Football Digest was a sports magazine for fans interested in professional American football, with in-depth coverage of the National Football League (NFL). The magazine modeled the Reader's Digest idea, to bring the best in football journalism from newspapers and magazines that the fans would have otherwise not had an opportunity to read.

The final issue was published in November 2005.

It also had its own independent All-Rookie team which began in 1971 and its own All-pro team which began in the 1980s. The All-Pro team was chosen by the editorial staff which gave them the freedom to choose otherwise less-publicized players on the second-team selections. By interviewing coaches and players the editors felt they got the inside "scoop" on who the "sleepers" were for an All-Pro Team.^[1]

Awards

NFL Player of the Year

• 1973— O. J. Simpson, RB, Buf
• 1974— Ken Stabler, QB, Oak
• 1975— O. J. Simpson, RB, Buf
• 1976— Ken Stabler, QB, Oak
• 1977— Walter Payton, RB, Chi
• 1978— Earl Campbell, RB, Hou
• 1979— Dan Fouts, QB, SD
• 1980— Brian Sipe, QB, Cle
• 1981— Ken Anderson, QB, Cin
• 1982— Joe Theismann, QB, Was
• 1983— Joe Theismann, QB, Was
• 1984— Dan Marino, QB, Mia
• 1985— Marcus Allen, RB, LARd
• 1986— Lawrence Taylor, OLB, NYG
• 1987— Jerry Rice, WR, SF
• 1988— Boomer Esiason, QB, Cin
• 1989— Joe Montana, QB, SF
• 1990— Randall Cunningham, QB, Phi
• 1991— Barry Sanders, RB, Det
• 1992— Steve Young, QB, SF
• 1993— Emmitt Smith, RB, Dal
• 1994— Barry Sanders, RB, Det
• 1995— Brett Favre, QB, GB
• 1996— Brett Favre, QB, GB
• 1997— Barry Sanders, RB, Det
• 1998— Terrell Davis, RB, Den
• 1999— Kurt Warner, QB, StL
• 2000— Marshall Faulk, RB, StL
• 2001— Kurt Warner, QB, StL
• 2002— Rich Gannon, QB, Oak
• 2003— Peyton Manning, QB, Ind
• 2004— Peyton Manning, QB, Ind^[1]

NFL Defensive Player of the Year

• 1992 - Junior Seau, ILB, San Diego Chargers
• 1993 - Deion Sanders, CB, Atlanta Falcons
• 1994 - Charles Haley, DE, Dallas Cowboys
• 1995 - Merton Hanks, S, San Francisco 49ers
• 1996 - Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills
• 1997 - Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers
• 1998 - Junior Seau, ILB, San Diego Chargers
• 1999 - Warren Sapp, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2000 - Ray Lewis, MLB, Baltimore Ravens
• 2001 - Brian Urlacher, MLB, Chicago Bears
• 2002 - Derrick Brooks, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• 2003 - Ray Lewis, ILB, Baltimore Ravens
• 2004 - Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens^[1]

NFL Defensive Back of the Year

• 1973— Jack Tatum, Oak
• 1974— Jake Scott, Mia
• 1975— Mel Blount, Pit
• 1976— Monte Jackson, LA
• 1977— Louis Wright, Den
• 1978— Thom Darden, Cle
• 1979— Lemar Parrish, Was
• 1980— Nolan Cromwell, LA
• 1981— Nolan Cromwell, LA
• 1982— Nolan Cromwell, LA
• 1983— Nolan Cromwell, LA
• 1984— Kenny Easley, Sea
• 1985— Wes Hopkins, Phi
• 1986— Ronnie Lott, SF
• 1987— Ronnie Lott, SF
• 1988— Joey Browner, Min^[1]

NFL Defensive Linemen of the Year

• 1973— Alan Page, Min
• 1974— Joe Greene, Pit
• 1975— Joe Greene, Pit
• 1976— Wally Chambers, Chi
• 1977— Harvey Martin, Dal
• 1978— Bubba Baker, Det
• 1979— Lee Roy Selmon, TB
• 1980— Randy White, Dal
• 1981— Joe Klecko, NYJ
• 1982— Mark Gastineau, NYJ
• 1983— Doug Betters, Mia
• 1984— Mark Gastineau, NYJ
• 1985— Howie Long, Raid
• 1986— Reggie White, Phi
• 1987— Reggie White, Phi
• 1988— Dan Hampton, Chi^[1]

NFL Linebacker of the Year

• 1973— Lee Roy Jordan, Dal
• 1974— Mike Curtis, Bal
• 1975— Jack Ham, Pit
• 1976— Jack Lambert, Pit
• 1977— Jack Ham, Pit
• 1978— Randy Gradishar, Den
• 1979— Randy Gradishar, Den
• 1980— Ted Hendricks, Oak
• 1981— Lawrence Taylor, NYG
• 1982— Lawrence Taylor, NYG
• 1983— Lawrence Taylor, NYG
• 1984— Lawrence Taylor, NYG
• 1985— Mike Singletary, Chi
• 1986— Lawrence Taylor, NYG
• 1987— Andre Tippett, NE
• 1988— Mike Singletary, Chi^[1]

NFL Offensive Lineman of the Year

• 1973— Ron Yary, Min
• 1974— Larry Little, Mia
• 1975— Dan Dierdorf, Stl
• 1976— John Hannah, NE
• 1977— Art Shell, Oak
• 1978— John Hannah, NE
• 1979— John Hannah, NE
• 1980— John Hannah, NE
• 1981— Anthony Muñoz, Cin
• 1982— Anthony Muñoz, Cin
• 1983— John Hannah, NE
• 1984— Russ Grimm, Was^[1]

NFL Running Back of the Year

• 1973— O. J. Simpson, Buf
• 1974— Otis Armstrong, Den
• 1975— O. J. Simpson, Buf
• 1976— O. J. Simpson, Buf
• 1977— Walter Payton, Chi
• 1978— Earl Campbell, Hou
• 1979— Earl Campbell, Hou
• 1980— Earl Campbell, Hou
• 1981— Tony Dorsett, Dal
• 1982— Marcus Allen, Raiders
• 1983— Eric Dickerson, Rams
• 1984— Eric Dickerson, Rams
• 1985— Marcus Allen, Raiders
• 1986— Eric Dickerson, Rams
• 1987— Eric Dickerson, Colts
• 1988— Roger Craig, SF

NFL Receiver of the Year

• 1973 Paul Warfield, Mia
• 1974 Cliff Branch, Oak
• 1975 Lynn Swann, Pit
• 1976 Cliff Branch, Oak
• 1977 Drew Pearson, Dal
• 1978 Lynn Swann, Pit
• 1979 John Jefferson, SD
• 1980 John Jefferson, SD
• 1981 Kellen Winslow, SD
• 1982 Wes Chandler, SD
• 1983 James Lofton, GB
• 1984 Roy Green, StL
• 1985 Mike Quick, Phi
• 1986 Jerry Rice, SF
• 1987 Jerry Rice, SF
• 1988 Anthony Carter, Min

NFL Quarterback of the Year

• 1973— Bob Griese, Mia
• 1974— Ken Stabler, Oak
• 1975— Fran Tarkenton, Min
• 1976— Ken Stabler, Oak
• 1977— Bob Griese, Mia
• 1978— Terry Bradshaw, Pit
• 1979— Dan Fouts, SD
• 1980— Brian Sipe, Cle
• 1981— Ken Anderson, Cin
• 1982— Joe Theismann, Was
• 1983— Joe Theismann, Was
• 1984— Dan Marino, Mia
• 1985— Dan Marino, Mia
• 1986— Dan Marino, Mia
• 1987— Joe Montana, SF
• 1988— Boomer Esiason, Cin

NFL Specialists of the Year

• 1974— Terry Metcalf, StL
• 1975— Billy (White Shoes) Johnson, Hou
• 1976— Rick Upchurch, Den
• 1977— Billy (White Shoes) Johnson, Hou
• 1978— Rick Upchurch, Den
• 1979— Rich Mauti, NO
• 1980— J. T. Smith, KC
• 1981— Mike Nelms, Was
• 1982— Rick Upchurch, Den
• 1983— Billy (White Shoes) Johnson, Atl

NFL Kicker of the Year

• 1974— Chester Marcol, GB
• 1975— Jim Bakken, Stl
• 1976— Jim Bakken, StL
• 1977— Ray Guy, Oak
• 1978— Ray Guy, Oak
• 1979— Toni Fritsch, Hou
• 1980— Dave Jennings, NYG
• 1981— Pat McInally, Cin
• 1982— Mark Moseley, Was
• 1983— Ali Haji-Sheikh, NYG

NFL Coach of the Year

• 1974— Don Coryell, stL
• 1975— Ted Marchibroda, Bal
• 1976— Chuck Fairbanks, NE
• 1977— Red Miller, Den
• 1978— Walt Michaels, NYJ
• 1979— Dick Vermeil, Phi
• 1980— Chuck Knox, Buf
• 1981— Bill Walsh, SF
• 1982— Joe Gibbs, Was
• 1983— Joe Gibbs, Was
• 1984- Chuck Knox, Sea
• 1985- Mike Ditka, Chi
• 1986- Bill Parcells, NYG
• 1987- Jim Mora, NO
• 1988- Mike Ditka, Chi
• 1989- Lindy Infante, GB
• 1990- Don Shula, Mia
• 1991- Jimmy Johnson, Dal
• 1992- Bobby Ross, SD
• 1993- Dan Reeves. NYG
• 1994- Bill Parcells, NE
• 1995- Ray Rhodes, Phi
• 1996- Dom Capers, Car
• 1997_ Marty Schottenheimer, KC
• 1998_ Dan Reeves, Atl
• 1999-- Dick Vermeil, Stl.
• 2000-- Andy Reid, Phi
• 2001-- Dick Jauron, Chi
• 2002-- Jeff Fisher, Ten
• 2003-- Bill Belichick, NE