Walter Payton Man of the Year Award
| Year | Award Winner | Team | Position |
| 2007 | Jason Taylor | Miami Dolphins | Defensive End |
| 2006 | Drew Breese | New Orleans Saints | Quarterback |
| 2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson | San Diego Chargers | Running Back |
| 2005 | Peyton Manning | Indianapolis Colts | Quarterback |
| 2005 | Brian Dawkins | Philadelphia Eagles | Safety |
| 2004 | Warrick Dunn | Atlanta Falcons | Running Back |
| 2003 | Will Shields | Kansas City Chiefs | Guard |
| 2002 | Troy Vincent | Philadelphia Eagles | Cornerback |
| 2001 | Jerome Bettis | Pittsburgh Steelers | Running Back |
| 2000 | Derrick Brooks and Jim Flanigan | Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears | Linebacker and Defensive Line |
| 1999* | Cris Carter | Minnesota Vikings | Wide Receiver |
| 1998 | Dan Marino | Miami Dolphins | Quarterback |
| 1997 | Troy Aikman | Dallas Cowboys | Quarterback |
| 1996 | Darrell Green | Washington Redskins | Cornerback |
| 1995 | Boomer Esiason | New York Jets | Quarterback |
| 1994 | Junior Seau | San Diego Chargers | Linebacker |
| 1993 | Derrick Thomas | Kansas City Chiefs | Linebacker |
| 1992 | John Elway | Denver Broncos | Quarterback |
| 1991 | Anthony Munoz | Cincinnati Bengals | Tackle |
| 1990 | Mike Singletary | Chicago Bears | Linebacker |
| 1989 | Warren Moon | Houston Oilers | Quarterback |
| 1988 | Steve Largent | Seattle Seahawks | Wide Receiver |
| 1987 | Dave Duerson | Chicago Bears | Safety |
| 1986 | Reggie Williams | Cincinnati Bengals | Linebacker |
| 1985 | Dwight Stephenson | Miami Dolphins | Center |
| 1984 | Marty Lyons | New York Jets | Defensive Tackle |
| 1983 | Rolf Benirschke | San Diego Chargers | Placekicker |
| 1982 | Joe Theismann | Washington Redskins | Quarterback |
| 1981 | Lynn Swann | Pittsburgh Steelers | Wide Receiver |
| 1980 | Harold Carmichael | Philadelphia Eagles | Wide Receiver |
| 1979 | Joe Greene | Pittsburgh Steelers | Defensive lineman |
| 1978 | Roger Staubach | Dallas Cowboys | Quarterback |
| 1977 | Walter Payton | Chicago Bears | Running Back |
| 1976 | Franco Harris | Pittsburgh Steelers | Running Back |
| 1975 | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals | Quarterback |
| 1974 | George Blanda | Oakland Raiders | Quarterback |
| 1973 | Len Dawson | Kansas City Chiefs | Quarterback |
| 1972 | Willie Lanier | Kansas City Chiefs | Linebacker |
| 1971 | John Hadl | San Diego Chargers | Quarterback |
| 1970 | Johnny Unitas | Baltimore Colts | Quarterback |