Coaches and media of the Big Ten Conference award the following individual honors at the end of each football season. In addition, the Chicago Tribune awards the Chicago Tribune Silver Football to the most valuable football player of the conference.

General

Player of the Year

Sanctioned by Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI); replaced with separate offensive and defensive selections in 1990.

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Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year

Selected by coaches and media. In 2011, the award was renamed the Graham–George Offensive Player of the Year Award in honor of Northwestern's Otto Graham and Ohio State's Eddie George.

Nagurski–Woodson Defensive Player of the Year

Selected by coaches and media. In 2011, the award was renamed the Nagurski–Woodson Award in honor of Minnesota's Bronko Nagurski and Michigan's Charles Woodson.

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Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year

Selected by coaches and media. In 2011, the award was renamed the Thompson–Randle El Freshman of the Year Award in honor of Minnesota's Darrell Thompson and Indiana's Antwaan Randle El.

More information Season, Player ...
Season Player Pos. Team Ref.
1986 Darrell Thompson[a] RB Minnesota
1987 Tony Lowery[a] QB Wisconsin
1988 Brian Fox[a] QB Purdue
Ed Sutter[b] LB/P Northwestern
1989 Eric Hunter QB Purdue
1990 Robert Smith RB Ohio State
1991 Corey Rogers RB Purdue
1992 Korey Stringer[a] OT Ohio State
Simeon Rice[b] DE Illinois
1993 Reggie Garnett LB Michigan State
1994 Orlando Pace OT Ohio State
1995 Charles Woodson[a] CB Michigan
Curtis Enis[b] RB Penn State
1996 Ron Dayne[a] RB Wisconsin
Andy Katzenmoyer[b] LB Ohio State
1997 Anthony Thomas RB Michigan
1998 Antwaan Randle El QB Indiana
1999 Brooks Bollinger QB Wisconsin
2000 Stuart Schweigert S Purdue [1][2]
2001 Anthony Davis RB Wisconsin [3]
2002 Maurice Clarett RB Ohio State [4]
2003 Steve Breaston[a] WR Michigan [5]
Laurence Maroney[b] RB Minnesota
2004 Mike Hart RB Michigan [6]
2005 Tyrell Sutton RB Northwestern [7]
2006 P. J. Hill RB Wisconsin [8]
2007 Arrelious Benn WR Illinois [9]
2008 Terrelle Pryor QB Ohio State [10]
2009 Chris Borland LB Wisconsin [11]
2010 James White RB Wisconsin [13]
Award renamed
2011 Braxton Miller QB Ohio State [14]
2012 Deion Barnes DE Penn State [15]
2013 Christian Hackenberg QB Penn State [16]
2014 J. T. Barrett QB Ohio State [17]
2015 Jabrill Peppers S/RB Michigan
2016 Mike Weber RB Ohio State
2017 Jonathan Taylor RB Wisconsin [20]
2018 Rondale Moore WR Purdue
2019 David Bell WR Purdue [22]
2020 Brandon Joseph S Northwestern [23]
2021 C. J. Stroud QB Ohio State [24]
2022 Nicholas Singleton RB Penn State [25]
2023 Dillon Thieneman S Purdue [26]
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Dave McClain / Hayes–Schembechler Coach of the Year

From 1986 through 2010, this award was dedicated in honor of Dave McClain, who served as the Wisconsin Badgers head coach from 1978 to 1985. Recipients were selected by the media. The coaches selected a separate award from 1982 to 1991. When the coaches resumed selecting a coach of the year in 2011, it was named for the first two recipients of the Big Ten Coach of the year, Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes, as the Hayes–Schembechler coach of the year.

More information Season, Coach ...
Season Coach Team Ref.
Big Ten Coach of the Year
1972 Bo Schembechler Michigan
1973 Woody Hayes Ohio State
1974 Denny Stolz Michigan State
1975 Woody Hayes (2) Ohio State
1976 Bo Schembechler (2) Michigan
1977 Darryl Rogers Michigan State
1978 Jim Young Purdue
1979 Earle Bruce Ohio State
1980 Bo Schembechler (3) Michigan
1981 Hayden Fry Iowa
1982 Bo Schembechler[a] (4) Michigan
Dennis Green[b] Northwestern
1983 Mike White Illinois
1984 Leon Burtnett Purdue
1985 Bo Schembechler (5) Michigan
Dave McClain Coach of the Year
1986 Bill Mallory Indiana
1987 George Perles[a] Michigan State
Bill Mallory[b] (2) Indiana
1988 John Mackovic Illinois
1989 Bo Schembechler[a] (6) Michigan
John Mackovic[b] (2) Illinois
1990 Hayden Fry (2) Iowa
1991 Hayden Fry[a] (3) Iowa
Gary Moeller[b] Michigan
1992 Gary Moeller (2) Michigan
1993 Barry Alvarez Wisconsin
1994 Joe Paterno Penn State
1995 Gary Barnett Northwestern
1996 Gary Barnett (2) Northwestern
1997 Joe Tiller Purdue
1998 Barry Alvarez (2) Wisconsin
1999 Glen Mason Minnesota
2000 Randy Walker Northwestern [2]
2001 Ron Turner Illinois [3]
2002 Kirk Ferentz Iowa [4]
2003 John L. Smith Michigan State [5]
2004 Kirk Ferentz (2) Iowa [6]
2005 Joe Paterno (2) Penn State [7]
2006 Bret Bielema Wisconsin [8]
2007 Ron Zook Illinois [9]
2008 Joe Paterno (3) Penn State [10]
2009 Kirk Ferentz (3) Iowa [11]
2010 Mark Dantonio Michigan State [13]
Hayes–Schembechler Coach of the Year
2011 Brady Hoke Michigan [14]
2012 Bill O'Brien Penn State [15]
2013 Mark Dantonio (2) Michigan State [16]
2014 Jerry Kill Minnesota [17]
2015 Kirk Ferentz (4) Iowa [27]
2016 Paul Chryst[a] Wisconsin [28]
James Franklin[b] Penn State
2017 Paul Chryst (2) Wisconsin [20]
2018 Pat Fitzgerald Northwestern [29]
2019 P. J. Fleck[a] Minnesota [30]
Ryan Day[b] Ohio State
2020 Tom Allen Indiana [23]
2021 Mel Tucker Michigan State [31]
2022 Jim Harbaugh Michigan [32]
2023 David Braun Northwestern [33]
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Ford–Kinnick Leadership Award

