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NFL: Ranking every MVP winner in league history based on pro career

By Hans Themistode

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 11: Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during a NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 11: Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings carries the ball during a NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images) /
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Ken Anderson
Ken Anderson (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Ranking every MVP winner in NFL history: 47. Ken Anderson

Stats: 

  • 32,838 passing yards
  • 197 touchdowns
  • 160 interceptions

It was essentially the perfect storm for Ken Anderson. His career had successfully morphed into one that was underwhelming on most nights but on other occasions, he’d look spectacular. It took Anderson four years before he made a Pro Bowl appearance. After back-to-back showings, he went another four seasons without making an appearance again.

The ups and downs of his career were glaringly obvious in 1980. On the year, Anderson threw for 1,778 yards, just six touchdowns, and more than twice the interceptions, 13. The Cincinnati Bengals also finished with a 5-7 record. Juxtapose that season to 1981 where Anderson threw for 3,754 yards, 29 touchdowns, ten interceptions, and pushed a 12-4 Bengals team to the Super Bowl where they would eventually lose.

Anderson would never come close to putting up those sorts of numbers again. In fact, he was just as likely to throw an interception over the final five seasons of his career as he was a touchdown. He finished up his career throwing 37 scores and 36 interceptions, making him the poster boy of inconsistency.

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