| United Press International NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year | |||
| Year | Winner | Team | Position |
| 1996 | Simeon Rice | Arizona Cardinals | Defensive End |
| 1995 | Rashaan Salaam | Chicago Bears | Running Back |
| 1994 | Bryant Young | San Francisco 49ers | Defensive Tackle |
| 1993 | Jerome Bettis | Los Angeles Rams | Running Back |
| 1992 | Robert Jones | Dallas Cowboys | Linebacker |
| 1991 | Lawrence Dawsey | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Wide Receiver |
| 1990 | Mark Carrier | Chicago Bears | Safety |
| 1989 | Barry Sanders | Detroit Lions | Running Back |
| 1988 | Keith Jackson | Philadelphia Eagles | Tight End |
| 1987 | Robert Awalt | St. Louis Cardinals | Tight End |
| 1986 | Reuben Mayes | New Orleans Saints | Running Back |
| 1985 | Jerry Rice | San Francisco 49ers | Wide Receiver |
| 1984 | Paul McFadden | Philadelphia Eagles | Kicker |
| 1983 | Eric Dickerson | Los Angeles Rams | Running Back |
| 1982 | Jim McMahon | Chicago Bears | Quarterback |
| 1981 | George Rogers | New Orleans Saints | Running Back |
| 1980 | Billy Sims | Detroit Lions | Running Back |
| 1979 | Ottis Anderson | St. Louis Cardinals | Running Back |
| 1978 | Bubba Baker | Detroit Lions | Defensive End |
| 1977 | Tony Dorsett | Dallas Cowboys | Running Back |
| 1976 | Sammy White | Minnesota Vikings | Wide Receiver |
| 1975 | Mike Thomas | Washington Redskins | Running Back |
| 1974 | John Hicks | New York Giants | Guard |
| 1973 | Charlie Young | Philadelphia Eagles | Tight End |
| 1972 | Chester Marcol | Green Bay Packers | Kicker |
| 1971 | John Brockington | Green Bay Packers | Running Back |
| 1970 | Bruce Taylor | San Francisco 49ers | Defensive Back |
| 1969 | Calvin Hill | Dallas Cowboys | Running Back |
| 1968 | Earl McCullough | Detroit Lions | Flanker |
| 1967 | Mel Farr | Detroit Lions | Running Back |
| 1966 | Johnny Roland | St. Louis Cardinals | Halfback |
| 1965 | Gale Sayers | Chicago Bears | Halfback |
| 1964 | Charley Taylor | Washington Redskins | Halfback |
| 1963 | Paul Flatley | Minnesota Vikings | Flanker |
| 1962 | Ronnie Bull | Chicago Bears | Fullback |
| 1961 | Mike Ditka | Chicago Bears | Tight End |
| 1960 | Gail Cogdill | Detroit Lions | Flanker |
| 1959 | Boyd Dowler | Green Bay Packers | Flanker |
| 1958 | Jimmy Orr | Pittsburgh Steelers | Flanker |
| 1957 | Jim Brown | Cleveland Browns | Fullback |
| 1956 | Lenny Moore | Baltimore Colts | Halfback |
| 1955 | Alan Ameche | Baltimore Colts | Fullback |
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