Various entities present an NFL Rookie of the Year award each season to the top rookies in the National Football League (NFL). The NFL considers the rookie of the year awards by the Associated Press (AP) to be its official honor. Since 2011, the AP awards have been presented at the NFL Honors.
Associated Press (AP)
Winners (1967–present) SeasonOffensiveDefensiveRef. Player Team Position Player Team Position Mel Farr Detroit RB Lem Barney Detroit CB Earl McCullouch Detroit WR Claude Humphrey Atlanta DE Calvin Hill Dallas RB Joe Greene Pittsburgh DT Dennis Shaw Buffalo QB Bruce Taylor San Francisco CB John Brockington Green Bay RB Isiah Robertson LA Rams LB Franco Harris Pittsburgh RB Willie Buchanon Green Bay CB Chuck Foreman Minnesota RB Wally Chambers Chicago DT Don Woods San Diego RB Jack Lambert Pittsburgh LB Mike Thomas Washington RB Robert Brazile Houston LB Sammy White Minnesota WR Mike Haynes New England CB Tony Dorsett Dallas RB A. J. Duhe Miami DE Earl Campbell Houston RB Al Baker Detroit DE Ottis Anderson St. Louis RB Jim Haslett Buffalo LB Billy Sims Detroit RB Buddy Curry Atlanta LB Al Richardson George Rogers New Orleans RB Lawrence Taylor NY Giants LB Marcus Allen LA Raiders RB Chip Banks Cleveland LB Eric Dickerson LA Rams RB Vernon Maxwell Baltimore LB Louis Lipps Pittsburgh WR Bill Maas Kansas City DT Eddie Brown Cincinnati WR Duane Bickett Indianapolis LB Rueben Mayes New Orleans RB Leslie O'Neal San Diego DE Troy Stradford Miami RB Shane Conlan Buffalo LB John Stephens New England RB Erik McMillan NY Jets S Barry Sanders Detroit RB Derrick Thomas Kansas City LB Emmitt Smith Dallas RB Mark Carrier Chicago S Leonard Russell New England RB Mike Croel Denver LB Carl Pickens Cincinnati WR Dale Carter Kansas City CB Jerome Bettis LA Rams RB Dana Stubblefield San Francisco DT Marshall Faulk Indianapolis RB Tim Bowens Miami DT Curtis Martin New England RB Hugh Douglas NY Jets DE Eddie George Houston RB Simeon Rice Arizona DE Warrick Dunn Tampa Bay RB Peter Boulware Baltimore LB Randy Moss Minnesota WR Charles Woodson Oakland CB Edgerrin James Indianapolis RB Jevon Kearse Tennessee DE Mike Anderson Denver RB Brian Urlacher Chicago LB Anthony Thomas Chicago RB Kendrell Bell Pittsburgh LB Clinton Portis Denver RB Julius Peppers Carolina DE Anquan Boldin Arizona WR Terrell Suggs Baltimore LB Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh QB Jonathan Vilma NY Jets LB Cadillac Williams Tampa Bay RB Shawne Merriman San Diego LB Vince Young Tennessee QB DeMeco Ryans Houston LB Adrian Peterson Minnesota RB Patrick Willis San Francisco LB Matt Ryan Atlanta QB Jerod Mayo New England LB Percy Harvin Minnesota WR Brian Cushing Houston LB Sam Bradford St. Louis QB Ndamukong Suh Detroit DT Cam Newton Carolina QB Von Miller Denver LB Robert Griffin III Washington QB Luke Kuechly Carolina LB Eddie Lacy Green Bay RB Sheldon Richardson NY Jets DE Odell Beckham Jr. NY Giants WR Aaron Donald St. Louis DT Todd Gurley St. Louis RB Marcus Peters Kansas City CB Dak Prescott Dallas QB Joey Bosa San Diego DE Alvin Kamara New Orleans RB Marshon Lattimore New Orleans CB Saquon Barkley NY Giants RB Shaquille Leonard Indianapolis LB Kyler Murray Arizona QB Nick Bosa San Francisco DE Justin Herbert LA Chargers QB Chase Young Washington DE Ja'Marr Chase Cincinnati WR Micah Parsons Dallas LB Garrett Wilson NY Jets WR Sauce Gardner NY Jets CB C. J. Stroud Houston QB Will Anderson Jr. Houston DE Jayden Daniels Washington QB Jared Verse LA Rams LB Tetairoa McMillan Carolina WR Carson Schwesinger Cleveland LB
Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) Rookie of the Year awards have been given annually to an offensive and defensive rookie in the NFL since 1969, except in 1985. In 2013, PFWA began selecting an overall NFL rookie of the year in addition to its offensive and defensive honors. The winners are chosen by Pro Football Weekly writers/editors and PFWA members.
