UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year

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From 1960 to 1969, the United Press International (UPI) gave the annual AFL Player of the Year award in the American Football League, whose teams in 1970 became the American Football Conference (AFC) of the new National Football League (NFL).

From 1970 — following the AFL–NFL merger — until 1996, UPI then gave two annual player of the year awards. One was given in the National Football Conference (NFC) of the new NFL. The other award was given in the American Football Conference (AFC) of the new NFL. An AFC Player of the Year was named from 1970 through 1984, won each year be an offensive player. An AFC Defensive Player of the Year was named from 1975 to 1996, and an AFC Offensive Player of the Year, which replaced the overall player of the year award in 1985, was issued until 1996.[1]

Winners[edit]

Season Offense[1] Defense[2]
Player Team Position Player Team Position
1960 Abner Haynes Dallas Texans Halfback - - -
1961 George Blanda (1) Houston Oilers Quarterback - - -
1962 Cookie Gilchrist Buffalo Bills Fullback - - -
1963 Lance Alworth San Diego Chargers Flanker - - -
1964 Gino Cappelletti Boston Patriots Flanker, kicker - - -
1965 Jack Kemp Buffalo Bills Quarterback - - -
1966 Jim Nance Boston Patriots Fullback - - -
1967 Daryle Lamonica (1) Oakland Raiders Quarterback - - -
1968 Joe Namath New York Jets Quarterback - - -
1969 Daryle Lamonica (2) Oakland Raiders Quarterback - - -
1970 George Blanda (2) Oakland Raiders Quarterback, kicker - - -
1971 Otis Taylor Kansas City Chiefs Wide receiver - - -
1972 O. J. Simpson (1) Buffalo Bills Running back - - -
1973 O. J. Simpson (2) Buffalo Bills Running back - - -
1974 Ken Stabler Oakland Raiders Quarterback - - -
1975 O. J. Simpson (3) Buffalo Bills Running back Mel Blount Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback
1976 Bert Jones Baltimore Colts Quarterback Jack Lambert (1) Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker
1977 Craig Morton Denver Broncos Quarterback Lyle Alzado Denver Broncos Defensive end
1978 Earl Campbell[3] Houston Oilers Running back Randy Gradishar Denver Broncos Linebacker
1979 Dan Fouts (1) San Diego Chargers Quarterback Jack Lambert (2)[4] Pittsburgh Steelers Linbebacker
1980 Brian Sipe Cleveland Browns Quarterback Lester Hayes Oakland Raiders Cornerback
1981 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Joe Klecko New York Jets Defensive end
1982 Dan Fouts (2) San Diego Chargers Quarterback No award - -
1983 Curt Warner (1) Seattle Seahawks Running back Rod Martin[5] Los Angeles Raiders Linebacker
1984 Dan Marino (1) Miami Dolphins Quarterback Mark Gastineau[6] New York Jets Defensive end
1985 Marcus Allen Los Angeles Raiders Running back Andre Tippett New England Patriots Linebacker
1986 Curt Warner (2) Seattle Seahawks Running back Rulon Jones Denver Broncos Defensive end
1987 John Elway (1) Denver Broncos Quarterback Bruce Smith (1) Buffalo Bills Defensive end
1988 Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Bruce Smith (2) (tie)
Cornelius Bennett (1) (tie)
Buffalo Bills Defensive end
Linebacker
1989 Christian Okoye Kansas City Chiefs Running back Michael Dean Perry Cleveland Browns Nose tackle
1990 Warren Moon Houston Oilers Quarterback Bruce Smith (3) Buffalo Bills Defensive end
1991 Thurman Thomas Buffalo Bills Running back Cornelius Bennett (2) Buffalo Bills Linebacker
1992 Barry Foster Pittsburgh Steelers Running back Junior Seau San Diego Chargers Linebacker
1993 John Elway (2) Denver Broncos Quarterback Rod Woodson Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback
1994 Dan Marino (2) Miami Dolphins Quarterback Greg Lloyd Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker
1995 Jim Harbaugh Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Bryce Paup Buffalo Bills Linebacker
1996 Terrell Davis Denver Broncos Running back Bruce Smith (4) Buffalo Bills Defensive end

Multiple-time winners[edit]

Total awards won
Wins Team
13 Buffalo Bills
7 Denver Broncos
Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders
6 Pittsburgh Steelers
4 Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers
3 Boston / New England Patriots
Cleveland Browns
Houston Oilers
Dallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs
New York Jets
2 Baltimore / Indianapolis Colts
Cincinnati Bengals
Miami Dolphins
Seattle Seahawks

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Carroll, Bob (1999). Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 387–389. ISBN 9780062701749. Retrieved June 6, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Carroll 1999, p. 389.
  3. ^ "Earl Campbell Collects AFC Player Of Year Crown". The Galveston Daily News. United Press International. December 29, 1978. p. 11. Retrieved March 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Jack Lambert best defensively in AFC". The Berkshire Eagle. UPI. January 9, 1980. p. 25. Retrieved June 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Raffo, Dave (January 6, 1984). "Taylor, Martin Top Defensive Players". The Brattleboro Reformer. UPI. p. 11. Retrieved June 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Sherman, Joel (December 28, 1984). "Gastineau earns another honor for play". Telegraph-Forum. UPI. p. 11. Retrieved June 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.