| Winners of the award
include 13 members of the Pro Football Hall of
Fame and also some of the greatest names in NFL
history. A player is selected due to his
playing excellence and off-the-field community
service.
The award was renamed after legendary Chicago
Bears running back Walter Payton, who died in
1999 of liver cancer. He won the award in
1977.
2006 -- Drew Brees, New Orleans and LaDainian
Thomlinson, San Diego
2005 -- Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans
2004 -- Warrick Dunn, Atlanta Falcons
2003 -- Will Shields, Kansas City Chiefs
2002 -- Troy Vincent, Philadelphia Eagles
2001 -- Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers
2000 -- Jim Flanigan, Chicago Bears and Derrick
Brooks, Tampa Bay
1999 -- Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings
1998 -- Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins
1997 -- Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys
1996 -- Darrell Green, Washington Redskins
1995 -- Boomer Esiason, New York Jets
1994 -- Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers
1993 -- Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs
1992 -- John Elway, Denver Broncos
1991 -- Anthony Munoz, Cincinnati Bengals
1990 -- Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears
1989 -- Warren Moon, Houston Oilers
1988 -- Steve Largent, Seattle Seahawks
1987 -- Dave Duerson, Chicago Bears
1986 -- Reggie Williams, Cincinnati Bengals
1985 -- Dwight Stephenson, Miami Dolphins
1984 -- Marty Lyons, New York Jets
1983 -- Rolf Benirschke, San Diego Chargers
1982 -- Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins
1981 -- Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers
1980 -- Harold Carmichael, Philadelphia Eagles
1979 -- Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers
1978 -- Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys
1977 -- Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
1976 -- Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
1975 -- Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals
1974 -- George Blanda, Oakland Raiders
1973 -- Len Dawson, Kansas City Chiefs
1972 -- Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs
1971 -- John Hadl, San Diego Chargers
1970 -- Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts |
