The trophy arrives during the playoffs, but the verdict is already sealed.
Imagine the MVP favorite throwing three interceptions in a divisional-round loss while another quarterback delivers an unforgettable postseason comeback. By the time those games occur, the Associated Press ballots have already been cast—typically after the regular season ends and before the playoffs begin.
The winner is revealed later at NFL Honors, which creates a misleading overlap: playoff performances dominate the conversation even though they cannot change the vote. A postseason collapse does not erase an MVP-caliber regular season, and a rival’s January surge cannot strengthen that rival’s MVP case. Those games instead shape awards and judgments tied to the postseason, especially Super Bowl MVP and broader debates about quarterback legacy.
Does NFL MVP include the playoffs?
No. The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award considers performance across the entire regular-season schedule, including Week 18, but excludes the postseason. Wild-card, divisional-round, conference championship, and Super Bowl performances do not count toward that season’s MVP award.
When fans, broadcasters, and record books refer to the “NFL MVP,” they ordinarily mean the AP NFL MVP presented at NFL Honors. It is the league’s most widely recognized MVP honor and the award used in most historical comparisons, contract discussions, and Hall of Fame résumés.
That distinction matters because “NFL MVP” is not a universal label for every award involving professional football. Other organizations, including the Pro Football Writers of America and the Sporting News, select their own MVPs or players of the year under separate voting systems. Unless another organization is named explicitly, the AP award is generally the one being discussed.
A player’s playoff run can shape reputation and determine honors such as Super Bowl MVP, but it cannot add to—or subtract from—the AP regular-season MVP case. Even a historic postseason therefore remains separate from the award’s evaluation window.
When is the NFL MVP decided and announced?
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The regular season ends
Week 18 supplies the final eligible evidence. Statistics, availability, team record, and performances from all 18 weeks may inform the AP electorate.
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AP voters submit ranked ballots
The 50-member media panel votes after the regular-season finale and before the postseason begins. Each voter ranks five candidates, with points awarded on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale.
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Sportsbooks close their markets
There is no universal wagering cutoff tied to ballot submission. When NFL MVP betting closes depends on the operator, jurisdiction, and house rules; some markets disappear before Week 18 concludes, while others remain available until a specified deadline.
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The playoffs are played
Wild-card games through the conference championships occur after voting. An extraordinary playoff run, injury, or elimination cannot change a ballot already filed.
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The winner is revealed during Super Bowl week
The AP award is announced at NFL Honors, typically held shortly before the Super Bowl. The delayed reveal does not mean postseason games were considered; it separates the voting date from the public announcement.
A sportsbook may suspend or close its MVP market on its own schedule. That operational decision neither identifies the AP ballot cutoff nor indicates that playoff performance is eligible. Settlement generally follows the official award announcement under the operator’s posted rules.
How does AP NFL MVP voting work?
Who votes for the NFL MVP?
The Associated Press appoints a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Players, coaches, league officials, fans, and sportsbooks do not participate in the ballot.
What does an MVP ballot contain?
Each voter ranks five candidates rather than selecting only one. A first-place ranking is worth 10 points, followed by 5, 3, 2, and 1 point for second through fifth.
Does the player with the most first-place votes automatically win?
Not necessarily. The award goes to the candidate with the highest overall point total, so broad placement across many ballots can outweigh a narrower collection of first-place support. A unanimous winner would receive 500 points.
How does the panel define “most valuable”?
There is no prescribed statistical formula. Voters may weigh quarterback importance, team success, efficiency, availability, late-game performance, positional difficulty, and performance relative to supporting talent differently.
Can close voting create a sportsbook dead heat?
A narrow points margin is still an outright AP result if one player finishes first. Betting settlement depends on the book’s posted rules and the official winner or winners—not on how close the final ballot was.
An official shared award can trigger dead-heat provisions, but settlement is controlled by each operator’s terms. Some divide the stake by the number of winners before applying the odds; others use different procedures. The applicable NFL award tie settlement rules should be checked before a wager is placed.
Is there an NFL postseason MVP award?
The AP NFL MVP recognizes performance across the regular season. By contrast, Super Bowl MVP covers one game—the championship—and is selected shortly after it ends. A player can therefore win Super Bowl MVP despite an ordinary regular season or a quiet performance earlier in the playoffs.
There is no comparably prominent award for the entire NFL postseason. The league does not name an official playoff MVP combining the wild-card, divisional, conference championship, and Super Bowl rounds. Consequently, a dominant January run may produce a Super Bowl MVP trophy, but only if that player also excels in the final game.
Postseason results still reshape how the regular-season winner is viewed. A championship run can validate an MVP season, while an early exit may fuel criticism—especially for quarterbacks—even though it cannot alter ballots already submitted. Those performances can also influence expectations, media narratives, betting markets, and voter perceptions in later seasons.
Other AP awards are separate distinctions rather than playoff supplements. Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and the rookie awards also evaluate regular-season achievement under their own criteria. The distinction between MVP and Offensive Player of the Year is especially important: MVP tends to reward overall value, often favoring quarterbacks, whereas OPOY more readily honors exceptional production at other positions.
Common MVP Misconceptions
AP MVP voting covers only the regular season.
Ballots are submitted before the playoffs; the later ceremony is merely the reveal.
Week 18 is part of the regular season and counts.
A sportsbook may close its market earlier, but that deadline does not redefine the award.
They are separate awards with separate voters and criteria.
Super Bowl MVP evaluates one championship game, not the regular season.
Before placing a futures wager, consult an NFL futures betting guide and confirm the market names the intended award. Check the house’s grading source, wagering deadline, and tie provisions; those contract terms—not the ceremony date—determine settlement.