National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award
The National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award refers to a number of awards that are given to an NFL player who has shown perseverance in overcoming adversity, in the form of not being in the NFL the previous year, a severe injury, or simply poor performance.[1] The awards have been presented by several organizations, including the Associated Press (AP), Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association (PFW/PFWA), Sporting News, and United Press International (UPI).
Contents
AP Comeback Player of the Year award (1963–present)[edit]
- 1963 Jim Martin, K, Baltimore Colts (NFL);[2] Paul Lowe, RB, San Diego Chargers (AFL)[3]
- 1964 Lenny Moore, RB, Baltimore Colts (NFL);[4] Abner Haynes, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (AFL)[5]
- 1965 John Brodie, QB, San Francisco 49ers (NFL);[6] Paul Lowe, RB, San Diego Chargers (AFL)[7]
- 1966 Dick Bass, RB, Los Angeles Rams (NFL);[8] Babe Parilli, QB, Boston Patriots (AFL)[9]
- 1967-1997 No award given
- 1998 Doug Flutie, QB, Buffalo[10]
- 1999 Bryant Young, DT, San Francisco[11]
- 2000 Joe Johnson, DE, New Orleans[12]
- 2001 Garrison Hearst, RB, San Francisco[13]
- 2002 Tommy Maddox, QB, Pittsburgh[14]
- 2003 Jon Kitna, QB, Cincinnati[15]
- 2004 Drew Brees, QB, San Diego[16]
- 2005 (tie) Tedy Bruschi, LB, New England[17]
- 2005 (tie) Steve Smith, WR, Carolina[17]
- 2006 Chad Pennington, QB, New York Jets[18]
- 2007 Greg Ellis, LB, Dallas[19]
- 2008 Chad Pennington (2), QB, Miami[20]
- 2009 Tom Brady, QB, New England[21]
- 2010 Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia[22]
- 2011 Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit[23]
- 2012 Peyton Manning, QB, Denver[24]
- 2013 Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego[25]
- 2014 Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England[26]
PFW/PFWA Comeback Player of the Year award (1972–present)[edit]
From 1972 to 1991, the Comeback Player of the Year award was presented by Pro Football Weekly (PFW) only. PFW and the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) combined their awards from 1992-2012.[27]
Season | Player | Team | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | Earl Morrall | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback | Michigan State |
1973 | Roman Gabriel | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback | North Carolina State |
1974 | Joe Namath | New York Jets | Quarterback | Alabama |
1975 | Dave Hampton | Atlanta Falcons | Running back | Wyoming |
1976 | Greg Landry | Detroit Lions | Quarterback | Massachusetts |
1977 | Craig Morton | Denver Broncos | Quarterback | California |
1978 | John Riggins | Washington Redskins | Running back | Kansas |
1979 | Larry Csonka | Miami Dolphins | Fullback | Syracuse |
1980 | Jim Plunkett | Oakland Raiders | Quarterback | Stanford |
1981 | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback | Augustana |
1982 | Lyle Alzado | Los Angeles Raiders | Defensive end | Yankton |
1983 | Billy Johnson | Atlanta Falcons | Wide receiver | Widener |
1984 | John Stallworth | Pittsburgh Steelers | Wide receiver | Alabama A&M |
1985 | No Award | |||
1986 | Joe Montana Tommy Kramer |
San Francisco 49ers Minnesota Vikings |
Quarterback Quarterback |
Notre Dame Rice |
1987 | Charles White | Los Angeles Rams | Running back | USC |
1988 | Greg Bell | Los Angeles Rams | Running back | Notre Dame |
1989 | Ottis Anderson | New York Giants | Running back | Miami (FL) |
1990 | Barry Word | Kansas City Chiefs | Running back | Virginia |
1991 | Jim McMahon | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback | Brigham Young |
1992 | Randall Cunningham | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback | UNLV |
1993 | Marcus Allen | Kansas City Chiefs | Running back | USC |
1994 | Dan Marino | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback | Pittsburgh |
1995 | Jim Harbaugh | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback | Michigan |
1996 | Jerome Bettis | Pittsburgh Steelers | Running back | Notre Dame |
1997 | Robert Brooks | Green Bay Packers | Wide receiver | South Carolina |
1998 | Doug Flutie | Buffalo Bills | Quarterback | Boston College |
1999 | Bryant Young | San Francisco 49ers | Defensive tackle | Notre Dame |
2000 | Joe Johnson | New Orleans Saints | Defensive end | Louisville |
2001 | Garrison Hearst | San Francisco 49ers | Running Back | Georgia |
2002 | Tommy Maddox | Pittsburgh Steelers | Quarterback | UCLA |
2003 | Jon Kitna | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback | Central Washington |
2004 | Willis McGahee | Buffalo Bills | Running Back | Miami (FL) |
2005 | Steve Smith | Carolina Panthers | Wide receiver | Utah |
2006 | Chad Pennington | New York Jets | Quarterback | Marshall |
2007 | Randy Moss | New England Patriots | Wide Receiver | Marshall |
2008 | Chad Pennington (2) | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback | Marshall |
2009 | Tom Brady | New England Patriots | Quarterback | Michigan |
2010 | Michael Vick | Philadelphia Eagles | Quarterback | Virginia Tech |
2011 | Matthew Stafford | Detroit Lions | Quarterback | Georgia |
2012 | Adrian Peterson | Minnesota Vikings | Running Back | Oklahoma |
2013 | Philip Rivers | San Diego Chargers | Quarterback | North Carolina State |
2014 | Rob Gronkowski | New England Patriots | Tight end | University of Arizona |
UPI Comeback Player of the Year award (1962–1969)[edit]
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[28]
- 1963 Ed Brown, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers[29]
- 1964-1968 No award given
- 1969 Gale Sayers, RB, Chicago Bears[30]
Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year award[edit]
- 2008 – Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers[31]
- 2009 – Vince Young, QB. Tennessee Titans[32]
- 2010 – Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles[33]
- 2011 – Plaxico Burress, WR, New York Jets[34]
- 2012 – Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings[35]
- 2013 – Darrelle Revis, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers[36]
- 2014 – Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
References[edit]
General[edit]
- "Comeback Player of the Year". Pro Football Writers of America. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
Specific[edit]
- ^ "NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award". Football Almanac.
