''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.
[Wilner, Barry. Football Digest. April, 2005 Issue]
Awards
NFL Player of the Year
*1973— O. J. Simpson, RB, Buf
*1974— Ken Stabler, QB, Oak
*1975— O. J. Simpson, RB, Buf
*1976— Ken Stabler, QB, Oak
*1977— Walter Payton, RB, Chi
*1978— Earl Campbell, RB, Hou
*1979— Dan Fouts, QB, SD
*1980— Brian Sipe, QB, Cle
*1981— Ken Anderson, QB, Cin
*1982— Joe Theismann, QB, Was
*1983— Joe Theismann, QB, Was
*1984— Dan Marino, QB, Mia
*1985— Marcus Allen, RB, LARd
*1986— Lawrence Taylor, OLB, NYG
*1987— Jerry Rice, WR, SF
*1988— Boomer Esiason, QB, Cin
*1989— Joe Montana, QB, SF
*1990—
Randall Cunningham, QB, Phi
*1991—
Barry Sanders, RB, Det
*1992—
Steve Young, QB, SF
*1993—
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith III (born May 15, 1969) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. Among other accolades, he is the lea ...
, RB, Dal
*1994— Barry Sanders, RB, Det
*1995—
Brett Favre, QB, GB
*1996— Brett Favre, QB, GB
*1997— Barry Sanders, RB, Det
*1998—
Terrell Davis, RB, Den
*1999—
Kurt Warner, QB, StL
*2000—
Marshall Faulk
Marshall William Faulk (born February 26, 1973) is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams. He is widely regarded as one of the grea ...
, RB, StL
*2001— Kurt Warner, QB, StL
*2002—
Rich Gannon, QB, Oak
*2003—
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons. Nicknamed "the Sheriff", he spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and four with th ...
, QB, Ind
*2004— Peyton Manning, QB, Ind
[
]
NFL Defensive Player of the Year
*1992 - Junior Seau, ILB, San Diego Chargers
*1993 - Deion Sanders
Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr. (born August 9, 1967) is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach at the University of Colorado Boulder. Nicknamed "Prime Time", he played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons ...
, CB, Atlanta Falcons
*1994 - Charles Haley
Charles Lewis Haley (born January 6, 1964) is a former American football outside linebacker and defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers (1986–1991, 1999) and the Dallas Cowboys (1992–1996). ...
, DE, Dallas Cowboys
*1995 - Merton Hanks, S, San Francisco 49ers
*1996 - Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills
*1997 - Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers
*1998 - Junior Seau, ILB, San Diego Chargers
*1999 - Warren Sapp, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
*2000 - Ray Lewis, MLB, Baltimore Ravens
*2001 - Brian Urlacher, MLB, Chicago Bears
*2002 - Derrick Brooks
Derrick Dewan Brooks (born April 18, 1973) is an American former football outside linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brooks played college football at Florida State, where ...
, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
*2003 - Ray Lewis, ILB, Baltimore Ravens
*2004 - Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens[
]
NFL Defensive Back of the Year
*1973— Jack Tatum, Oak
*1974— Jake Scott
Jacob E. Scott III (July 20, 1945 – November 19, 2020) was an American professional football player who was a free safety and punt returner from 1970 to 1978 for the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NF ...
, Mia
*1975— Mel Blount, Pit
*1976— Monte Jackson, LA
*1977— Louis Wright, Den
*1978— Thom Darden, Cle
*1979— Lemar Parrish, Was
*1980— Nolan Cromwell, LA
*1981— Nolan Cromwell, LA
*1982— Nolan Cromwell, LA
*1983— Nolan Cromwell, LA
*1984— Kenny Easley, Sea
*1985— Wes Hopkins, Phi
*1986— Ronnie Lott, SF
*1987— Ronnie Lott, SF
*1988— Joey Browner, Min[
]
NFL Defensive Linemen of the Year
*1973— Alan Page, Min
*1974— Joe Greene, Pit
*1975— Joe Greene, Pit
*1976— Wally Chambers, Chi
*1977— Harvey Martin, Dal
*1978— Bubba Baker
James Albert London Baker (born December 9, 1956), nicknamed "Bubba", is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) from 1978 to 1990. He played college football for the Colora ...
