National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award

The National Football League Comeback Player of the Year Award refers to a number of awards that are given to an NFL player who has shown perseverance in overcoming adversity, in the form of not being in the NFL the previous year, a severe injury, or simply poor performance. The awards have been presented by several organizations, including the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association (PFW/PFWA), Sporting News, and United Press International.

AP Comeback Player of the Year award (1963–present)

 * 1963 Jim Martin, K, Baltimore Colts (NFL); Paul Lowe, RB, San Diegeo Chargers (AFL)
 * 1964 Lenny Moore, RB, Baltimore Colts (NFL); Abner Haynes, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (AFL)
 * 1965 John Brodie, QB, San Francisco 49ers (NFL); Paul Lowe, RB, San Diego Chargers (AFL)
 * 1966 Dick Bass, RB, Los Angeles Rams (NFL); Babe Parilli, QB, Boston Patriots (AFL)
 * 1967-1997 No award given
 * 1998 Doug Flutie, QB, Buffalo
 * 1999 Bryant Young, DT, San Francisco
 * 2000 Joe Johnson, DE, New Orleans
 * 2001 Garrison Hearst, RB, San Francisco
 * 2002 Tommy Maddox, QB, Pittsburgh
 * 2003 Jon Kitna, QB, Cincinnati
 * 2004 Drew Brees, QB, San Diego
 * 2005 Tedy Bruschi, LB, New England and Steve Smith, WR, Carolina
 * 2006 Chad Pennington, QB, New York Jets
 * 2007 Greg Ellis, LB, Dallas
 * 2008 Chad Pennington (2), QB, Miami
 * 2009 Tom Brady, QB, New England
 * 2010 Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia
 * 2011 Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit
 * 2012 Peyton Manning, QB, Denver

PFW/PFWA Comeback Player of the Year award (1972–present)
From 1972 to 1991, the Comeback Player of the Year award was presented by Pro Football Weekly only. PFW and the Professional Football Writers of America combined their awards in 1992.

UPI Comeback Player of the Year award (1962–1969)
In 1962, United Press International chose a comeback player for the first time, the winner Frank Gifford, had made a comeback from a devastating injury from a hit by Chuck Bednarik. The following year, 1963, the Associated Press instituted a similar award. UPI discontinued the award after 1963 with the exception of 1969 and the Associated Press did not give out the award from 1967 to 1998, when the award was re-instituted and given to Doug Flutie.


 * 1962 Frank Gifford, WR, New York Giants
 * 1963 Ed Brown, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
 * 1964-1968 No award given
 * 1969 Gale Sayers, RB, Chicago Bears

Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year award

 * 2008 – Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * 2009 – Vince Young, Tennessee Titans
 * 2010 – Michael Vick
 * 2011 – Plaxico Burress
 * 2012 – Adrian Peterson