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Jim Thorpe Trophy

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For the college football award for defensive backs, see Jim Thorpe Award.

The Jim Thorpe Memorial Trophy[1] was an American football award presented by the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) to the most valuable player (MVP) of the National Football League (NFL) from 1955 to 2008.[2][3] It was the only NFL MVP award whose winner was chosen by a poll of NFL players.[4][5] By 1975, the Jim Thorpe Trophy was described by the TimesDaily as "one of the pros' most coveted honors."[6] In 1983, the Del Rio News Herald called it the "highest professional football award, period."[7] Earl Campbell was the first player to win the award in consecutive seasons,[8] capturing three straight from 1978 to 1980.[9] Quarterbacks Charlie Conerly (1959) and Roman Gabriel (1969) won the trophy despite not being voted to the NEA's All-Pro first team in their respective seasons—Johnny Unitas was named to the first team over Conerly, while Sonny Jurgensen got the nod over Gabriel.[10][11][12]

The award was founded by Murray Olderman, a sportswriter and cartoonist for the NEA.[1][13][14] It was named in honor of Jim Thorpe, a professional football pioneer who was a player and the first president of what became the NFL.[1][15][16] At the award's inception, Olderman sent ballots to every player in the league.[17][18] Coaches joined the players in the voting process in 1975.[19] Starting in 1987, the award became a joint project between the NEA, Jim Thorpe Association, and National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).[20] Olderman also left the NEA that year and ended his association with the award.[18] The NFLPA took over the balloting and added Pro Football Hall of Fame members to the voting panel in place of coaches.[21][22]

The first recipient of the Jim Thorpe Trophy was Harlon Hill of the Chicago Bears, who was presented the trophy by NEA sports editor Harry Grayson in a televised halftime ceremony from the 1956 Pro Bowl in Los Angeles.[15] In addition to Pro Bowl halftimes,[23] subsequent years also saw the presentation televised on the final regular season weekend in either a pregame or halftime event.[24][25] It was even on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1958.[26] The presentation moved to the pregame show for the NFL championship game starting in 1961.[27] In 1967, the winner was presented the trophy in a party at CBS Television City in Los Angeles for NEA's All-Pro selections, which was filmed and shown nationally during halftime of the Pro Bowl.[28] In subsequent years, CBS aired a half-hour special before the Pro Bowl featuring the Jim Thorpe Trophy winner along with the All-Pros.[29][30] After years of holding an awards banquet in New York, the ceremony was discontinued around 1980. Olderman and the NEA sought a sponsor.[31] The Jim Thorpe Association of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, took over the presentation of the trophy in 1987,[32] presenting it at the existing awards banquet for their Jim Thorpe Award, which honors the top defensive back in college football.[31] The NFL trophy was redesigned that year to feature a bronze statuette of Jim Thorpe.[33]