, Det
*1979— Lee Roy Selmon, TB
*1980— Randy White, Dal
*1981— Joe Klecko, NYJ
*1982— Mark Gastineau, NYJ
*1983— Doug Betters
Douglas Lloyd Betters (born June 11, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1978 to 1987.
After graduating from Arlington Heights High ...
, Mia
*1984— Mark Gastineau, NYJ
*1985— Howie Long, Raid
*1986— Reggie White, Phi
*1987— Reggie White, Phi
*1988— Dan Hampton, Chi[
]
NFL Linebacker of the Year
*1973— Lee Roy Jordan, Dal
*1974— Mike Curtis, Bal
*1975— Jack Ham, Pit
*1976— Jack Lambert, Pit
*1977— Jack Ham, Pit
*1978— Randy Gradishar, Den
*1979— Randy Gradishar, Den
*1980— Ted Hendricks, Oak
*1981— Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959), nicknamed "L.T.", is an American former professional football player who spent his entire career as an outside linebacker for the New York Giants ( 1981–1993) in the National Football League (NF ...
, NYG
*1982— Lawrence Taylor, NYG
*1983— Lawrence Taylor, NYG
*1984— Lawrence Taylor, NYG
*1985— Mike Singletary
Michael Singletary (born October 9, 1958), also known by his nickname Samurai Mike, is an American professional football coach and former middle linebacker. After playing college football for the Baylor Bears, Singletary was drafted by the Chi ...
, Chi
*1986— Lawrence Taylor, NYG
*1987— Andre Tippett, NE
*1988— Mike Singletary, Chi[
]
NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year
*1973— Ron Yary, Min
*1974— Larry Little, Mia
*1975— Dan Dierdorf, Stl
*1976— John Hannah, NE
*1977— Art Shell, Oak
*1978— John Hannah, NE
*1979— John Hannah, NE
*1980— John Hannah, NE
*1981— Anthony Muñoz, Cin
*1982— Anthony Muñoz, Cin
*1983— John Hannah, NE
*1984— Russ Grimm, Was[
]
NFL Running Back of the Year
*1973— O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James Simpson (born July 9, 1947), nicknamed "Juice", is an American former football running back, actor, and broadcaster who played for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Once a popular figure ...
, Buf
*1974— Otis Armstrong, Den
*1975— O. J. Simpson, Buf
*1976— O. J. Simpson, Buf
*1977— Walter Payton, Chi
*1978— Earl Campbell, Hou
*1979— Earl Campbell, Hou
*1980— Earl Campbell, Hou
*1981— Tony Dorsett, Dal
*1982— Marcus Allen, Raiders
*1983— Eric Dickerson, Rams
*1984— Eric Dickerson, Rams
*1985— Marcus Allen, Raiders
*1986— Eric Dickerson, Rams
*1987— Eric Dickerson, Colts
*1988— Roger Craig, SF
NFL Receiver of the Year
*1973 Paul Warfield, Mia
*1974 Cliff Branch, Oak
*1975 Lynn Swann, Pit
*1976 Cliff Branch, Oak
*1977 Drew Pearson, Dal
*1978 Lynn Swann, Pit
*1979 John Jefferson, SD
*1980 John Jefferson, SD
*1981 Kellen Winslow, SD
*1982 Wes Chandler, SD
*1983 James Lofton, GB
*1984 Roy Green, StL
*1985 Mike Quick, Phi
*1986 Jerry Rice, SF
*1987 Jerry Rice, SF
*1988 Anthony Carter
Anthony or Tony Carter may refer to:
Sports American football
*Anthony Carter (American football) (born 1960), wide receiver
* Tony Carter (running back) (born 1972), American football player
* Tony Carter (cornerback) (born 1986), American footba ...
, Min
NFL Quarterback of the Year
*1973— Bob Griese
Robert Allen Griese (pronounced ; born February 3, 1945) is a former American football quarterback who earned All-American honors with the Purdue Boilermakers before being drafted in 1967 by the American Football League's Miami Dolphins. Gries ...
, Mia
*1974— Ken Stabler
Kenneth Michael Stabler (December 25, 1945 – July 8, 2015) was an American professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Oakland Raiders. Nicknamed "Snake", he played col ...
, Oak
*1975— Fran Tarkenton, Min
*1976— Ken Stabler, Oak
*1977— Bob Griese, Mia
*1978— Terry Bradshaw, Pit
*1979— Dan Fouts, SD
*1980— Brian Sipe, Cle
*1981— Ken Anderson, Cin
*1982— Joe Theismann, Was
*1983— Joe Theismann, Was
*1984— Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. (born September 15, 1961) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. After a successful college career at Pittsburgh and be ...
