UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year

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

SeasonOffense[1]Defense[2]
PlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPosition
1960Abner HaynesDallas TexansHalfback---
1961George Blanda (1)Houston OilersQuarterback---
1962Cookie GilchristBuffalo BillsFullback---
1963Lance AlworthSan Diego ChargersFlanker---
1964Gino CappellettiBoston PatriotsFlanker, kicker---
1965Jack KempBuffalo BillsQuarterback---
1966Jim NanceBoston PatriotsFullback---
1967Daryle Lamonica (1)Oakland RaidersQuarterback---
1968Joe NamathNew York JetsQuarterback---
1969Daryle Lamonica (2)Oakland RaidersQuarterback---
1970George Blanda (2)Oakland RaidersQuarterback, kicker---
1971Otis TaylorKansas City ChiefsWide receiver---
1972O. J. Simpson (1)Buffalo BillsRunning back---
1973O. J. Simpson (2)Buffalo BillsRunning back---
1974Ken StablerOakland RaidersQuarterback---
1975O. J. Simpson (3)Buffalo BillsRunning backMel BlountPittsburgh SteelersCornerback
1976Bert JonesBaltimore ColtsQuarterbackJack Lambert (1)Pittsburgh SteelersLinebacker
1977Craig MortonDenver BroncosQuarterbackLyle AlzadoDenver BroncosDefensive end
1978Earl Campbell[3]Houston OilersRunning backRandy GradisharDenver BroncosLinebacker
1979Dan Fouts (1)San Diego ChargersQuarterbackJack Lambert (2)[4]Pittsburgh SteelersLinbebacker
1980Brian SipeCleveland BrownsQuarterbackLester HayesOakland RaidersCornerback
1981Ken AndersonCincinnati BengalsQuarterbackJoe KleckoNew York JetsDefensive end
1982Dan Fouts (2)San Diego ChargersQuarterbackNo award--
1983Curt Warner (1)Seattle SeahawksRunning backRod Martin[5]Los Angeles RaidersLinebacker
1984Dan Marino (1)Miami DolphinsQuarterbackMark Gastineau[6]New York JetsDefensive end
1985Marcus AllenLos Angeles RaidersRunning backAndre TippettNew England PatriotsLinebacker
1986Curt Warner (2)Seattle SeahawksRunning backRulon JonesDenver BroncosDefensive end
1987John Elway (1)Denver BroncosQuarterbackBruce Smith (1)Buffalo BillsDefensive end
1988Boomer EsiasonCincinnati BengalsQuarterbackBruce Smith (2) (tie)
Cornelius Bennett (1) (tie)
Buffalo BillsDefensive end
Linebacker
1989Christian OkoyeKansas City ChiefsRunning backMichael Dean PerryCleveland BrownsNose tackle
1990Warren MoonHouston OilersQuarterbackBruce Smith (3)Buffalo BillsDefensive end
1991Thurman ThomasBuffalo BillsRunning backCornelius Bennett (2)Buffalo BillsLinebacker
1992Barry FosterPittsburgh SteelersRunning backJunior SeauSan Diego ChargersLinebacker
1993John Elway (2)Denver BroncosQuarterbackRod WoodsonPittsburgh SteelersCornerback
1994Dan Marino (2)Miami DolphinsQuarterbackGreg LloydPittsburgh SteelersLinebacker
1995Jim HarbaughIndianapolis ColtsQuarterbackBryce PaupBuffalo BillsLinebacker
1996Terrell DavisDenver BroncosRunning backBruce Smith (4)Buffalo BillsDefensive end

Multiple-time winners

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

See also

References