In just the third tie since the award began in 1957, the premier passers each received 16 votes Friday from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.
Manning and McNair led their teams to 12-4 records, with Manning’s Indianapolis Colts edging McNair’s Tennessee Titans for the AFC South crown by winning both games against the Titans.
But they deadlocked for MVP.
“It is great,” McNair said. “My words can’t express how I feel being co-MVP with another great quarterback like Peyton. It’s very emotional right now for me that people look at me as being one of the top quarterbacks of the NFL, one of the top players, and a co-MVP.”
Manning, naturally, felt the same way.
“This is such a tremendous honor,” Manning said. “Obviously you look at all the former winners, it really is an honor to be on that same list, and to have such great teammates and a coaching staff that allowed me to go out and make plays.
“And to be sharing it with Steve, a player I have the most respect for and who has had a tremendous year, and to be ahead of guys like Tom Brady, who’s a friend of mine, and Jamal Lewis, a former teammate of mine at Tennessee who easily could have been there, as well, it’s tremendous.”
New England quarterback Brady finished third with eight votes, followed by Baltimore running back Lewis, the AP Offensive Player of the Year, with five. Kansas City running back Priest Holmes got three votes, and Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, the AP Defensive Player of the Year, received two.
