From 1960 to 1969, the United Press International

United Press International

United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...

 (UPI) gave the annual AFL Player of the Year award in the American Football League

American Football League

The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...

, whose teams in 1970 became the American Football Conference

American Football Conference

The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....

 (AFC) of the new National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

 (NFL).

From 1970 — following the AFL-NFL merger — until 1996, UPI then gave two annual Player of the Year awards in American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

. One was given in the National Football Conference

National Football Conference

The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...

 (NFC) of the new NFL. The other award was given in the American Football Conference

American Football Conference

The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....

 (AFC) of the new NFL.

AFL Player of the Year

Season	Player	Team	Position
1960	Abner Haynes Abner Haynes Abner Haynes is a former college and professional football player in the United States.Haynes is a graduate of North Texas State University where he and his then teammate Leon King integrated college football in the state of Texas in 1956...	Dallas Texans	Halfback
1961	George Blanda George Blanda George Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...	Houston Oilers	Quarterback
1962	Cookie Gilchrist Cookie Gilchrist Carlton Chester "Cookie" Gilchrist was a gridiron football player in the American Football League and Canadian Football League.-Career:...	Buffalo Bills	Fullback
1963	Lance Alworth Lance Alworth Lance Dwight Alworth is a former American collegiate and Professional Football wide receiver. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame...	San Diego Chargers	Flanker
1964	Gino Cappelletti Gino Cappelletti Gino Cappelletti is a former American collegiate and Professional Football player. He played at the University of Minnesota, and was a star in the American Football League for the Boston Patriots...	Boston Patriots	Flanker, Kicker
1965	Paul Lowe Paul Lowe Paul Edward Lowe is a retired American football running back who played for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League from 1960 to 1969.-College career:...	San Diego Chargers	Halfback
1966	Jim Nance Jim Nance James Solomon "Big Jim" Nance was an American collegiate and Professional Football fullback with the Boston Patriots during their days in the American Football League...	Boston Patriots	Fullback
1967	Daryle Lamonica Daryle Lamonica Daryle Pat Lamonica is a former American collegiate and professional football quarterback who played in the American Football League, and later in the NFL....	Oakland Raiders	Quarterback
1968	Joe Namath Joe Namath Joseph William "Joe" Namath , nicknamed "Broadway Joe" or "Joe Willie", is a former American football quarterback. He played college football for the University of Alabama under coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and his assistant, Howard Schnellenberger, from 1962–1964, and professional football in the...	New York Jets	Quarterback
1969	Daryle Lamonica Daryle Lamonica Daryle Pat Lamonica is a former American collegiate and professional football quarterback who played in the American Football League, and later in the NFL....	Oakland Raiders	Quarterback

