National Football League Alumni

The NFL Alumni is a 501(c)(3) charity that is composed of former NFL players and associate members who work voluntarily to raise funds for youth-oriented causes and engage in hands-on service to foster the development of "youth through sports and sports through youth." The NFL Alumni advances its motto of "Caring for Kids" from its national headquarters in Newark, NJ's 1 Washington Park building, and an additional 30 chapters across the country. The NFL Alumni is a dues-paying membership association. Anyone who ever played professional football qualifies to join as a Professional Member. Individuals who did not play in the NFL may enroll as Associate Members. ESPN.com

The cornerstone of the NFL Alumni's fundraising efforts is its Charity Golf Classic Tour which began in 1979. Among its programs for former players is the Dire Need Trust that provides financial assistance for former NFL players in need. Another program is the Pro Legends Speakers Bureau which books former NFL players for personal appearances around the country.

Since 1982 the NFL Alumni has held the Player of the Year Awards Dinner honoring the top 10 players and coach from the previous NFL season. The players are honored by a unique voting process in which former players cast ballots for their modern counterparts. Former pros vote only for the positions they once played themselves.

2011 NFL Alumni Player of the Year winners

 * Quarterback – Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
 * Running Back – Maurice Jones-Drew, (Jaguars)
 * Wide Receiver – Hakeem Nicks, (Giants)
 * Lineman - Chris Long, (Rams)
 * Linebacker – Aldon Smith, (49ers)
 * Defensive Back – Brent Grimes, (Falcons)
 * Player of the Year - Maurice Jones-Drew, (Jaguars)
 * Lifetime Achievement - Randall Cunningham
 * Source:

2010 Player of the Year winners
OFFENSE
 * Quarterback – Philip Rivers, (Chargers)
 * Running Back – Maurice Jones-Drew, (Jaguars)
 * Wide Receiver – Roddy White, (Falcons)
 * Tight End – Jason Witten, (Cowboys)
 * Offensive Lineman – Josh Sitton, (Packers)

DEFENSE
 * Defensive Lineman – Ndamukong Suh, (Lions)
 * Linebacker – Patrick Willis, (49ers)
 * Defensive Back – Aqib Talib, (Buccaneers)

SPECIAL TEAMS
 * Special Teams Player – Devin Hester, (Bears)

OVERALL
 * Player of the Year - Troy Polamalu, (Steelers)

COACH
 * Coach – Todd Haley, (Chiefs)


 * Source:

2009 Player of the Year winners
OFFENSE
 * Quarterback – Drew Brees, (Saints)
 * Running Back – Chris Johnson, (Titans)
 * Wide Receiver – Andre Johnson, (Texans)
 * Tight End – Dallas Clark, (Colts)
 * Offensive Lineman – Steve Hutchinson, (Vikings)

DEFENSE
 * Defensive Lineman – Jared Allen, (Vikings)
 * Pass Rusher – Elvis Dumervil, (Broncos)
 * Linebacker – Patrick Willis, (49ers)
 * Defensive Back – Charles Woodson, (Packers)

SPECIAL TEAMS
 * Special Teams Player – Joshua Cribbs, (Browns)

COACH
 * Coach – Sean Payton, (Saints)

2008 Player of the Year Awards
OFFENSE
 * Quarterback—Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)
 * Running Back—Adrian Peterson (Minnesota Vikings)
 * Wide Receiver—Andre Johnson(Houston Texans)
 * Tight End—Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys)
 * Offensive Lineman—Alan Faneca (New York Jets)

DEFENSE
 * Defensive Lineman—Albert Haynesworth (Tennessee Titans)
 * Pass Rusher—DeMarcus Ware (Dallas Cowboys)
 * Linebacker—James Harrison (Pittsburgh Steelers)
 * Defensive Back—Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens)

SPECIAL TEAMS
 * Special Teams Player—Leon Washington (New York Jets)

COACH
 * Coach—Tony Sparano (Miami Dolphins)

2007 Player of the Year winners
OFFENSE
 * Quarterback—Tom Brady (New England Patriots)
 * Running back—Brian Westbrook (Philadelphia Eagles)
 * Wide Receiver—Randy Moss (New England Patriots)
 * Tight end—Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys)
 * Offensive Linemen—Jeff Saturday (Indianapolis Colts)

DEFENSE
 * Defensive Lineman—Mario Williams (Houston Texans)
 * Pass Rusher—Jared Allen (Kansas City Chiefs)
 * Linebacker—Patrick Willis (San Francisco 49ers)
 * Defensive Back—Antonio Cromartie (San Diego Chargers)

SPECIAL TEAMS
 * Special Teams Player—Devin Hester (Chicago Bears)

COACH
 * Coach—Mike McCarthy (Green Bay Packers)

2006 Player of the Year winners
OFFENSE DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS COACH
 * Quarterback—Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)
 * Running Back—LaDainian Tomlinson (San Diego Chargers)
 * Wide Receiver—Andre Johnson (Houston Texans)
 * Tight End—Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens)
 * Offensive Lineman—Steve Hutchinson (Minnesota Vikings)
 * Defensive Lineman—Jason Taylor (Miami Dolphins)
 * Pass Rusher—Aaron Kampman (Green Bay Packers)
 * Linebacker—Zach Thomas (Miami Dolphins)
 * Defensive Back—Champ Bailey (Denver Broncos)
 * Special Teams Player—Devin Hester (Chicago Bears)
 * Coach—Sean Payton (New Orleans Saints)

In addition to the Player of the Year Awards, the NFL Alumni also honors past or current players with its Spirit Award for youth-oriented community service, Order of the Leather Helmet Award for individuals who "have made significant contributions to the game of professional football" and the Career Achievement Award given to those "whose accomplishments on and off the field demonstrate the higher values promoted by the organization."

The winner of the 2010 Spirit Award was Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones.

NFL Alumni Order of the Leather Helmet
Awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of professional football.

1978

Pete Rozelle

George Halas

Art Rooney

1979

Paul Brown

Red Grange

Bronko Nagurski

1980

Don Shula

Wellington Mara

Dominic Olejniczak

Pro Football Hall of Fame

1981

Lamar Hunt

Tom Landry

1982

Bill Bidwill

Alex Wojciechowicz

Bud Grant

1983

F. William Harder

LeRoy Neiman

1985

George Preston Marshall

Weeb Ewbank

1986

Howard Cosell

Vince Lombardi

Vic Maitland

1987

Ray Scott

Steve Sabol

Ed Sabol

Bert Bell

1988

Raymond Berry

1989

Tex Schramm

1990

Bill Dudley

Ollie Matson

Steve Van Buren

1991

Hugh McElhenny

1992

Chuck Bednarik

Art Modell

1993

Elroy Hirsch

Marion Motley

1994

Sid Luckman

Sammy Baugh

1995

Otto Graham

Chuck Noll

1996

Johnny Unitas

Curt Gowdy

1997

Pat Summerall

Ralph Wilson

1998

Jim Brown

Al Davis

1999

Bobby Mitchell

Paul Tagliabue

2000

Len Dawson

Deacon Jones

2001

Mike McCormack

Mel Renfro

2002

Mel Blount

Jim Otto

Jim Tunney

2003

Tom Flores

Willie Davis

2004

Dick Vermeil

Val Pinchbeck

Don Weiss

2005

Larry Wilson

Joe Greene

2007

Sonny Jurgensen

Jack Youngblood

2008

Eric Dickerson

John Madden

Alex Spanos

NFL Alumni Career Achievement Award
Awarded to individuals whose accomplishments on and off the field demonstrate the higher values promoted by the organization.

1981

Rocky Bleier

Roger Staubach

1982

Merlin Olsen

O.J. Simpson

1983

George Blanda

Earl Morrall

1985

Frank Gifford

Jack Kemp

1986

Dan Fortmann

Ray Nitschke

1987

Willie Davis

Don Hutson

1988

Art Donovan

1989

Bart Starr

1990

Nick Buoniconti

1992

Ken Farragut

1993

Gino Marchetti

1994

Byron White

1995

Alan Page

1996

Mike Reid

1997

Jerry Richardson

1998

Dr. Robert Khayat

1999

Dr. Ed Sutton

2000

Paul Salata

2001

Terry Bradshaw

2002

Steve Largent

2003

Fred Dryer

2004

Bob Griese

2005

Drew Pearson

2007

Mike Haynes