The Bert Bell Award

THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

2022 Bert Bell Award Winner: Jalen Hurts

In 2022, Hurts passed and ran for 35 total touchdowns and 4,461 total offensive yards earning Pro Bowl honors and second-team All-Pro recognition, as well as being named a finalist for the league’s Most Valuable Player Award.

Bert Bell Award Quick Facts

The Bert Bell Award is presented to the best player in the National Football League.

The award is named after Bert Bell, a Philadelphia native who worked as a college football coach after serving his country in World War I
He led a partnership to purchase the Frankford Yellowjackets – which he re-named the Philadelphia Eagles in 1933
He served as NFL commissioner from 1946 until his passing in 1959
He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963
Bert Bell is the founder of The Maxwell Football Club
The Bert Bell Award was founded in 1959

Won it More Than Once

Peyton Manning (2003, 2004, 2013)
Adrian Peterson (2008, 2012)
Rich Gannon (2000, 2002)
Brett Favre (1995, 1996)
Steve Young (1992, 1994)
Randall Cunningham (1988, 1990, 1998)
John Unitas (1959, 1964, 1967)

Won the Bert Bell AND Maxwell Awards

Peyton Manning
Drew Brees
Barry Sanders
Roger Staubach
OJ Simpson

Bert Bell Award Recipients
Since 1959

2022 - Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
2021 - Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
2020 - Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
2019 - Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
2018 - Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
2017 - Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
2016 - Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
2015 - Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
2014 - J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
2013 - Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
2012 - Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
2011 - Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
2010 - Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
2009 - Drew Brees##, New Orleans Saints
2008 - Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
2007 - Tom Brady, New England Patriots
2006 - LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
2005 - Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks
2004 - Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
2003 - Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
2002 - Rich Gannon, Oakland Raiders
2001 - Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams
2000 - Rich Gannon, Oakland Raiders
1999 - Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams
1998 - Randall Cunningham, Minnesota Vikings
1997 - Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions
1996 - Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
1995 - Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers
1994 - Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers
1993 - Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys
1992 - Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers
1991 - Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions
1990 - Randall Cunningham, Philadelphia Eagles
1989 - Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers
1988 - Randall Cunningham, Philadelphia Eagles
1987 - Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers
1986 - Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants
1985 - Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
1984 - Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins
1983 - John Riggins, Washington Redskins
1982 - Joe Theisman, Washington Redskins
1981 - Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengels
1980 - Ron Jaworski, Philadelphia Eagles
1979 - Earl Campbell, Houston Oils
1978 - Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers
1977 - Bob Griese, Miami Dolphins
1976 - Ken Stabler, Oakland Raiders
1975 - Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings
1974 - Merlin Olsen*, Los Angeles Rams
1973 - O.J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills
1972 - Larry Brown, Washington Redskins
1971 - Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys
1970 - George Blanda, Oakland Raiders
1969 - Roman Gabriel, Los Angeles Rams
1968 LeRoy Kelly, Cleveland Browns
1967 - John Unitas, Baltimore Colts
1966 - Don Meredith, Dallas Cowboys
1965 - Pete Retzlaff, Philadelphia Eagles
1964 - John Unitas, Baltimore Colts
1963 - Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns
1962 - Andy Robustelli, New York Giants
1961 - Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers
1960 - Norman Van Brocklin, Philadelphia Eagles
1959 - John Unitas, Baltimore Colts