<P> Pro Football Writers of America began naming their most valuable player in 1975 and continue to do so as of the 2016 season . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Season </Th> <Th> Player </Th> <Th> Team </Th> <Th> Position </Th> <Th> Ref </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Fran Tarkenton </Td> <Td> Minnesota Vikings </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1976 </Td> <Td> Bert Jones </Td> <Td> Baltimore Colts </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1977 </Td> <Td> Walter Payton </Td> <Td> Chicago Bears </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> Earl Campbell </Td> <Td> Houston Oilers </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1979 </Td> <Td> Earl Campbell (2) </Td> <Td> Houston Oilers </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1980 </Td> <Td> Brian Sipe </Td> <Td> Cleveland Browns </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1981 </Td> <Td> Ken Anderson </Td> <Td> Cincinnati Bengals </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> Dan Fouts </Td> <Td> San Diego Chargers </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Joe Theismann </Td> <Td> Washington Redskins </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1984 </Td> <Td> Dan Marino </Td> <Td> Miami Dolphins </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1985 </Td> <Td> Marcus Allen </Td> <Td> Los Angeles Raiders </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Lawrence Taylor </Td> <Td> New York Giants </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Jerry Rice </Td> <Td> San Francisco 49ers </Td> <Td> Wide receiver </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1988 </Td> <Td> Boomer Esiason </Td> <Td> Cincinnati Bengals </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1989 </Td> <Td> Joe Montana </Td> <Td> San Francisco 49ers </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> Randall Cunningham </Td> <Td> Philadelphia Eagles </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1991 </Td> <Td> Thurman Thomas </Td> <Td> Buffalo Bills </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1992 </Td> <Td> Steve Young </Td> <Td> San Francisco 49ers </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1993 </Td> <Td> Emmitt Smith </Td> <Td> Dallas Cowboys </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> Steve Young (2) </Td> <Td> San Francisco 49ers </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1995 </Td> <Td> Brett Favre </Td> <Td> Green Bay Packers </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Brett Favre (2) </Td> <Td> Green Bay Packers </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1997 </Td> <Td> Barry Sanders </Td> <Td> Detroit Lions </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Terrell Davis </Td> <Td> Denver Broncos </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> Kurt Warner </Td> <Td> St. Louis Rams </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2000 </Td> <Td> Marshall Faulk </Td> <Td> St. Louis Rams </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2001 </Td> <Td> Marshall Faulk (2) </Td> <Td> St. Louis Rams </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> Rich Gannon </Td> <Td> Oakland Raiders </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> Jamal Lewis </Td> <Td> Baltimore Ravens </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Peyton Manning </Td> <Td> Indianapolis Colts </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005 </Td> <Td> Shaun Alexander </Td> <Td> Seattle Seahawks </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> LaDainian Tomlinson </Td> <Td> San Diego Chargers </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2007 </Td> <Td> Tom Brady </Td> <Td> New England Patriots </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2008 </Td> <Td> Peyton Manning (2) </Td> <Td> Indianapolis Colts </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> Peyton Manning (3) </Td> <Td> Indianapolis Colts </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Tom Brady (2) </Td> <Td> New England Patriots </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> Aaron Rodgers </Td> <Td> Green Bay Packers </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> Adrian Peterson </Td> <Td> Minnesota Vikings </Td> <Td> Running back </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> Peyton Manning (4) </Td> <Td> Denver Broncos </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Aaron Rodgers (2) </Td> <Td> Green Bay Packers </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2015 </Td> <Td> Cam Newton </Td> <Td> Carolina Panthers </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016 </Td> <Td> Matt Ryan </Td> <Td> Atlanta Falcons </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2017 </Td> <Td> Tom Brady (3) </Td> <Td> New England Patriots </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Season </Th> <Th> Player </Th> <Th> Team </Th> <Th> Position </Th> <Th> Ref </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Fran Tarkenton </Td> <Td> Minnesota Vikings </Td> <Td> Quarterback </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr>

Who has won the nfl mvp the most times