Winners (2013–present) Season Player Team Position Eddie Lacy Green Bay RB Odell Beckham Jr. NY Giants WR Todd Gurley St. Louis RB Ezekiel Elliott Dallas RB Kareem Hunt Kansas City RB Baker Mayfield Cleveland QB Nick Bosa San Francisco DE Justin Herbert LA Chargers QB Micah Parsons Dallas LB Sauce Gardner NY Jets CB C. J. Stroud Houston QB Jayden Daniels Washington QB Tetairoa McMillan Carolina WR
Offensive and defensive (1969–present)
SeasonOffensiveDefensive Player Team Position Player Team Position Calvin Hill Dallas RB Joe Greene Pittsburgh DT Greg Cook Cincinnati QB Jim Marsalis Kansas City CB Dennis Shaw Buffalo QB Bruce Taylor San Francisco CB Jim Plunkett New England QB Isiah Robertson LA Rams LB Franco Harris Pittsburgh RB Sherman White Cincinnati DE Charle Young Philadelphia TE Wally Chambers Chicago DT Don Woods San Diego RB Jack Lambert Pittsburgh LBMike Thomas Washington Steve Bartkowski Atlanta QB Robert Brazile Houston LB Sammy White Minnesota WR Mike Haynes New England CB Tony Dorsett Dallas RB A. J. Duhe Miami DE Earl Campbell Houston RB Al Baker Detroit DE Ottis Anderson St. Louis RB Jesse Baker Houston DE Billy Sims Detroit RB Buddy Curry Atlanta LB George Rogers New Orleans RB Lawrence Taylor NY Giants LB Marcus Allen LA Raiders RB Chip Banks Cleveland LB Eric Dickerson LA Rams RB Vernon Maxwell Baltimore LB Louis Lipps Pittsburgh WR Tom Flynn Green Bay S Rueben Mayes New Orleans RB Leslie O'Neal San Diego DEJohn OfferdahlMiamiLB Troy Stradford Miami RB Shane Conlan Buffalo LB John Stephens New England RB Erik McMillan NY Jets SIckey WoodsCincinnati Barry Sanders Detroit RB Derrick Thomas Kansas City LB Emmitt Smith Dallas RB Mark Carrier Chicago S Leonard Russell New England RB Mike Croel Denver LB Jason Hanson Detroit PK Dale Carter Kansas City CB Jerome Bettis LA Rams RB Dana Stubblefield San Francisco DT Marshall Faulk Indianapolis RB Tim Bowens Miami DT Curtis Martin New England RB Hugh Douglas NY Jets DE Eddie George Houston RB Simeon Rice Arizona DE Warrick Dunn Tampa Bay RB Peter Boulware Baltimore LB Randy Moss Minnesota WR Charles Woodson Oakland CB Edgerrin James Indianapolis RB Jevon Kearse Tennessee DE Mike Anderson Denver RB Brian Urlacher Chicago LB Anthony Thomas Chicago RB Kendrell Bell Pittsburgh LB Clinton Portis Denver RB Julius Peppers Carolina DE Anquan Boldin Arizona WR Terrell Suggs Baltimore LB Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh QB Dunta Robinson Houston CB Cadillac Williams Tampa Bay RB Shawne Merriman San Diego LB Vince Young Tennessee QB DeMeco Ryans Houston LB Adrian Peterson Minnesota RB Patrick Willis San Francisco LB Matt Ryan Atlanta QB Jerod Mayo New England LB Percy Harvin Minnesota WR Brian Cushing Houston LB Sam Bradford St. Louis QB Ndamukong Suh Detroit DT Cam Newton Carolina QB Aldon Smith San Francisco OLB Robert Griffin III Washington QB Luke Kuechly Carolina LB Keenan Allen San Diego WR Kiko Alonso Buffalo LB Odell Beckham Jr. NY Giants WR Aaron Donald St. Louis DT Todd Gurley St. Louis RB Marcus Peters Kansas City CB Ezekiel Elliott Dallas RB Joey Bosa San Diego DE Kareem Hunt Kansas City RB Marshon Lattimore New Orleans CBAlvin KamaraNew Orleans Saquon Barkley NY Giants RB Shaquille Leonard Indianapolis LB Kyler Murray Arizona QB Nick Bosa San Francisco DE Justin Herbert LA Chargers QB Chase Young Washington DE Ja'Marr Chase Cincinnati WR Micah Parsons Dallas LB Garrett Wilson NY Jets WR Sauce Gardner NY Jets CB C. J. Stroud Houston QB Will Anderson Jr. Houston DE Jayden Daniels Washington QB Jared Verse LA Rams OLB Tetairoa McMillan Carolina WR Carson Schwesinger Cleveland LB
The Sporting News The Sporting News NFL Rookie of the Year award is chosen annually by NFL players, coaches, and executives. Separate winners were named for the NFL and AFL between 1960 and 1969. After the merger, separate winners continued to be named for both the NFC and AFC through 1979. Since 1980, one winner has been chosen across the entire league.
