NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
44 of 50
Next
Jim Brown
Jim Brown (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Harold and Carole Pump Foundation ) /

Ranking every MVP winner in NFL history: 7. Jim Brown

Stats:

  • 12,312 passing yards
  • 106 touchdowns

The NFL first kicked off in 1920. Things, of course, looked vastly different. The helmets were considerably weaker, the padding under the uniforms was almost non-existent and MVP awards weren’t yet invented.

The latter changed in 1957. To honor the best player in the league, the NFL introduced the Most Valuable Player award. The first player to get their hands on said award was Cleveland Browns’ running back, Jim Brown.

The 942 yards and nine touchdowns that Brown ultimately ran for that season led the league. The Browns would surprisingly win the NFL East Division but were thrown out the door in the opening round. Brown would once again lead the league in rushing yards in year two and would become the NFL’s first-ever back-to-back MVP winner after racking up 1,527 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Browns wouldn’t win a title until 1964, however, the last time the franchise would bring home the Lombardi.

At the age of 29, Brown ditched his NFL career and pursued a career in acting. In his final year, Brown once again took home another MVP award, proving that he still had plenty left in the tank by the time he hung up his cleats.

Home/NFL