- ^ Associated Press. (12-14-1963). "Colt Placekicker; Goldbricker Martin Named Info's Ton Comeback" Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (1-03-1964). Lowe of Chargers Claims He's Ready For Pat's Defense Hartford Courant, Hartford, CT. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (12-14-1964). Shula, Unitas Honored as Top Coach, Player Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (12-17-1964) Haynes Cited for Comeback New York Times. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (12-24-1965)Brown Is Named Player of Year; In Other Words, Most Valuable New York Times. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (12-17-1965). Lowe Named Comeback Player of the Year. The Gettysburg Times, PA. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (12-17-1966). RAMS' BASS NAMED NFL'S COMEBACK PLAYER OF YEAR Los Angeles Times. Reference 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (12-24-1966). BURNETT, PARILLI WIN A.F.L. AWARDS; Named to Rookie of Year and Comeback Honors New York Times. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (1-08-1999) Flutie wins inaugural comeback player honor The Sun - Baltimore, Md. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (1-07-2000).BRYANT YOUNG IS COMEBACK PLAYER OF YEAR Chicago Tribune - Chicago, Ill. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (12-28-2000). Johnson is NFL Comeback Player of Year CBC.ca.com. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (1-11-2002). Garrison Hearst wins Comeback Player of the Year award San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, CA). Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (1-02-2003). Maddox is NFL Comeback Player of Year CBC.ca.com. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Wilner, Barry. (1-02-2004) Kitna edges Carter, Brown for AP Comeback Player honor USA Today.com. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Associated Press. (1-10-2005). Brees is NFL comeback player of year CBC.ca.com. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ a b Curran, Tom (6 January 2006). "Pats' Bruschi shares Comeback Player award". The Providence Journal. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ Associated Press. (1-04-2007) Pennington named Comeback Player of the Year Monsters and Critics.com Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Bensch, Bob. (1-12-2008). Cowboys' Greg Ellis Named NFL's Comeback Player of the Year Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Holder, Stephen. (1-01-2009) Miami Dolphins QB Chad Pennington truly is comeback player of the year St. Petersburg Times.com Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Wilner, Barry (2010-01-06). "Brady named Comeback Player of the Year". Associated Press. NBC Sports. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ^ "Michael Vick wins Comeback POY". espn.com. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ "Lions QB Stafford wins Comeback Player of Year". Fox News. 4 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ "Peyton Manning wins Comeback Player of the Year". NFL.com. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ "http://www.chargers.com/news/article-1/Philip-Rivers-Named-NFL-Comeback-Player-of-Year/b49988e3-e01b-4e39-ba96-cf060cb69f9b".
- ^ "http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000466440/article/rob-gronkowski-wins-comeback-player-of-the-year-award?campaign=twitter_atn".
- ^ "Comeback Player of the Year". Pro Football Writers Association. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ United Press International (1-04-1963).NFL Comeback-of-the-Year Award Voted to Frank Gifford of Giants Hartford Courant, Hartford CT. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ United Press International. (12-21-1963).Steelers' Brown Comeback Winner Lodi News-Sentinel. Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ United Press International. (12-24-1969). Stellino, Vito. Bear's Sayers Comeback Winner UPI. Retrieved 12-28-2010.
- ^ Sporting News. (January 15, 2009). SN's Comeback Player of the Year: Antonio Bryant Sporting News.com Retrieved 12-20-2009.
- ^ Sporting News. (January 14, 2010). Titans QB Vince Young voted Sporting News 2009 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Sporting News.com Retrieved 12-20-2009.</
- ^ "SN 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Michael Vick". Sporting News. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ^ http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2012-01-24/sporting-news-2011-nfl-awards-plaxico-burress-comeback-player-of-the-year
- ^ http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2013-01-22/adrian-peterson-comeback-player-of-the-year-peyton-manning-vikings
- ^ "Can't keep Darrelle Revis down; Bucs cornerback named Sporting News' Comeback Player of the Year". sportingnews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
|
|