Farrior Selected Steelers’ 2004 Most Valuable Player 


Farrior MVP Press Conference

PITTSBURGH—The Steelers’ 2004 season was filled with big plays, and many times on defense, there was one player in the center of the action.

Because of his big plays, consistency and leadership throughout the year, inside linebacker and defensive co-captain James Farrior was selected as the Steelers 2004 Most Valuable Player in a vote by his teammates. It is Farrior’s first MVP award.

Selected as a defensive co-captain prior to the season, Farrior has produced a storybook season.  Last week, the eight-year veteran was named to his first Pro Bowl, and he also is a candidate for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Farrior, in his third season with the Steelers after being acquired in 2002 as an unrestricted free agent from the New York Jets, has led the NFL’s top-ranked defense.  He topped the 100-tackle mark for the second straight year—and the third time in his career.  Farrior leads the team with 118 total tackles, including a team-high 81 solo stops.  He also has five forced fumbles, three recovered fumbles and recorded four sacks and a career-high four interceptions this season, tying him for the most by a linebacker in the NFL.

It is the fifth time in Head Coach Bill Cowher’s 13 seasons, a linebacker has been named the team MVP and the sixth time a defensive player garnered the award during that time. 

Following is the list of Steelers MVPs since 1969:

 1969                        WR                        Roy Jefferson
       1970                        DT                         Joe Greene
       1971                        LB                         Andy Russell
       1972                        RB                         Franco Harris
       1973                        WR                        Ron Shanklin
       1974                        S                           Glen Edwards
       1975                        CB                         Mel Blount
       1976                        LB                         Jack Lambert
       1977                        QB                        Terry Bradshaw
       1978                        QB                        Terry Bradshaw
       1979                        WR                        John Stallworth
       1980                        SS                         Donnie Shell
       1981                        LB                         Jack Lambert
       1982                        CB                         Dwayne Woodruff
       1983                        PK                         Gary Anderson
       1984                        WR                        John Stallworth
       1985                        WR                        Louis Lipps
       1986                        LB                         Bryan Hinkle
       1987                        LB                         Mike Merriweather
       1988                        LB                         David Little
                                     CB                         Rod Woodson
      1989                        WR                         Louis Lipps
      1990                        CB                         Rod Woodson
      1991                        LB                         Greg Lloyd
      1992                        RB                         Barry Foster
      1993                        CB                         Rod Woodson
      1994                        LB                         Greg Lloyd
      1995                        QB                         Neil O'Donnell
      1996                        RB                         Jerome Bettis
      1997                        RB                        Jerome Bettis
      1998                        LB                         Levon Kirkland
      1999                        LB                         Levon Kirkland
      2000                        RB                        Jerome Bettis
      2001                        QB                        Kordell Stewart
      2002                        WR                        Hines Ward
                                     LB                         Joey Porter
      2003                        WR                        Hines Ward
      2004                        LB                        James Farrior