In the world of American football, accolades are difficult to come by. Among the most coveted for young players entering the league is the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Awarded annually to the top-performing newcomer in the NFL, this honor is handed out only once in a player’s career. That’s why the idea of someone winning it more than once seems almost impossible—because, in fact, it is. Yet, a curious question circulates among fans and trivia buffs alike: Who is the only player to win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award three times?
The straightforward and factual answer is: No player has ever won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award more than once.
This may come as a surprise to some readers, especially with the abundance of talent that has passed through the NFL in its long history. Let’s dig deeper into the origins of this myth and why such a feat is not just improbable—but also technically impossible under current rules.
The Criteria for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award is presented by the Associated Press (AP) at the end of each regular season. To be eligible for this award, a player must:
- Be in his first year playing in the NFL
- Display outstanding performance on the offensive side of the ball
- Remain active and impactful throughout the majority of the regular season
This makes the award a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any given football player. Once a player completes his first season, he is no longer a rookie, regardless of whether he was injured, replaced, or barely played.
This structure also highlights the absurdity of the idea that someone could win the award multiple times. After all, how can someone be a rookie three years in a row?
The Origins of the Myth
The question of a player winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award three times likely stems from a mix of misinformation and confusion with other awards. Some players have had a slow start due to injuries in their real rookie seasons and only broke out in their second or third year.
Others may have had standout performances in college, won multiple collegiate awards, and then carried that success to the big leagues. But none of these achievements add up to multiple ROTY awards in the NFL.
A few famous names often get caught up in such confusion:
- Bo Jackson: Known for his incredible talent in both football and baseball, fans sometimes exaggerate his NFL accomplishments.
- Randy Moss: His legendary rookie season confused fans into believing he was awarded multiple honors.
- Eric Dickerson: His record-setting rookie campaign left such a lasting impact that it feels as though he must have won it more than once.
While these players had groundbreaking starts to their careers, each of them won the award only once.
Significant One-Time Winners
To appreciate the importance of the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, it’s worth looking at some of the most impactful recipients:
- Ben Roethlisberger (2004) – Led his team to a 15-1 regular season record.
- Cam Newton (2011) – Threw for over 4,000 yards, a record for a rookie at the time.
- Justin Jefferson (2020) – Set records in receiving yards and helped reshape Minnesota’s offense.
Each of these athletes lit up the field in their rookie campaign, but none ever got a second opportunity to claim the same title.
The Bottom Line
The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award is just that—a rookie award. Once a player completes his freshman season in the NFL, he is no longer eligible for it again. No matter how spectacular he may be in his second or third year, those performances will be evaluated by different metrics and for different honors, such as the MVP or Offensive Player of the Year.
So to answer the original question in full clarity: There has never been, and likely never will be, a player who wins the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award three times. And that’s a testament to how rare and special the award truly is.