Every year, the MVP or Most Valuable Player award is allotted to one player within the NFL for their exceptional performance throughout the season.
However, sometimes, players who have an extraordinary season don’t make the cut and end up missing out on an MVP award they definitely deserved. Here are 9 NFL players who had fantastic seasons but sadly weren’t awarded the MVP trophy.
Rob Gronkowski, 2011
Rob Gronkowski, better known as Gronk, set the tight end receiving record in 2011 with 1,327 yards with 17 touchdown catches.
He played a huge role in leading the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl that year and was widely considered the best tight end in the NFL.
Jim Brown, 1959
Many NFL fans argue that Jim Brown should have received the MVP award several times; however, it was his 1959 season that really showed his incredible skillset as a running back.
That year, Brown totaled an impressive 1,329 rushing yards, giving him the most in the league by 293. He also scored 14 touchdowns and was generally considered one of the best running backs to ever take the field.
Derrick Henry, 2020
In 2020, Derrick Henry essentially lapped the rest of the NFL’s running backs with 2,2027 yards in just one season.
He led the Titans to their first AFC South title since 2008, and most people believe Henry was robbed of the MVP award for his impressive season.
Deion Sanders, 1994
Deion Sanders was absolutely one of the most famous NFL players in the 1990s. And in 1994, he totaled 303 return yards, leading the San Francisco 49ers from 16th to 6th place in scoring defense.
Many claim that Sanders changed the course of the NFL by stopping the Cowboys from a three-time Super Bowl victory.
Jamal Lewis, 2003
As number three on the all-time single-season rushing list, Jamal Lewis didn’t get that MVP trophy as it was shared by Peyton Manning and Steve McNair in 2003.
He still finished the season with an incredible 2,066 yards and 14 touchdowns and made it to the Pro Bowl but lost out on MVP.
Randall Cunningham, 1990
Randall Cunningham lost out on the MVP award four separate times! In 1990, he did receive 18 votes, but it wasn’t enough to beat Joe Montana.
The Eagles quarterback made an impressive 30 touchdown passes, five rushing scores, and 3,466 passing yards, but it just wasn’t enough.
Charley Hennigan, 1961
Back in 1961, Charley Hennigan was the AFL Oilers’ top yard-gainer with an incredible 1,746 yards that season.
But even with his 82 catches with an average of 21.3 yards per catch and three 200-yard games, he lost the MVP trophy that year and every other year of his long and illustrious career.
J.J. Watt, 2014
Although Watt was the only defender to get more than one MVP vote since James Harrison in 2008, he still didn’t get enough to take home the prize.
With 13 votes, he was just shy, but his 2014 season will still go down in history with 20.5 sacks, 51 QB hits, and 29 tackles for loss.
Drew Brees, 2011
One of the most beloved players to ever take the field, Drew Brees led the NFL in touchdown passes and completions in 2011.
He threw 5,476 yards that year and was certainly considered for the MVP award, but he lost to the one and only Aaron Rodgers.
