Can You Identify the Past 40 NFL MVPs From an Image?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Identify the Past 40 NFL MVPs From an Image?
Image: NFL

About This Quiz

What are the qualities that make up an NFL MVP? They have to have the statistics, of course, to show they've outplayed the competition. But that doesn't mean every MVP should be awarded based on stats. After all, it takes more than numbers to earn such an honor as being named the league MVP. These players also have to show leadership and the ability to guide their team to wins, especially considering only two MVPs didn't reach the playoffs when they won the award.

The truth is there's no magic formula that can be used to name an MVP. Instead, voters have to watch the games and really find out what each candidate means to their respective team to know if they're MVP worthy. Besides, football is a team game, and individual success can't come at the cost of everyone else who takes the field. If that star running back wants a few more touches to get the ball in the end zone so they can lead the league in rushing touchdowns, they have to do it in the flow of the game and not at the detriment of winning.

Are you ready to identify the players who outshined their peers on their way to winning the MVP? If so, get started and see if you can finish with an MVP level score.

Tom Brady - Patriots
Jeffrey Beall via WikiCommons
Do you recognize this quarterback who has six championships to go with his three MVPs?
Aaron Rodgers
Tom Brady
Drew Brees
Peyton Manning
Matt Ryan - Falcons
Keith Allison via WikiCommons
Can you identify this quarterback who led his team to the Super Bowl during his MVP season?
Ben Roethlisberger
Eli Manning
Matt Ryan
Philip Rivers
Kurt Warner - Rams
NFL
Have you forgotten this offensive juggernaut who was the orchestrator of the "Greatest Show on Turf"?
Dan Marino
Steve Young
Tony Romo
Kurt Warner

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Joe Montana - 49ers
NFL
Have you forgotten this legendary MVP quarterback who led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl titles?
John Elway
Johnny Unitas
Joe Montana
Troy Aikman
Emmitt Smith - Cowboys
NFL
It takes skills to win both the NFL MVP and the Super Bowl MVP in the same season, but that's exactly what which player was able to do?
Thurman Thomas
Gale Sayers
O.J. Simpson
Emmitt Smith
Barry Sanders - Lions
NFL
Will you be able to name this player whose electric moves on the field helped him earn the MVP?
Fred Taylor
Barry Sanders
Jamal Lewis
Steven Jackson

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Steve Young - 49ers
NFL
Do you recognize this quarterback who completed over 70 percent of his passes during his MVP season?
Joe Montana
Steve Young
Terry Bradshaw
Jim Kelly
Cam Newton - Panthers
NFL
He's the only player to win the MVP while playing for the Carolina Panthers. Who is this?
Cam Newton
Russell Wilson
Colin Kaepernick
Deshaun Watson
Lawrence Taylor - Giants
NFL
Select the name of this MVP who is often regarded as the greatest defender of all time?
Lawrence Taylor
Ray Lewis
Derrick Brooks
Harry Carson

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Dan Marino - Dolphins
NFL
This might be the greatest quarterback to never win a Super Bowl, but he does have an MVP. Who is he?
Dan Marino
Ken Anderson
Terry Bradshaw
Ken Stabler
Adrian Peterson - Vikings
MN National Guard via WikiCommons
How well do you know this running back who nearly broke the single season rushing record during his MVP season?
Barry Sanders
Marshall Faulk
Emmitt Smith
Adrian Peterson
John Elway - Broncos
NFL
Identify this quarterback who had to hang his hat on his NFL MVP for nearly a decade before he finally won a Super Bowl?
Terry Bradshaw
Dan Marino
John Elway
Troy Aikman

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Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay
NFL
Are you familiar with this quarterback who won the MVP after throwing 38 touchdowns to only five interceptions?
Aaron Rodgers
Drew Brees
Joe Flacco
Matthew Stafford
Patrick Mahomes - Chiefs
Jeffrey Beall via WikiCommons
This MVP won the award in his first year as a full-time starter for the Kansas City Chiefs. Who is he?
Dak Prescott
Colin Kaepernick
Russell Wilson
Patrick Mahomes
Brett Favre - Packers
NFL
Who is this former star and winner of three straight MVPs?
Joe Montana
Troy Aikman
Bart Starr
Brett Favre

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Rich Gannon - Raiders
NFL
What's the name of this player who was elected to his final Pro Bowl the same season he won the MVP?
Rich Gannon
Kurt Warner
Matt Schaub
Carson Palmer
Peyton Manning - Broncos
Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth via WikiCommons
No player has won more MVP awards than which legend shown here?
Dan Marino
Peyton Manning
Brett Favre
Eli Manning
Boomer Esiason - Bengals
WCPO.com | 9 On Your Side via YouTube
How well do you know this quarterback who averaged 9.2 yards per pass during his MVP season?
Jim Kelly
Warren Moon
Carson Palmer
Boomer Esiason

