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The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award (NFL MVP) is an award given by various entities to the American football player who is considered the most valuable in the National Football League (NFL). Selectors of the award have included the Associated Press (AP), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), and United Press International (UPI). The first award described as a most valuable player award was the Joe F. Carr Trophy, awarded by the NFL from 1938 to 1946. Today, the AP award is considered the de facto official NFL MVP award. Since the 2011 season, the NFL has held the annual NFL Honors ceremony to recognize the winner of the Associated Press MVP award.
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Associated Press NFL MVP Award
The AP has presented its MVP award since 1957. The award is voted upon by a panel of 50 sportswriters at the end of the regular season, before the playoffs, though the results are not announced to the public until the day before the Super Bowl.
Pro Football Writers Association NFL MVP Award
Pro Football Writers of America began naming their most valuable player in 1975 and continue to do so as of the 2016 season.
Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL MVP award
The Newspaper Enterprise Association presented its MVP award from 1955 to 2008. The winner was chosen by a poll of NFL players and received the Jim Thorpe Trophy, which by 1975 was described as "one of the pros' most coveted honors." Beginning in 1997, the trophy was presented by the Jim Thorpe Association, with the winner determined by a "vote of NFLPA representatives".
Joe F. Carr Trophy
The Joe F Carr Trophy was the first award in the NFL to recognize a most valuable player. It was named in honor of NFL commissioner Joseph Carr and remains the only MVP award the NFL has officially sanctioned.
United Press International NFL MVP/POY award
United Press International gave an NFL MVP/player of the year award from 1948 through 1969, excepting 1949–50, and 1952. In 1970 UPI instituted separate awards for the NFC and AFC. In 1975 UPI added a Defensive Player of the Year Award for both the NFC and AFC.