, Mia
*1985— Dan Marino, Mia
*1986— Dan Marino, Mia
*1987— Joe Montana, SF
*1988— Boomer Esiason, Cin
NFL Specialists of the Year
*1974— Terry Metcalf
Terrance Randolph Metcalf (born September 24, 1951) is a former American football running back who played six total seasons in the National Football League (NFL), five of them with the St. Louis Cardinals and one with the Washington Redskin ...
, StL
*1975— Billy (White Shoes) Johnson, Hou
*1976— Rick Upchurch, Den
*1977— Billy (White Shoes) Johnson, Hou
*1978— Rick Upchurch, Den
*1979— Rich Mauti
Richard Dominic Mauti (born May 25, 1954) is a former American football wide receiver and American football positions#Special teams, special teams player who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints a ...
, NO
*1980— J. T. Smith, KC
*1981— Mike Nelms, Was
*1982— Rick Upchurch, Den
*1983— Billy (White Shoes) Johnson, Atl
NFL Kicker of the Year
*1974— Chester Marcol, GB
*1975— Jim Bakken, Stl
*1976— Jim Bakken, StL
*1977— Ray Guy, Oak
*1978— Ray Guy, Oak
*1979— Toni Fritsch, Hou
*1980— Dave Jennings, NYG
*1981— Pat McInally, Cin
*1982— Mark Moseley, Was
*1983— Ali Haji-Sheikh
ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib ( ar, عَلِيّ بْن أَبِي طَالِب; 600 – 661 CE) was the last of four Rightly Guided Caliphs to rule Islam (r. 656 – 661) immediately after the death of Muhammad, and he was the first Shia Imam. ...
, NYG
NFL Coach of the Year
*1974— Don Coryell, stL
*1975— Ted Marchibroda
Theodore Joseph Marchibroda (March 15, 1931 – January 16, 2016) was an American football quarterback and head coach in the National Football League (NFL). He spent his four years as an active player with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1953, 1955&nd ...
, Bal
*1976— Chuck Fairbanks, NE
*1977— Red Miller, Den
*1978— Walt Michaels, NYJ
*1979— Dick Vermeil
Richard Albert Vermeil (; born October 30, 1936) is a former American football coach who served as a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. He was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for seven seasons, the St. Lou ...
, Phi
*1980— Chuck Knox
Charles Robert Knox (April 27, 1932 – May 12, 2018) was an American football coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He served as head coach of three National Football League (NFL) teams, the Los Angeles Rams ( 1973–19 ...
, Buf
*1981— Bill Walsh, SF
*1982— Joe Gibbs, Was
*1983— Joe Gibbs, Was
*1984- Chuck Knox, Sea
*1985- Mike Ditka, Chi
*1986- Bill Parcells, NYG
*1987- Jim Mora, NO
*1988- Mike Ditka, Chi
*1989- Lindy Infante, GB
*1990- Don Shula
Donald Francis Shula (January 4, 1930 – May 4, 2020) was an American football defensive back and coach who served as a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1963 to 1995. The head coach of the Miami Dolphins for most of his ca ...
, Mia
*1991- Jimmy Johnson, Dal
*1992- Bobby Ross, SD
*1993- Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves (January 19, 1944 – January 1, 2022) was an American football running back and coach in the National Football League (NFL). During his 38 years in the NFL, Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls, the third most for an ...
. NYG
*1994- Bill Parcells, NE
*1995- Ray Rhodes, Phi
*1996- Dom Capers, Car
*1997_ Marty Schottenheimer, KC
*1998_ Dan Reeves
Daniel Edward Reeves (January 19, 1944 – January 1, 2022) was an American football running back and coach in the National Football League (NFL). During his 38 years in the NFL, Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls, the third most for an ...
, Atl
*1999-- Dick Vermeil, Stl.
*2000-- Andy Reid, Phi
*2001-- Dick Jauron, Chi
*2002-- Jeff Fisher, Ten
*2003-- Bill Belichick, NE
References
* The Awards Issue of ''Football Digest'' April 2005.
{{reflist
External links
Official site
Sports magazines published in the United States
National Football League mass media
Defunct magazines published in the United States
Magazines disestablished in 2005
National Football League trophies and awards