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Marcus Allen - Raiders
NFL
Is this running back who could both run the ball and catch passes an MVP you're familiar with?
Tony Dorsett
Marcus Allen
Gale Sayers
Curtis Martin
Terry Bradshaw - Steelers
NFL
Who is this former Hall of Famer who usually played his best football in the postseason?
Joe Namath
Otto Graham
Bart Starr
Terry Bradshaw
Shaun Alexander - Seahawks
NFL
Is this running back who carried the football 370 times during his MVP season a player you're familiar with?
Terrell Davis
Shaun Alexander
Bo Jackson
Frank Gore

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Walter Payton - Bears
NFL
Are you familiar with this legendary running back who spent his entire career with the Chicago Bears, which includes his MVP season?
Walter Payton
Eric Dickerson
Gale Sayers
Curtis Martin
Marshall Faulk - Rams
NFL
In the middle of winning three straight NFL Offensive Player of the Year awards, which player shown here was also named the league MVP?
Eric Dickerson
Jerome Bettis
Marshall Faulk
Marshawn Lynch
Joe Theismann - Redskins
NFL
Before a devastating injury ended his career, which player shown here won the MVP?
Johnny Unitas
Roger Staubach
Joe Theismann
Otto Graham

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LaDainian Tomlinson - Chargers
NFL
If a player leads the league in rushing yards and touchdowns, it should result in an MVP like it did for which rusher depicted in this image?
Marcus Allen
Thurman Thomas
LaDainian Tomlinson
Curtis Martin
Ken Stabler - Raiders
NFL
In his first year as the official starter, which quarterback depicted here won the MVP?
Len Dawson
Joe Namath
Johnny Unitas
Ken Stabler
Terrell Davis - Broncos
NFL
Can you identify this running back whose MVP season was the last year he was able to stay healthy?
Terrell Davis
Tiki Barber
Herschel Walker
Priest Holmes

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Fran Tarkenton - Vikings
NFL
Have you been keeping up with football long enough to name this MVP who had his No. 10 retired by the Minnesota Vikings?
Norm Van Brocklin
Fran Tarkenton
Archie Manning
Craig Morton
Steve McNair - Titans
NFL
This player had to share the MVP with another quarterback in this quiz. Who is he?
Michael Vick
Warren Moon
Steve McNair
Donovan McNabb
Thurman Thomas - Bills
NFL
Are you able to name this balanced offensive talent who put up over 2,000 all-purpose yards on his way to winning the MVP?
Thurman Thomas
Tony Dorsett
Earl Campbell
John Riggins

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Ken Anderson - Bengals
NFL
Name this quarterback who won the MVP the same season he was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year?
Dan Fouts
Troy Aikman
Jim Kelly
Ken Anderson
Earl Campbell - Oilers
NFL
He was never one to shy away from contact. Few running backs had as physical a running style as which MVP shown here?
Jim Brown
Earl Campbell
O.J. Simpson
Tony Dorsett
O.J. Simpson - Bills
NFL
Can you recall the name of this MVP who was the first running back to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark?
Eric Dickerson
John Riggins
O.J. Simpson
Jim Taylor

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Larry Brown - Redskins
NFL
What's the name of this MVP who won the award playing for the Washington Redskins?
Eric Dickerson
Jim Brown
Larry Brown
Tony Dorsett
Bert Jones - Colts
NFL
How well do you know this quarterback whose 102.5 passer rating during his MVP campaign was one of the highest of the '70s?
Bert Jones
Dan Fouts
Sammy Baugh
Sonny Jurgensen
John Brodie - 49ers
NFL
Is this quarterback who led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns during his MVP season a player you're familiar with?
Johnny Unitas
Y.A. Tittle
Bart Starr
John Brodie

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Brian Sipe - Browns
Jerry Sherk via WikiCommons
Do you recognize this player who helped the Cleveland Browns reach the playoffs for the first time in eight years during his MVP season?
Sammy Baugh
Warren Moon
Brian Sipe
Bob Griese
Mark Moseley - Redskins
NFL
Can you identify this player who was the only special teams player to ever win the NFL MVP during the Super Bowl era?
Morten Andersen
Mark Moseley
Adam Vinatieri
Lou Groza
Alan Page - Vikings
NFL
Who is the first defensive player to be named the NFL MVP?
Deacon Jones
Alan Page
Joe Greene
Bruce Smith

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Roman Gabriel - Rams
NFL
Do you recognize this quarterback who was named to the NFL First-team All-Pro during his MVP season?
Roman Gabriel
Norm Van Brocklin
Joe Namath
Charlie Conerly