Biggest NFL MVP Snubs of the Decade

To take you all on a brief history lesson, the Associated Press first began handing out the NFL MVP award back in 1957 (!). Since then, we have been treated to a profusion of questionable settlements.

With the final chapter of the 2010s rapidly approaching, it's only fitting that we highlight some of the AP's most maddening miscalculations of the last decade.

2010-2011: None

Ironic, right? The AP actually kicked off the decade with a justified bang, as Tom Brady was a unanimous selection for the MVP Award.

TB12 was, far and away, the NFL's best performer this season, and led the Patriots to a league-best 14-2 record. During the year, he set the record for consecutive throws without being intercepted with 335.

Top cap it off, he completed 65.9% of his throws for 36 touchdowns and just four INTs. There was simply no other choice, and the unanimous decision was more than deserving. 

2011-2012

Winner: Aaron Rodgers

Snub: Drew Brees

In the end, this was a two-horse race, and not only did the committee botch their settlement, but the fact that this was nearly a unanimous selection is a farce. Rodgers ultimately won the award, leading the Packers to a 15-1 record while throwing for 4,643 yards, 45 touchdowns, and six interceptions while completing 68.3% of his pass attempts. 

Though those were exceptional, Brees boasted better numbers. In fact, his season was an all-timer. The Saints QB broke Dan Marino’s long-standing passing yards record with a whopping 5,476. He obviously led the NFL in that category, and also came out on top in terms of touchdowns (46) and completion percentage (71.2%). 

Furthermore, Brees led the Saints to a nothing-to-sneeze-at 13-3 record, so let’s not act like the Packers’ 15-1 mark should give him the edge. This was an egregious snub. 

2012-2013

Winner: Adrian Peterson

Snub: Peyton Manning

Anybody else remember this one? Everybody and their mother fell in love with AD's improbable comeback story and subsequently (and outlandishly) gave him the MVP. A running back? Winning the MVP? In 2012?! That's flat-out laughable, folks. We don't have to convey that the quarterback position is the most important position in sports.

People forget that 2012 marked Manning's first year in the Broncos following the neck surgeries that ended his Colts career. We aren't shading Peterson here, either. Recovering as fast as he did from ACL surgery will probably never be done again, but that accomplishment blindfolded the committee into gifting the award to somebody who didn't really deserve it.

Manning would, however, get his revenge the following season. 

2013-2014: None

As previously stated, the AP got their comeuppance by giving Manning the MVP this time around. It’s virtually impossible to argue that any other player on the ballot was snubbed. 

In his second season with the Broncos, Manning messed around and set the NFL record for passing touchdowns in a single season with 55. He threw for 5,477 yards while completing 68.3% of his passes. 

Peyton received 49 of 50 first-place votes, and the fact that this wasn’t a unanimous selection is a travesty. 

2014-2015

Winner: Aaron Rodgers

Snub: JJ Watt

If there was ever an indicator that offense reigns supreme in the NFL, right? Rodgers ended up taking the cake with 31 of 50 first-place votes. Meanwhile, Watt was a distant second with 13 first-place tallies.

Watt's season was simply historic. The Texans superstar finished with 78 tackles (29 for losses), 20.5 sacks (the most in a single season since 1989), four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries (one for a TD), 10 passes defended, and 51 QB hits.

Drop the mic, folks, because nothing more needs to be said here.

2015-2016: None

Unfortunately, Cam Newton hasn’t come close to the level of play he displayed in 2015-2016 in the subsequent seasons, but boy, was he something to behold that year. The Panthers gunslinger (literally) ran away with the award, becoming the first QB in league history to compile 35 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing scores in the same season. 

He logged 3,837 yards through the air and an additional 636 with his legs. On top of it all, he led Carolina to the No.1 seed in the NFC with a 15-1 record. 

You want controversy? Well, Newton somehow fell two votes shy of becoming a unanimous selection.

2016-2017

Winner: Matt Ryan
Snub: Tom Brady

The lazy argument here would be to simply state that Ryan led the league with a 117.1 QB passer rating and an 83.3 QBR while throwing for 4,944 yards and 38 touchdowns.

But what if we told you that Brady led the Patriots to a 14-2 record while Ryan led the Falcons to an 11-5 mark? TB12 threw for 3,554 yards alongside 28 touchdowns and just two (!) interceptions.

Brady received 10 first-place votes compared to Matty Ice's 25, and the six-time Super Bowl champ would have run away with the award had he not been suspended the opening four games four "Deflategate." No matter; he figured out how to send the message properly in the postseason.

2017-2018: None

While there wasn't necessarily a snub involved in this particular ballot, this should not have been as significant of a landslide as it turned out to be.

Tom Brady was awarded the MVP honor after throwing for 4,577 yards and 32 touchdowns while completing 66.3% of his passes. He led New England to a 13-3 record and ended up with 40 of a possible 50 votes.

Did Brady deserve the hardware? You bet, but the fact that Todd Gurley finished in second place over Carson Wentz with eight (!) votes, whose numbers were eerily similar to Brady's -- 13-3 record, 3,296 yards, 33 touchdowns -- was a joke.

2018-2019: None

Patrick Mahomes could have won the award only on the heels of the countless remarkable singular plays he delivered, but his numbers blew the rest of the field away.

The Chiefs superstar led KC to a 12-4 record, while throwing for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns. He led the NFL with a 80.4 QBR and added 272 yards and two scores with his legs.

Snub? This year? No way, Jose.

2019-2020: To Be Determined.

Just give the damn thing to Lamar Jackson already!