers
1997Robert BrooksGreen Bay PackersWide receiver
1998Doug FlutieBuffalo BillsQuarterback
1999Bryant YoungSan Francisco 49ersDefensive tackle
2000Joe JohnsonNew Orleans SaintsDefensive end
2001Garrison Hearst (2)San Francisco 49ersRunning back
2002Tommy MaddoxPittsburgh SteelersQuarterback
2003Jon KitnaCincinnati Bengals
2004Willis McGaheeBuffalo BillsRunning back
2005Steve SmithCarolina PanthersWide receiver
2006Chad PenningtonNew York JetsQuarterback
2007Randy MossNew England PatriotsWide receiver
2008Chad Pennington (2)Miami DolphinsQuarterback
2009Tom BradyNew England Patriots
2010Michael VickPhiladelphia Eagles
2011Matthew StaffordDetroit Lions
2012Adrian PetersonMinnesota VikingsRunning Back
2013Philip RiversSan Diego ChargersQuarterback
2014Rob GronkowskiNew England PatriotsTight end
2015Eric BerryKansas City ChiefsSafety
2016Jordy NelsonGreen Bay PackersWide receiver
2017Keenan AllenLos Angeles Chargers
2018Andrew LuckIndianapolis ColtsQuarterback
2019Ryan TannehillTennessee Titans
2020Josh AllenBuffalo Bills
2021 Joe Burrow Cincinnati Bengals
2022 Geno Smith Seattle Seahawks
2023 Damar Hamlin Buffalo BillsSafety
2024 Joe Burrow Cincinnati BengalsQuarterback


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Sporting News

UPI

In 1962, United Press International (UPI) chose a comeback player for the first time. The winner, Frank Gifford, had made a comeback from a devastating injury from a hit by Chuck Bednarik. The following year, the Associated Press (AP) established a similar award. UPI discontinued the award after 1963, with the exception of 1969. The AP did not give out the award from 1967 to 1998, when the award was reinstituted and given to Doug Flutie.

  • 1962 Frank Gifford, WR, New York Giants[19]
  • 1963 Ed Brown, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers[20]
  • 1964–1968 No award given
  • 1969 Gale Sayers, RB, Chicago Bears

See also

References

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