The award is named in honor of Michigan's Gerald Ford and Iowa's Nile Kinnick.

More information Season, Player ...
Season Player Pos. Team Tenure Ref.
2011 Archie Griffin RB Ohio State 1972–1975 [34][35]
2012 Jon Runyan OT Michigan 1992–1995 [36]
2013 Gene Washington WR Michigan State 1964–1966 [37]
2014 Mike Hopkins S Illinois 1987–1991 [38]
2015 Brian Griese QB Michigan 1993–1997 [39]
2016 Reggie McKenzie G Michigan 1969–1971 [40]
2017 Troy Vincent CB Wisconsin 1988–1991 [41][42]
2018 Antwaan Randle El QB Indiana 1997–2001 [43][44]
2019 Doug Schlereth DE Indiana 1985–1988 [45][46]
2020 Napoleon Harris LB/DE Northwestern 1998–2001
2021 Pat Richter E Wisconsin 1960–1962 [47]
2022 Ron Guenther OL Illinois 1965–1966 [48][49]
2023 Richard Coachys QB/S Indiana 1965–1966 [50][51]
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Dungy–Thompson Humanitarian Award

The award is named in honor of Minnesota's Tony Dungy and Indiana's Anthony Thompson.

More information Season, Player ...
Season Player Pos. Team Tenure Ref.
2011 George Taliaferro HB Indiana 1945, 1947–1948 [52][35]
2012 Chris Spielman LB Ohio State 1984–1987 [53]
2013 Drew Brees QB Purdue 1997–2000 [54]
2014 Brian Griese QB Michigan 1993–1997 [55]
2015 John Shinsky DT Michigan State 1970–1973 [56]
2016 Trent Green QB Indiana 1988–1992 [57]
2017 Chad Greenway LB Iowa 2001–2005 [58]
2018 Jake Wood OT Wisconsin 2001–2004 [44]
2019 J. J. Watt DE Wisconsin 2008–2010 [46]
2020 Vincent Smith RB Michigan 2009–2012 [59]
2021 Malcolm Jenkins S/NB Ohio State 2005–2008 [60][47][61]
2022 Nate Sudfeld QB Indiana 2012–2015 [62][49]
2023 Dick Butkus LB Illinois 1962–1964 [63][51]
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All-Big Ten

Offensive

Griese–Brees Quarterback of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Purdue's Bob Griese and Drew Brees.

Ameche–Dayne Running Back of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Wisconsin's Alan Ameche and Ron Dayne.

Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year

Award began in 2011 and is named in honor of Wisconsin's Pat Richter and Michigan's Desmond Howard.

Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year

Award began in 2011 and is named in honor of Penn State's Ted Kwalick and Iowa's Dallas Clark.

Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year

Selected by Big Ten radio broadcasters until 1991; selected by coaches since. In 2011, the award was renamed the Rimington–Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year Award, in honor of Nebraska's Dave Rimington and Ohio State's Orlando Pace.

Thumb
2010 winner Gabe Carimi

Defensive

Smith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year

Selected by Big Ten radio broadcasters until 1991; selected by coaches since. In 2011, the award was renamed the Smith–Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year Award in honor of Michigan State's Bubba Smith and Penn State's Courtney Brown.

Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Illinois' Dick Butkus and Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald.

Tatum–Woodson Defensive Back of the Year

Award started in 2011, named in honor of Ohio State's Jack Tatum and Purdue's Rod Woodson.

Special teams

Bakken–Andersen Kicker of the Year

Named in honor of Wisconsin's Jim Bakken and Michigan State's Morten Andersen.

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Eddleman–Fields Punter of the Year

Named in honor of Illinois' Dwight Eddleman and Michigan State's Brandon Fields.

Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year

Named in honor of Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers and Iowa's Tim Dwight.[68]

See also

Notes and references

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