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Andy Richardson

MVP = Most Valuable Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers won the MVP award last night, and that's fair. He had a great year and the Packers came within a bizarre sequence of events of going to the Super Bowl; arguably they wouldn't have even been a playoff team with a lesser quarterback.

The fact that he won so handily over other deserving candidates J.J. Watt and DeMarco Murray, though, speaks to how difficult it is for a non-quarterback to win the award in today's NFL. Maybe the should just call it the MVQ award and move on.

Seven of the last eight winners have been quarterbacks, the league's three elite quarterbacks, in fact (Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady). Twelve of the last 15 winners and 17 of the last 22 have been quarterbacks, as well.

This hasn't always been the case. In the 30 years from 1957 through 1986, just over half (17) of the MVPs were quarterbacks. It's more of a passing league now, and quarterbacks dominate. Both the stat sheet and the MVP vote. Since a defensive player last won in 1986 (Lawrence Taylor), 22 of 30 MVPs have been quarterbacks.

NFL MVPs through history are presented below. Quarterbacks are in bold.

NFL MVPs, 1957-PRESENT
YearMVPTeam
2014Aaron RodgersGreen Bay Packers
2013Peyton ManningDenver Broncos
2012Adrian PetersonMinnesota Vikings
2011Aaron RodgersGreen Bay Packers
2010Tom BradyNew England Patriots
2009Peyton ManningIndianapolis Colts
2008Peyton ManningIndianapolis Colts
2007Tom BradyNew England Patriots
2006LaDainian TomlinsonSan Diego Chargers
2005Shaun AlexanderSeattle Seahawks
2004Peyton ManningIndianapolis Colts
2003Peyton ManningIndianapolis Colts
2003Steve McNairTennessee Titans
2002Rich GannonOakland Raiders
2001Kurt WarnerSt. Louis Rams
2000Marshall FaulkSt. Louis Rams
1999Kurt WarnerSt. Louis Rams
1998Terrell DavisDenver Broncos
1997Brett FavreGreen Bay Packers
1997Barry SandersDetroit Lions
1996Brett FavreGreen Bay Packers
1995Brett FavreGreen Bay Packers
1994Steve YoungSan Francisco 49ers
1993Emmitt SmithDallas Cowboys
1992Steve YoungSan Francisco 49ers
1991Thurman ThomasBuffalo Bills
1990Joe MontanaSan Francisco 49ers
1989Joe MontanaSan Francisco 49ers
1988Boomer EsiasonCincinnati Bengals
1987John ElwayDenver Broncos
1986Lawrence TaylorNew York Giants
1985Marcus AllenLos Angeles Raiders
1984Dan MarinoMiami Dolphins
1983Joe TheismannWashington Redskins
1982Mark MoseleyWashington Redskins
1981Ken AndersonCincinnati Bengals
1980Brian SipeCleveland Browns
1979Earl CampbellHouston Oilers
1978Terry BradshawPittsburgh Steelers
1977Walter PaytonChicago Bears
1976Bert JonesBaltimore Colts
1975Fran TarkentonMinnesota Vikings
1974Ken StablerOakland Raiders
1973O.J. SimpsonBuffalo Bills
1972Larry BrownWashington Redskins
1971Alan PageMinnesota Vikings
1970John BrodieSan Francisco 49ers
1969Roman GabrielLos Angeles Rams
1968Earl MorrallBaltimore Colts
1967Johnny UnitasBaltimore Colts
1966Bart StarrGreen Bay Packers
1965Jim BrownCleveland Browns
1964Johnny UnitasBaltimore Colts
1963Y.A. TittleNew York Giants
1962Jim TaylorGreen Bay Packers
1961Paul HornungGreen Bay Packers
1960Norm Van BrocklinPhiladelphia Eagles
1959Johnny UnitasBaltimore Colts
1958Jim BrownCleveland Browns
1957Jim BrownCleveland Browns

--Andy Richardson

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