A player earns the National Football League's Most Valuable Player (MVP) award through a combination of exceptional individual performance and significant contributions to their team's success throughout the regular season. This prestigious honor is decided by a voting process involving expert sports journalists.
The Voting Process for NFL MVP
The AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award is a highly coveted individual accolade in American professional football. Its recipient is determined through a structured voting mechanism:
- Who Votes? The award is voted upon by a select panel of 50 sportswriters. These experienced journalists, who closely follow the league, evaluate player performance across all teams.
- When is the Vote Cast? Voting for the MVP award takes place at the conclusion of the NFL's regular season, before the playoffs begin. This ensures that the award strictly reflects a player's impact and achievements during the standard 17-game schedule.
- When is the Winner Announced? While the votes are cast immediately after the regular season, the results are not publicly revealed until the day before the Super Bowl. This builds anticipation for the announcement, celebrating the league's top performer.
Key Criteria for MVP Consideration
While there are no rigid, official criteria for the MVP award, voters generally consider several factors when determining the most valuable player:
- Exceptional Individual Statistics: Players who lead the league in key statistical categories or achieve career-best numbers often garner significant attention. For quarterbacks, this includes passing yards, touchdowns, and passer rating; for running backs, rushing yards and touchdowns; and for defensive players, sacks, forced turnovers, and overall defensive impact.
- Team Success: A player's performance must directly translate into their team's success. MVPs typically come from teams that achieve a high win-loss record, secure a playoff berth, or even exceed preseason expectations due to that player's influence. It's rare for a player on a losing team to win the award.
- Impact and Indispensability: Voters assess how crucial a player is to their team's overall performance. Could the team achieve similar success without them? This often highlights players who elevate the play of those around them or carry their team through challenging periods.
- Consistency: Sustained excellence throughout the entire regular season is vital. A player who performs at an elite level week after week is more likely to be recognized than one who has only a few standout games.
- "Narrative" or Storyline: Sometimes, a compelling storyline can influence voters, such as a player overcoming adversity, making a remarkable comeback, or leading an underdog team to unexpected heights.
Typical MVP Candidates
Historically, the NFL MVP award has been predominantly won by quarterbacks, given their central role in offensive production and game outcomes. However, players from other positions have also been recognized for their extraordinary contributions.
| Position | Common Traits Leading to MVP Consideration |
|---|---|
| Quarterback | High passing yards and touchdowns, high passer rating, low turnovers, significant team wins, strong leadership. |
| Running Back | Leading rusher, high total yards from scrimmage, numerous touchdowns, often a major factor in team's offensive scheme. |
| Wide Receiver | Record-breaking receiving yards or touchdowns, consistent game-changing plays, high targets and receptions. |
| Defensive Player | Dominant sacks, frequent forced turnovers (interceptions, fumbles), consistent disruption of opposing offenses (less common to win MVP). |
Recent MVP winners like Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Lamar Jackson exemplify the blend of statistical dominance and vital contributions to their teams' success that characterizes an MVP season.
The AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award is a testament to a player's unparalleled skill, leadership, and dedication during a single NFL regular season.