Awardees

[edit]
Award winners
Season Player Team Position Ref
1955 Harlon Hill Chicago Bears End [34]
1956 Frank Gifford New York Giants Running back [35]
1957 Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts Quarterback [36]
1958 Jim Brown Cleveland Browns Fullback [37]
1959 Charlie Conerly New York Giants Quarterback [38]
1960 Norm Van Brocklin Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback [5]
1961 Y. A. Tittle New York Giants Quarterback [39]
1962 Jim Taylor Green Bay Packers Running back [40]
1963 Y. A. Tittle (2) New York Giants Quarterback [41]
Jim Brown (2) Cleveland Browns Running back
1964 Lenny Moore Baltimore Colts Halfback [42]
1965 Jim Brown (3) Cleveland Browns Running back [43]
1966 Bart Starr Green Bay Packers Quarterback [44]
1967 Johnny Unitas (2) Baltimore Colts Quarterback [45]
1968 Earl Morrall Baltimore Colts Quarterback [46]
1969 Roman Gabriel Los Angeles Rams Quarterback [10]
1970 John Brodie San Francisco 49ers Quarterback [47]
1971 Bob Griese Miami Dolphins Quarterback [48]
1972 Larry Brown Washington Redskins Running back [9]
1973 O. J. Simpson Buffalo Bills Running back
1974 Ken Stabler Oakland Raiders Quarterback
1975 Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings Quarterback [49]
1976 Bert Jones Baltimore Colts Quarterback [9]
1977 Walter Payton Chicago Bears Running back
1978 Earl Campbell Houston Oilers Running back [50]
1979 Earl Campbell (2) Houston Oilers Running back [9]
1980 Earl Campbell (3) Houston Oilers Running back [51]
1981 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback [3]
1982 Dan Fouts San Diego Chargers Quarterback
1983 Joe Theismann Washington Redskins Quarterback
1984 Dan Marino Miami Dolphins Quarterback
1985 Walter Payton (2) Chicago Bears Running back
1986 Phil Simms New York Giants Quarterback
1987 Jerry Rice San Francisco 49ers Wide receiver
1988 Roger Craig San Francisco 49ers Running back
1989 Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers Quarterback
1990 Warren Moon Houston Oilers Quarterback
1991 Thurman Thomas Buffalo Bills Running back
1992 Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys Running back
1993 Emmitt Smith (2) Dallas Cowboys Running back
1994 Steve Young San Francisco 49ers Quarterback [32]
1995 Brett Favre Green Bay Packers Quarterback [3]
1996 Brett Favre (2) Green Bay Packers Quarterback
1997 Barry Sanders Detroit Lions Running back [52]
1998 Randall Cunningham Minnesota Vikings Quarterback [3]
1999 Kurt Warner St. Louis Rams Quarterback
2000 Marshall Faulk St. Louis Rams Running back
2001 Kurt Warner (2) St. Louis Rams Quarterback
2002 Rich Gannon Oakland Raiders Quarterback
2003 Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts Quarterback
2004 Peyton Manning (2) Indianapolis Colts Quarterback
2005 Shaun Alexander Seattle Seahawks Running back
2006 LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers Running back
2007 Tom Brady New England Patriots Quarterback
2008 Kurt Warner (3) Arizona Cardinals Quarterback [53]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Grayson, Harry (December 16, 1960). "Thorpe NFL's 1st President". Meridien Journal. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 5. Retrieved June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Griese Voted Most Valuable". The Herald Journal. NEA. January 11, 1972. p. 5. Retrieved June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d "Newspaper Ent. Assoc. NFL Most Valuable Player Winners". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  4. ^ Bentley, Mark (April 26, 1992). "OSU Golfers Favored in Big Eight". The Sunday Oklahoman. Section B, p. 5. Retrieved June 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b Olderman, Murray (December 16, 1960). "Van Brocklin Gets Jim Thorpe Trophy". The Telegraph. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 12. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  6. ^ Stout, Harold (October 26, 1975). "Harlon Hill Elected for Hall of Fame". Times Daily. p. 23. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  7. ^ Guys, Carl (January 17, 1983). "Guys Guff". Del Rio News Herald. p. 5. Retrieved June 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Olderman, Murray (January 11, 1980). "Earl Campbell — top NFLer again". Alberni Valley Times. NEA. p. 6. Retrieved June 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d Olderman, Murray (January 16, 1981). "Earl Campbell wins Thorpe Trophy". Ukiah Daily Journal. p. 6. Retrieved June 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Olderman, Murray (December 25, 1969). "Roman Gabriel Wins Jim Thorpe Award". The Gastonia Gazette. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 37. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 15, 1959). "Colta And Giants Dominate Players' All-Pro Grid Squad". The Salisbury Times. NEA. p. 17. Retrieved July 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Gillingham, Robinson Picked NEA All-Pros". The Sheboygan Press. December 22, 1969. p. 45. Retrieved July 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Siner, Howard (May 26, 1993). "Murray Olderman is a Hall of Famer". Daily Chronicle. DeKalb/Sycamore, Illinois. NEA. p. 15. Retrieved June 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Horgan, Richard (May 21, 2014). "SO WHAT DO YOU DO, MURRAY OLDERMAN, ICONIC SPORTS JOURNALIST AND CARTOONIST?". Media Bistro. Archived from the original on April 14, 2015.
  15. ^ a b Olderman, Murray (December 14, 1955). "Harlon Hill, Small School Grad, Wins First Jim Thorpe Trophy". Blytheville Courier News. NEA. p. 15. Retrieved June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Sanders earns Jim Thore Honor". News Herlad. Port Clinton, Ohio. Associated Press. February 24, 1998. p. A7. Retrieved June 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Norm Van Brocklin Awarded Sixth Jim Thorpe Award". Public Opinion. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. NEA. December 16, 1960. p. 10. Retrieved June 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b Olderman, Murray (2017). The Draw of Sport. Fantagraphics Books. p. 48. ISBN 9781606999950.
