FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week
The FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week award first appeared in 2003. This weekly honor split recognition into two distinct categories: Air and Ground. The names came directly from FedEx corporate divisions, specifically FedEx Express for air cargo and FedEx Ground for land transport. Each week during the regular season, a list of nominees formed based on standout individual statistics from games played between Thursday and Monday. Fans then voted online at NFL.com to select the winners. These results typically reached the public by Wednesday. The structure mirrored the logistics company's dual-service model, creating a unique framework for celebrating football performance.
From 2003 through 2023, the Air category remained exclusive to quarterbacks while Ground stayed reserved for running backs. One winner emerged per category each week. In 2024, eligibility rules expanded significantly. Wide receivers and tight ends now qualified alongside traditional positions. Six total nominees appear without position labels or minimum quotas. Voters choose the top two overall performers regardless of role. Since that change, no set number exists per position. A single player can win multiple times if their stats justify it. The format shifted from rigid positional silos to an open competition where any offensive contributor could claim the title. This adjustment reflected modern offensive diversity in the league.
Fans determine the weekly champions through an online poll hosted on NFL.com. Nominees develop from exemplary statistical performances across that week’s games. Voting occurs after Thursday through Monday matchups conclude. Winners usually announce themselves by Wednesday. No committee selects recipients; public opinion drives every decision. The process relies entirely on fan engagement rather than executive judgment. Each nominee represents standout individual output from specific contests. The system prioritizes accessibility and direct audience participation over expert analysis. Results reflect collective viewer preferences rather than internal league evaluations.
Drew Brees accumulated twenty-three Air Player of the Week awards during his career. Aaron Rodgers earned nineteen such honors while Brett Favre secured eighteen. Tom Brady collected seventeen titles before retiring. Peyton Manning won sixteen awards throughout his tenure. These quarterbacks dominated the category for two decades. In 2013, Manning threw fifty-five touchdowns in a single season, breaking the previous record. His performance earned him both MVP and Offensive Player of the Year accolades. Drew Brees surpassed Brett Favre's career pass completion total in Week 3 of 2018. By 2024, Josh Allen joined the list with multiple non-categorized wins included. Quarterbacks consistently led the Air division due to their high-volume passing roles. Their ability to generate large yardage totals made them frequent nominees.
Adrian Peterson recorded three hundred sixty-three carries for one thousand seven hundred sixty yards in 2008. Derrick Henry amassed three hundred seventy-eight carries totaling two thousand twenty-seven yards that same year. LaDainian Tomlinson became the first player to win Ground Player of the Week five times within a single season. He later achieved eight such victories in another campaign. Peterson set a single-season touchdown record with twenty-nine scores in 2012. LeSean McCoy finished second in ground awards behind only Henry and Peterson. Running backs often posted massive carry counts exceeding three hundred per season. Their consistency allowed repeated weekly recognition across multiple years. The category highlighted physical endurance alongside scoring efficiency.
In Week 15 of 2017, Tom Brady threw fifty touchdowns during the regular season. New England finished undefeated at sixteen wins and zero losses. Drew Brees set an NFL record by achieving four or more touchdowns without an interception in his twenty-third game of 2018. That performance marked his thirty-first Air Player of the Week award. In 2013, Peyton Manning threw fifty-one touchdowns, surpassing the prior single-season benchmark. Adrian Peterson became the first player to win Ground Player of the Week for three different teams in 2018. His eighteenth total award tied him with others for career leadership. These moments defined specific weeks where statistical thresholds were shattered while earning weekly honors.
Common questions
When did the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week award first appear?
The FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week award first appeared in 2003. This weekly honor split recognition into two distinct categories: Air and Ground.
Who won the most FedEx Air Player of the Week awards during his career?
Drew Brees accumulated twenty-three Air Player of the Week awards during his career. Aaron Rodgers earned nineteen such honors while Brett Favre secured eighteen.
How many times did LaDainian Tomlinson win Ground Player of the Week within a single season?
LaDainian Tomlinson became the first player to win Ground Player of the Week five times within a single season. He later achieved eight such victories in another campaign.
What changed about eligibility rules for the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week award in 2024?
In 2024, eligibility rules expanded significantly so that wide receivers and tight ends now qualified alongside traditional positions. Six total nominees appear without position labels or minimum quotas.
Which team finished undefeated at sixteen wins and zero losses when Tom Brady threw fifty touchdowns in Week 15 of 2017?
New England finished undefeated at sixteen wins and zero losses when Tom Brady threw fifty touchdowns during the regular season in Week 15 of 2017.