NFL winners (1955–1969) Season Player Team Position Alan Ameche Baltimore FB J. C. Caroline Chicago DB Jim Brown Cleveland FB Bobby Mitchell Cleveland HB Nick Pietrosante Detroit FB Gail Cogdill Detroit WR Mike Ditka Chicago TE Ronnie Bull Chicago HB Paul Flatley Minnesota WR Charley TaylorLehman 2008, p. 164. Washington WR Gale Sayers Chicago HB Tommy Nobis Atlanta LB Mel Farr Detroit HB Earl McCullouch Detroit WR Calvin Hill Dallas HB
AFL winners (1960–1969) Season Player Team Position Abner Haynes Dallas Texans HB Earl Faison San Diego DE Curtis McClinton Dallas Texans FB Billy Joe Denver FB Matt Snell NY Jets FB Joe Namath NY Jets QB Bobby Burnett Buffalo HB Dickie Post San Diego HB Paul Robinson Cincinnati RB Greg Cook Cincinnati QB
NFC winners (1970–1979) Season Player Team Position Bruce Taylor San Francisco CB John Brockington Green Bay FB Chester Marcol Green Bay PK Chuck Foreman Minnesota RB Wilbur Jackson San Francisco RB Steve Bartkowski Atlanta QB Sammy WhiteWorld Almanac 2013. Minnesota WR Tony DorsettLehman 2008, pp. 124–125. Dallas RB Al Baker Detroit DE Ottis AndersonLehman 2008, p. 124. St. Louis RB
AFC winners (1970–1979) Season Player Team Position Dennis Shaw Buffalo QB Jim Plunkett New England QB Franco Harris Pittsburgh FB Boobie Clark Cincinnati FB Don Woods San Diego HB Robert Brazile Houston LB Mike Haynes New England CB A.J. Duhe Miami DE Earl CampbellLehman 2008, p. 125. Houston RB Jerry Butler Buffalo WR
Winners (1980–present) Season Player Team Position Billy Sims Detroit RB George Rogers New Orleans RB Marcus Allen LA Raiders RB Dan Marino Miami QB Louis Lipps Pittsburgh WR Eddie Brown Cincinnati WR Reuben Mayes New Orleans RB Robert Awalt St. Louis TE Keith Jackson Philadelphia TE Barry SandersLehman 2008, pp. 114–115. Detroit RB Richmond Webb Miami OT Mike Croel Denver LB Santana Dotson Tampa Bay DT Jerome Bettis LA Rams RB Marshall FaulkLehman 2008, p. 119. Indianapolis RB Curtis MartinLehman 2008, p. 118. New England RB Eddie GeorgeLehman 2008, p. 131. Houston RB Warrick DunnLehman 2008, pp. 143–144. Tampa Bay RB Randy Moss Minnesota WR Edgerrin JamesLehman 2008, pp. 122–123. Indianapolis RB Brian Urlacher Chicago LB Kendrell Bell Pittsburgh LB Clinton PortisLehman 2008, p. 147. Denver RB Anquan Boldin Arizona WR Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh QB Shawne Merriman San Diego LB Vince Young Tennessee QB Adrian Peterson Minnesota RB Matt Ryan Atlanta QB Percy Harvin Minnesota WR Ndamukong Suh Detroit DT Cam Newton Carolina QB Robert Griffin III Washington QB Eddie Lacy Green Bay RB Odell Beckham Jr. NY Giants WR Todd Gurley St. Louis RB Ezekiel Elliott Dallas RB Alvin Kamara New Orleans RB Saquon Barkley NY Giants RB Nick Bosa San Francisco DE Justin Jefferson Minnesota WR Ja'Marr Chase Cincinnati WR Sauce Gardner NY Jets CB Puka Nacua LA Rams WR Jayden Daniels Washington QB Emeka Egbuka Tampa Bay WR
Pepsi Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year, sponsored by Pepsi since 2002, is a fan-voted award given to the best performing rookie player in the National Football League. Winners are chosen among five finalists tallied from total votes given to Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week winners by votes on NFL.com. The award is sometimes named after Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar.
Winners (2002–present) Season Player Team Position Ref. Jeremy Shockey NY Giants TE Domanick Davis Houston RB Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh QB Cadillac Williams Tampa Bay RB Vince Young Tennessee QB Adrian Peterson Minnesota RB Joe Flacco Baltimore QB Percy Harvin Minnesota WR Ndamukong Suh Detroit DT Cam Newton Carolina QB Russell Wilson Seattle QB Keenan Allen San Diego WR Teddy Bridgewater Minnesota QB Jameis Winston Tampa Bay QB Dak Prescott Dallas QB Alvin Kamara New Orleans RB Saquon Barkley NY Giants RB Nick Bosa San Francisco DE Justin Herbert LA Chargers QB Ja'Marr Chase Cincinnati WR Aidan Hutchinson Detroit DE C. J. Stroud Houston QB Jayden Daniels Washington QB Tyler Shough New Orleans QB
Defunct awards United Press International