https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/ap-nfl-mvp-award.htm
There is no need to single out the quarterback position as the qualifier.
No NFL Most Valuable Player has ever played on a losing team. This is why a handful of members (including myself) emphasized the likelihood of Dak Prescott winning the award last season,
during the season, was extremely remote.
The Associated Press votes for the award. The AP is made up of people. People's perceptions dictate who gets ANY award. And perceptions take in the entire team's efforts along with the player. Any casual knowledge of how players have always been named MVP would have tempered expectations. Or it should have.
Both Brett Favre and Barry Sanders are the only two players named MVP who played on teams that finished the regular season closest to 0.500 or below. Their respective teams finished 9-7 in back-to-back regular seasons.
1957, FB, Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns 9-2-1 (0.818)
1958, FB, Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns 9-3-0 (0.750)
1959, QB, Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts 9-3-0 (0.750)
1961, HB, Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers 11-3-0 (0.786)
1962, FB, Jim Taylor, Green Bay Packers 13-1-0 (0.929)
1963, QB, Y.A. Tittle, New York Giants 11-3-0 (0.786)
1964, QB, Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts 12-2-0 (0.857)
1965, FB, Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns 11-3-0 (0.786)
1966, QB, Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers 12-2-0 (0.857)
1967, QB, Johnny Unitas, Baltimore Colts 11-1-2 (0.917)
1968, QB, Earl Morrall, Baltimore Colts 13-1-0 (0.929)
1969, QB, Roman Gabriel, Los Angeles Rams 11-3-0 (0.786)
1970, QB, John Brodie, San Francisco 49ers 10-3-1 (0.769)
1971, RDT, Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings 11-3-0 (0.786)
1972, RB, Larry Brown, Washington Commanders 11-3-0 (0.786)
1973, RB, O.J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills 9-5-0 (0.643)
1974, QB, Ken Stabler, Oakland Raiders 12-2-0 (0.857)
1975, QB, Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings 12-2-0 (0.857)
1976, QB, Bert Jones, Baltimore Colts 11-3-0 (0.786)
1977, RB, Walter Payton, Chicago Bears 9-5-0 (0.643)
1978, QB, Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers 14-2-0 (0.875)
1979, RB, Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers 11-5-0 (0.688)
1980, QB, Brian Sipe, Cleveland Browns 11-5-0 (0.688)
1981, QB, Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals 12-4-0 (0.750)
1982, K, Mark Moseley, Washington Commanders 8-1-0 (0.889)
1983, QB, Joe Theismann, Washington Commanders 14-2-0 (0.875)
1984, QB, Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins 14-2-0 (0.875)
1985, RB, Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders 12-4-0 (0.750)
1986, ROLB, Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants 14-2-0 (0.875)
1987, QB, John Elway, Denver Broncos 10-4-1 (0.700)
1988, QB, Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals 12-4-0 (0.750)
1989, QB, Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers 14-2-0 (0.875)
1990, QB, Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers 14-2-0 (0.875)
1991, RB, Thurman Thomas, Buffalo Bills 13-3-0 (0.813)
1992, QB, Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers 14-2-0 (0.875)
1993, RB, Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys 12-4-0 (0.750)
1994, QB, Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers 13-3-0 (0.813)
1995, QB, Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers 11-5-0 (0.688)
1996, QB, Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers 9-7-0 (0.563)
1997, RB, Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions 9-7-0 (0.563)
1997, QB, Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers 13-3-0 (0.813)
1998, RB, Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos 14-2-0 (0.875)
1999, QB, Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams 13-3-0 (0.813)
2000, RB, Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams 10-6-0 (0.625)
2001, QB, Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams 14-2-0 (0.875)
2002, QB, Rich Gannon, Oakland Raiders 11-5-0 (0.688)
2003, QB, Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans 12-4-0 (0.750)
2003, QB, Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts 12-4-0 (0.750)
2004, QB, Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts 12-4-0 (0.750)
2005, RB, Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks 13-3-0 (0.813)
2006, RB, LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers 14-2-0 (0.875)
2007, QB, Tom Brady, New England Patriots 16-0-0 (1.000)
2008, QB, Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts 12-4-0 (0.750)
2009, QB, Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts 14-2-0 (0.875)
2010, QB, Tom Brady, New England Patriots 14-2-0 (0.875)
2011, QB, Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers 15-1-0 (0.938)
2012, RB, Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings 10-6-0 (0.625)
2013, QB, Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos 13-3-0 (0.813)
2014, QB, Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers 12-4-0 (0.750)
2015, QB, Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers 15-1-0 (0.938)
2016, QB, Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons 11-5-0 (0.688)
2017, QB, Tom Brady, New England Patriots 13-3-0 (0.813)
2018, QB, Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs 12-4-0 (0.750)
2019, QB, Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens 14-2-0 (0.875)
2020, QB, Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers 13-3-0 (0.813)
2021, QB, Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers 13-4-0 (0.765)
2022, QB, Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs 14-3-0 (0.824)
2023, QB, Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens 13-4-0 (0.765)
2024, QB, Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills 13-4-0 (0.765)
2025, QB, Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams 12-5-0 (0.706)