Big Ten Conference football individual awards

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.

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

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.''

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.''

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.''

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

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

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.''

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.

Bakken–Andersen Kicker of the Year
Named in honor of Wisconsin's Jim Bakken and Michigan State's Morten Andersen.

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.