AFC Player of the Year

Season	Player	Team	Position
1970	George Blanda George Blanda George Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...	Oakland Raiders	Quarterback, Kicker
1971	Otis Taylor Otis Taylor (American football) Otis Taylor was an American college and professional American football player, for Prairie View A&M University and the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs...	Kansas City Chiefs	Wide Receiver
1972	O.J. Simpson	Buffalo Bills	Running Back
1973	O.J. Simpson	Buffalo Bills	Running Back
1974	Ken Stabler Ken Stabler Kenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...	Oakland Raiders	Quarterback
1975	Off: O.J. Simpson	Buffalo Bills	Running Back
	Def: Mel Blount	Pittsburgh Steelers	Cornerback
1976	Off: Bert Jones Bert Jones Bertram Hays "Bert" Jones is a former LSU and NFL quarterback who played for the then Baltimore Colts and, briefly, the Los Angeles Rams. At Ruston High School, he was given the nickname, "The Ruston Rifle"...	Baltimore Colts	Quarterback
	Def: Jack Lambert	Pittsburgh Steelers	Linebacker
1977	Off: Craig Morton Craig Morton Larry Craig Morton is a former professional football player. He played quarterback in the National Football League for 18 seasons, 1965-82...	Denver Broncos	Quarterback
	Def: Lyle Alzado Lyle Alzado Lyle Martin Alzado was a professional American football defensive lineman of the National Football League famous for his intense and intimidating style of play....	Denver Broncos	Defensive End
1978	Off: Earl Campbell Earl Campbell Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...	Houston Oilers	Running Back
	Def: Randy Gradishar Randy Gradishar Randy Charles Gradishar is a former college and professional American football linebacker who played in the 1970s and 1980s. Randy Gradishar is currently the Director of Corporate Communications for the Phil Long Dealerships in Colorado...	Denver Broncos	Linebacker
1979	Off: Dan Fouts Dan Fouts Daniel Francis Fouts is a retired Hall of Fame American football quarterback in the National Football League. Fouts played his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987...	San Diego Chargers	Quarterback
	Def: Jack Lambert	Pittsburgh Steelers	Linbebacker
1980	Off: Brian Sipe Brian Sipe Brian Winfield Sipe is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League from 1974 to 1983 and the United States Football League from 1984 to 1985....	Cleveland Browns	Quarterback
	Def: Lester Hayes Lester Hayes Lester Hayes is a former professional American football player for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League....	Oakland Raiders	Cornerback
1981	Off: Ken Anderson	Cincinnati Bengals	Quarterback
	Def: Joe Klecko Joe Klecko Joseph Edward Klecko is a former American football player as a defensive lineman best remembered for his days as a member of the New York Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange."-Temple University Owls:...	New York Jets	Defensive End
1982	Off: Dan Fouts Dan Fouts Daniel Francis Fouts is a retired Hall of Fame American football quarterback in the National Football League. Fouts played his entire professional career with the San Diego Chargers from 1973 through 1987...	San Diego Chargers	Quarterback
	Def: No Award
1983	Off: Curt Warner Curt Warner Curtis Edward Warner is a former professional American football running back. A two-time All-American at Penn State University, Warner was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft...	Seattle Seahawks	Running Back
	Def: Rod Martin Rod Martin Rod Martin is a retired National Football League linebacker who played for the Los Angeles and Oakland Raiders from 1977 to 1988.-College career:...	Los Angeles Raiders	Linebacker
1984	Off: Dan Marino Dan Marino Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...	Miami Dolphins	Quarterback
	Def: Mark Gastineau Mark Gastineau Marcus Dell Gastineau is a former American football player who was a leading defensive end for the New York Jets from 1979 to 1988. A five-time Pro Bowler, his 100½ quarterback sacks in only his first 100 starts in the NFL made him one of the quickest and most feared pass rushers of his generation...	New York Jets	Defensive End
1985	Off: Marcus Allen Marcus Allen Marcus LeMarr Allen is a former American football player and, until recently, was affiliated with CBS as a game analyst. As a professional, Allen ran for 12,243 yards and caught 587 passes for 5,412 yards during his career for both the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1982 to 1997...	Los Angeles Raiders	Running Back
	Def: Andre Tippett Andre Tippett Andre Bernard Tippett is a former American football linebacker who played for the New England Patriots of the NFL. Currently, he is the Patriots' Executive Director of Community Affairs. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.-Personal life:Tippett was born in Birmingham,...	New England Patriots	Linebacker
1986	Off: Curt Warner Curt Warner Curtis Edward Warner is a former professional American football running back. A two-time All-American at Penn State University, Warner was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft...	Seattle Seahawks	Running Back
	Def: Rulon Jones Rulon Jones Rulon Jones is a retired American football defensive lineman.Jones was drafted out of the Utah State University in the 1980 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. He played his entire career in Denver. During his career, Jones played in 129 games and recorded 52.5 official quarterback sacks...	Denver Broncos	Defensive End
1987	Off: John Elway John Elway John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...	Denver Broncos	Quarterback
	Def: Bruce Smith	Buffalo Bills	Defensive End
1988	Off: Boomer Esiason Boomer Esiason Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is a former American football quarterback and current network color commentator. He played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals before working as an analyst for ABC and HBO...	Cincinnati Bengals	Quarterback
	Def: Bruce Smith	Buffalo Bills	Defensive End
	Def: Cornelius Bennett Cornelius Bennett Cornelius O'Landa Bennett is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000...	Buffalo Bills	Linebacker
1989	Off: Christian Okoye Christian Okoye Christian Emeka Okoye , is a Nigerian-American former American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1987 to 1992. Nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare," Okoye was known for his powerful running style and ability to break tackles. Okoye's six seasons in the NFL saw a league rushing...	Kansas City Chiefs	Running Back
	Def: Michael Dean Perry Michael Dean Perry Michael Dean Perry is a former American football defensive lineman and the younger brother of William Perry. His parents are Mrs. Inez S. Perry [deceased] and Hollie Perry, Sr. of Aiken, South Carolina. He learned to play football from his older brothers...	Cleveland Browns	Nose Tackle
1990	Off: Warren Moon Warren Moon Harold Warren Moon is a former American professional gridiron football quarterback who played for the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and the National Football League's Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs...	Houston Oilers	Quarterback
	Def: Bruce Smith	Buffalo Bills	Defensive End
1991	Off: Thurman Thomas	Buffalo Bills	Running Back
	Def: Cornelius Bennett Cornelius Bennett Cornelius O'Landa Bennett is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000...	Buffalo Bills	Linebacker
1992	Off: Barry Foster	Pittsburgh Steelers	Running Back
	Def: Junior Seau Junior Seau Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers during the 1990 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California and was the progenitor of the "NFL-USC linebacker".A ten-time All-Pro and...	San Diego Chargers	Linebacker
1993	Off: John Elway John Elway John Albert Elway, Jr. is a former American football quarterback and currently is the executive vice president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He played college football at Stanford and his entire professional career with the Denver Broncos...	Denver Broncos	Quarterback
	Def: Rod Woodson Rod Woodson Roderick Kevin "Rod" Woodson is the current cornerbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He is also a former defensive back best known for his 10-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as being a key member of the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl XXXV championship...	Pittsburgh Steelers	Cornerback
1994	Off: Dan Marino Dan Marino Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...	Miami Dolphins	Quarterback
	Def: Greg Lloyd	Pittsburgh Steelers	Linebacker
1995	Off: Jim Harbaugh Jim Harbaugh James Joseph "Jim" Harbaugh is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Harbaugh agreed to a five-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers on January 7, 2011. Previously, he was the head coach at...	Indianapolis Colts	Quarterback
	Def: Bryce Paup Bryce Paup Bryce Eric Paup is a former American football defensive end and linebacker, who played professionally for the Green Bay Packers , the Buffalo Bills , the Jacksonville Jaguars , and the Minnesota Vikings .-Biography:Paup grew up on a farm in Scranton, Iowa, where he played football at Scranton...	Buffalo Bills	Linebacker
1996	Off: Terrell Davis Terrell Davis Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing...	Denver Broncos	Running Back
	Def: Bruce Smith	Buffalo Bills	Defensive End