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Football Digest

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
8 min read
Source updated March 15, 2025

Football Digest was a sports magazine for fans interested in professional American football, with in-depth coverage of the National Football League (NFL). The magazine modeled the Reader's Digest idea, to bring the best in football journalism from newspapers and magazines that the fans would have otherwise not had an opportunity to read.

The final issue was published in November 2005.

It also had its own independent All-Rookie team which began in 1971 and its own All-pro team which began in the 1980s. The All-Pro team was chosen by the editorial staff which gave them the freedom to choose otherwise less-publicized players on the second-team selections. By interviewing coaches and players the editors felt they got the inside "scoop" on who the "sleepers" were for an All-Pro Team.

The magazine's issues from 1971 to 1981 are available at the Internet Archive.

01Awards

NFL Player of the Year

NFL Defensive Player of the Year

NFL Defensive Back of the Year

NFL Defensive Linemen of the Year

NFL Linebacker of the Year

  • 1973: Lee Roy Jordan, Dallas Cowboys
  • 1974: Mike Curtis, Baltimore Colts
  • 1975: Jack Ham, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 1976: Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 1977: Jack Ham, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 1978: Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos
  • 1979: Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos
  • 1980: Ted Hendricks, Oakland Raiders
  • 1981: Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants
  • 1982: Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants
  • 1983: Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants
  • 1984: Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants
  • 1985: Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears
  • 1986: Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants
  • 1987: Andre Tippett, New England Patriots
  • 1988: Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears

NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year

  • 1973: Ron Yary, Minnesota Vikings
  • 1974: Larry Little, Miami Dolphins
  • 1975: Dan Dierdorf, St. Louis Cardinals
  • 1976: John Hannah, New England Patriots
  • 1977: Art Shell, Oakland Raiders
  • 1978: John Hannah, New England Patriots
  • 1979: John Hannah, New England Patriots
  • 1980: John Hannah, New England Patriots
  • 1981: Anthony Muñoz, Cincinnati Bengals
  • 1982: Anthony Muñoz, Cincinnati Bengals
  • 1983: John Hannah, New England Patriots
  • 1984: Russ Grimm, Washington Redskins

NFL Running Back of the Year

  • 1973: O. J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills
  • 1974: Otis Armstrong, Denver Broncos
  • 1975: O. J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills
  • 1976: O. J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills
  • 1977: Walter Payton, Chicago Bears
  • 1978: Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers
  • 1979: Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers
  • 1980: Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers
  • 1981: Tony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboys
  • 1982: Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders
  • 1983: Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1984: Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1985: Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders
  • 1986: Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1987: Eric Dickerson, Indianapolis Colts
  • 1988: Roger Craig, San Francisco 49ers

NFL Receiver of the Year

NFL Quarterback of the Year

NFL Specialists of the Year

NFL Kicker of the Year

NFL Coach of the Year

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Watch videos about Football DigestExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Football Digest”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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