Winning the NFL MVP puts you on a prestigious list of players at the top of their game for a season. However, the list is rather selective as 14 different men have won the award since 2000. Today, we are going to rank each NFL MVP season from worst to best since 2000.
24. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (2008)
Payton Manning’s numbers were good but did not really bounce off the page. He was 371-of-555 (66.8 completion percentage) for 4,002 yards with 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. That is a good season but arguably is not a Pro Bowl season in today’s game. The runner-up was Chad Pennington, who had 19 touchdowns so that should put into place how bad this year’s MVP was.
23. Peyton Manning/Steve McNair (2003)
In a tie for the 2003 NFL MVP Award, Steve McNair was 250-of-400 (62.5 completion percentage) for 3,215 yards with 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions. Peyon Manning was 379-of-566 (67 completion percentage) for 4,267 yards with 29 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. These are good seasons statistically but nothing more than that and the counting numbers not being there makes it difficult to rank any higher.
22. Rich Gannon, Oakland Raiders (2002)
Rich Gannon barely won the 2022 NFL MVP as he had just 19 votes for the award. He finished 418-of-618 (67.6 completion percentage) for 4,689 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He had a good passing season with 293.1 yards per game through the air but it just doesn’t do enough as Gannon had 13 fumbles throughout the season as well.
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21. Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams (2001)
Kurt Warner had a huge season for the 2001 Rams as he went 375-of-546 (68.7 completion percentage) for 4,830 yards with 36 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. The interception number is too high for my liking but he did throw for 301.9 yards per game that season. His 6.6 touchdown percentage is impressive but almost gets cancelled out with a four interception percentage.
20. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (2009)
Another Peyton Manning MVP Award lower in the rankings as he did not lead in very many categories. He finished the season 393-of-571 (68.8 completion percentage) for 4,500 yards with 33 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He had a great offensive line that only allowed him to be sacked 10 times and he had seven fourth quarter comebacks and game-winning drives. It felt like Manning got the award for the 14-2 record as Drew Brees was very close statistically on way fewer pass attempts.
19. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (2016)
Matt Ryan did well in the 2016 season as he went 373-of-534 (69.9 completion percentage) for 4,944 yards with 38 touchdowns and seven picks. He only received 50 percent of the vote share and this is the season Brady had a 28:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Ryan played well but it is difficult to consider Ryan’s MVP as high as a lot of the others.
18. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (2023)
Jackson put together his finest season as a passer, completing 67.2 percent of pass attempts for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns against only seven interceptions. Even in a more balanced attack, Jackson racked up 821 rushing yards and five rushing scores — leading Baltimore to football’s best record.
17. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (2004)
Manning came into 2004 with a vengeance to prove he should have won the NFL MVP without a tie and did so he went 336-of-497 (67.6 completion percentage) for 4,557 yards with 49 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. His 9.9 touchdown percentage is the best since 1961 and is tied for sixth all-time as of this writing. This season was also the fourth-most passing touchdowns in a single season and surpassed the record held by Dan Marino.
16. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (2014)
This was another MVP held by Rodgers and he did incredibly wel as he beat out JJ Watt and DeMarco Murray for the honor. He was 341-of-520 (65.6 completion percentage) for 4,381 yards with 38 touchdowns to five picks. He was throwing the ball deep as he averaged 9.5 yards per attempt, something only three quarterbacks since have done throughout a season. It was incredible to see peak Rodgers throwing the ball.
15. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (2010)
Tom Brady won the 2010 NFL MVP Award unanimously and definitely deserved it. He finished 324-of-492 (65.9 completion percentage) for 3,900 yards with 36 touchdowns compared to four interceptions. Brady finished with 31 rushes for 30 yards but had a rushing touchdown as well. Brady also had three game-winning drives and a pair of fourth quarter comebacks. It was a solid year and will not be the last time you see his name on the list.
14. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (2021)
The most recent MVP Award in his trophy case is from the 2021 season, the second half of his back-to-back MVP seasons. He did the usual Rodgers thing as he had a 37:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio while throwing for 4,115 yards. There’s not much else to say than what we already have in this list.
13. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (2017)
Before this season, Brady was the runner up for two consecutive seasons and won this award, the final one of his career. Brady finished 385-of-581 (66.3 completion percentage) for 4,577 yards with 32 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions. His 286.1 passing yards per game led the league as well as he yards and pass attempts. You can argue running back Todd Gurley had a case but quarterback Carson Wentz had a legitimate case before going down with a torn ACl after 13 games into the season.
12. Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks (2005)
Shaun Alexander had an amazing season to win the 2005 NFL MVP Award with the Seattle Seahawks. He had an incredible year as he finished with 370 carries for 1,880 yards with 27 rushing touchdowns. He even had 15 catches for 78 yards with a receiving touchdown. He had a dynamic season. It’s difficult to rank him higher than a lot of the quarterback years but it was outstanding to say the least.
11. Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams (2000)
This is something that is difficult to compare but Marshall Faulk was very strong as a running back and a receiver. He finished with 253 rushes for 1,359 yards with 18 touchdowns on the ground while also having 81 receptions for 830 yards with eight receiving touchdowns. He led the league in total touchdowns and rushing touchdowns. It may just be the changing of the era but he had a better season the year before and that takes a little bit away from the 2000 MVP in my eyes.
10. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (2015)
Super Cam was outstanding to win the 2015 NFL MVP as he was a force running and passing the football. This was four years before Lamar Jackson’s MVP campaign. The 2015 season saw him go 296-of-495 (59.8 completion percentage) for 3,837 yards with 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions through the air. Newton was also like a third-down running backas he had 132 rushing attempts for 636 yards with 10 touchdowns on the ground. He ran away with the award as Tom Brady and Carson Palmer, the two other men to get votes, were equal to his passing touchdowns only without factoring in the running numbers.
9. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (2022)
Patrick Mahomes was able to do well in the most recent NFL MVP Award as he finished 435-of-648 (67.1 completion percentage) with 5,250 yards with 41 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. He also ran for four touchdowns as well. This season is the fourth-highest passing yards in NFL history.
8. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings (2012)
It’s rare to beat out a quarterback but 2012 Adrian Peterson did so as he had 61 percent of the votes over Peyton Manning. He wound up just eight yards short of Eric Dickerson’s single-season yard total. In 2012, he finished with 348 attempts for 2,097 yards with 12 rushing touchdowns. He also had 40 receptions for 217 yards and a touchdown grab.
7. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (2019)
In the 2019 season, Lamar Jackson was on a level of his own. He was the unanimous MVP as he went 265-of-401 (66.1 completion percentage) for 3,127 yards with 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. That is a strong season but his running numbers take it to the next level as he ran 176 times for 1,206 yards with seven touchdowns. A strong quarterback and Pro Bowl running back in one player is incredible.
6. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (2018)
Mahomes won the NFL MVP in the first year he started for the Chiefs. He was incredible as he was 383-of-580 (66 completion percentage) for 5,097 yards with 50 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Mahomes was on another level in 2018 as his 50 touchdown passes were 11 more than any other quarterback.
5. LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers (2006)
The highest spot for a non-quarterback on this list is LaDainian Tomlinson. He finished the 2006 season with 348 carries for 1,815 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also had 56 receptions on 508 yards and three touchdown receptions to really make things incredible. Tomlinson dominated the vote as he had more total touchdowns than either Drew Brees or Peyton Manning. It was an incredible season.
4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (2020)
The COVID season saw Aaron Rodgers win the NFL MVP and it is difficult to argue against it. He was 372-of-526 (70.7 completion percentage) for 4,288 yards with 48 touchdowns to five interceptions. Drew Brees and Sam Bradford are the only quarterbacks to have a better completion percentage in a season than Rodgers’ 2020 campaign. Rodgers had a 9.1 touchdown percentage and a 1.0 interception percentage this year and it’s hard to think of better MVP seasons.
3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (2011)
The 2011 season saw Aaron Rodgers claim his first MVP Award and deservingly so. He was 343-of-502 (68.3 completion percentage) for a still career-high 4,643 yards with 45 touchdowns to six interceptions. He was dazzling as he still holds the NFL record with a 122.5 quarterback rating as well. It’s hard to find some years better than this with his ratio and quarterback rating.
2. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (2013)
Peyton Manning might have the worst MVP in the 21st century but this one was his best. He finished 450-of-659 (68.3 completion percentage) with 55 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with the Denver Broncos. This was the new NFL record for both passing yards and passing touchdowns as well. In this year, he got off to a great start as he threw for seven touchdowns and 462 yards so it makes a lot of sense to be up here.
1. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (2007)
Tom Brady dominated the year as he ran away with the 2007 NFL MVP Award. He had an incredible season as he went 398-of-578 (68.9 completion percentage) for 4,806 yards with 50 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also had a pair of rushing touchdowns. Brady was incredible this season as they went undefeated in the regular season and had the record with 50 touchdown passes. He had five games with at least four touchdowns and seven games finished with at least 300 passing yards. He was incredible and should be considered this high on the list.