  19. ^ "NEA: Tarkenton is MVP". The Daily Tribune. Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. NEA. January 26, 1976. p. 7. Retrieved June 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Thorpe To Another 49er". Daily Record. Morristown, New Jersey. January 30, 1990. p. B5. Retrieved June 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Robinson, Greg (February 10, 1991). "Moon Garners NFL's Most Valuable Player Award". Del Rio News Herald. p. 12A. Retrieved June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Thomas Nets Thorpe Title". The Daily Oklahoman. March 4, 1992. p. 25. Retrieved June 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "John Unitas MVP By Pros". The Napa Register. NEA. December 19, 1957. p. 12. Retrieved June 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "New York Giants' Gifford Receives Jim Thorpe Trophy". The Daily Inter Lake. NEA. December 24, 1956. p. 5. Retrieved June 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 12, 1959). "Conerly, 38, Wins Pros' Jim Thorpe Trophy". Journal-Every Evening. p. 24. Retrieved June 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Between You'n Me". Reno Evening Gazette. December 31, 1958. p. 27. Retrieved June 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 26, 1961). "Tittle To Get 7th Annial Jim Thorpe Memorial Award". The Raleigh Register. p. 11. Retrieved June 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Olderman, Murray (January 9, 1968). "Nobody Else in Unitas' Class During 1967 season: Starr". The Marshfield News-Herald. NEA. p. 14. Retrieved June 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Special to Present Pro Team". The Pottstown Mercury. January 17, 1970. p. A6. Retrieved June 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "NFL's Top Four Honored At Pro Bowl". The Hillsdale Daily News. NEA. January 22, 1973. p. 8. Retrieved June 30, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ a b Lassiter, Jim (May 28, 1987). "Thorpe Athletic Club Plans To Honor Top NFL Player". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  32. ^ a b "Steve Young Receives Jim thorpe MVP Award". The Sunday Oklahoman. September 24, 1995. Oklahoma Champions, p. 9. Retrieved June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Jim Thorpe Trophy For Most Valuable Player in the NFL". The Sunday Oklahoman. November 8, 1992. Jim Thorpe Marathon Festival supplement. Retrieved July 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ Grainger, Charles (February 20, 1957). "Harlon Hill Due For Six Months' Army Service". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. p. 9. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  35. ^ "Giants' Frank Gifford Named Top Star in NFL by Players". The Pittsburgh Press. December 20, 1956. p. 24. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  36. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 20, 1957). "John Unitas Wins Jim Thorpe Trophy". Miami Daily News-Record. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 5. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 16, 1958). "Cleveland's Jimmy Brown Grabs Jim Thorpe Trophy". TimesDaily. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 7. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  38. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 20, 1959). "Giant Ace Wins Thorpe Title". Gadsden Times. Newspaper Enterprise Association. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  39. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 27, 1961). "Players Name Tittle Thorpe Trophy Winner". The Telegraph. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 12. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  40. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 18, 1962). "Thorpe Trophy Won By Packer Fullback". The Evening Sun. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 10. Retrieved February 15, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "Tittle and Brown Win Thorpe Trophy". The Fort Scott Tribune. Newspaper Enterprise Association. December 23, 1963. p. 11. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  42. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 18, 1964). "Thorpe Trophy Caps Len Moore's Comeback". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 36. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  43. ^ "11th Annual Thorpe Trophy Goes To Cleveland's Brown". The Bristol Daily Courier. Newspaper Enterprise Association. December 28, 1965. p. 21. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 22, 1966). "Bart Starr Is Selected Jim Thorpe Award Winner". Standard-Speaker. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 25. Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 29, 1967). "Unitas Claims Jim Thorpe Cup". The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Maryland). Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 10. Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 26, 1968). "Earl Morrall Wins Jim Thorpe Trophy". The Daily Herald. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 12. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ Olderman, Murray (December 29, 1970). "John Brodie Wins The 1970 Jim Thorpe Award". Pampa Daily News. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 8. Archived from the original on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  48. ^ "Bob Griese Gets Thorpe Trophy As Top Player". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. January 5, 1972. p. 4. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  49. ^ "Jim Thorpe award goes to Tarkenton". Gadsden Times. Newspaper Enterprise Association. January 21, 1976. p. 30. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  50. ^ "Campbell wins Thorpe". Park City Daily News. December 26, 1979. p. 4-B. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  51. ^ Olderman, Murray (January 18, 1981). "Earl Campbell: a triple champ". The Nevada Daily Mail. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 10. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  52. ^ "Sanders Wins Jim Thorpe Trophy". The Daily Oklahoman. February 24, 1998. p. 21. Retrieved June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ "Warner earns Thorpe MVP award". The Oklahoman. May 25, 2009. p. 2B. Retrieved June 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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