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.

The magazine's issues from 1971 to 1981 are available at the Internet Archive.

Awards

NFL Player of the Year

  • 1973: O. J. Simpson, RB, Buffalo Bills
  • 1974: Ken Stabler, QB, Oakland Raiders
  • 1975: O. J. Simpson, RB, Buffalo Bills
  • 1976: Ken Stabler, QB, Oakland Raiders
  • 1977: Walter Payton, RB, Chicago Bears
  • 1978: Earl Campbell, RB, Houston Oilers
  • 1979: Dan Fouts, QB, San Diego Chargers
  • 1980: Brian Sipe, QB, Cleveland Browns
  • 1981: Ken Anderson, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
  • 1982: Joe Theismann, QB, Washington Redskins
  • 1983: Joe Theismann, QB, Washington Redskins
  • 1984: Dan Marino, QB, Miami Dolphins
  • 1985: Marcus Allen, RB, Los Angeles Raiders
  • 1986: Lawrence Taylor, OLB, New York Giants
  • 1987: Jerry Rice, WR, San Francisco 49ers
  • 1988: Boomer Esiason, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
  • 1989: Joe Montana, QB, San Francisco 49ers
  • 1990: Randall Cunningham, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
  • 1991: Barry Sanders, RB, Detroit Lions
  • 1992: Steve Young, QB, San Francisco 49ers
  • 1993: Emmitt Smith, RB, Dallas Cowboys
  • 1994: Barry Sanders, RB, Detroit Lions
  • 1995: Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers
  • 1996: Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers
  • 1997: Barry Sanders, RB, Detroit Lions
  • 1998: Terrell Davis, RB, Denver Broncos
  • 1999: Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis Rams
  • 2000: Marshall Faulk, RB, St. Louis Rams
  • 2001: Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis Rams
  • 2002: Rich Gannon, QB, Oakland Raiders
  • 2003: Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts
  • 2004: Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts

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

NFL Defensive Back of the Year

  • 1973: Jack Tatum, Oakland Raiders
  • 1974: Jake Scott, Miami Dolphins
  • 1975: Mel Blount, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 1976: Monte Jackson, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1977: Louis Wright, Denver Broncos
  • 1978: Thom Darden, Cleveland Browns
  • 1979: Lemar Parrish, Washington Redskins
  • 1980: Nolan Cromwell, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1981: Nolan Cromwell, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1982: Nolan Cromwell, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1983: Nolan Cromwell, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1984: Kenny Easley, Seattle Seahawks
  • 1985: Wes Hopkins, Philadelphia Eagles
  • 1986: Ronnie Lott, San Francisco 49ers
  • 1987: Ronnie Lott, San Francisco 49ers
  • 1988: Joey Browner, Minnesota Vikings

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

  • 1971, Jim Plunkett, QB, New England Patriots
  • 1972, Franco Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 1973, Boobie Clark, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
  • 1974, Don Woods, RB, San Diego Chargers
  • 1975, Mike Thomas, RB, Washington Redskins
  • 1976, Sammy White, WR, Minnesota Vikings
  • 1977, Tony Dorsett, RB, Dallas Cowboys
  • 1978, Earl Campbell, RB, Houston Oilers
  • 1979, Ottis Anderson, RB, St. Louis Cardinals
  • 1980, Billy Sims, RB, Detroit Lions
  • 1981, George Rogers, RB, New Orleans Saints
  • 1982, Marcus Allen, RB, Oakland Raiders
  • 1983, Eric Dickerson, RB, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1984, Greg Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 1985, Kevin Mack, RB, Cleveland Browns
  • 1986, Herschel Walker, RB, Dallas Cowboys
  • 1987, Bo Jackson, RB, Oakland Raiders
  • 1988, Keith Jackson, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
  • 1989, Barry Sanders, RB, Detroit Lions
  • 1990, Johnny Johnson, RB, Phoenix Cardinals
  • 1991, Leonard Russell, RB, New England Patriots
  • 1992, Carl Pickens, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
  • 1993, Rick Mirer, QB, Seattle Seahawks
  • 1994, Marshall Faulk, RB, Indianapolis Colts
  • 1995, Terrell Davis, RB, Denver Broncos
  • 1996, Eddie George, RB, Houston Oilers
  • 1997, Warrick Dunn, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • 1998, Randy Moss, WR, Minnesota Vikings
  • 1999, Edgerrin James, RB, Indianapolis Colts
  • 2000, Mike Anderson, RB, Denver Broncos
  • 2001, Chris Chambers, WR, Miami Dolphins
  • 2002, Clinton Portis, RB, Denver Broncos
  • 2003, Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona Cardinals

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

  • 1971, Isiah Robertson, LB, Los Angeles Rams
  • 1972, Tommy Casanova, DB, Cincinnati Bengals
  • 1973, Wally Chambers, DE, Chicago Bears
  • 1974, Jack Lambert, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 1975, Robert Brazile, LB, Houston Oilers
  • 1976, Mike Haynes, CB, New England Patriots
  • 1977, A. J. Duhe, LB, Miami Dolphins
  • 1977, Bob Baumhower, NT, Miami Dolphins
  • 1978, Al "Bubba" Baker, DE, Detroit Lions
  • 1979, Jim Haslett, LB, Buffalo Bills
  • 1980, Buddy Curry, LB, Atlanta Falcons
  • 1981, Lawrence Taylor, LB, New York Giants
  • 1982, Vernon Dean, DB, Washington Redskins
  • 1983, Vernon Maxwell, LB, Baltimore Colts
  • 1984, Rick Bryan, DT, Atlanta Falcons
  • 1985, Reggie White, DT, Philadelphia Eagles
  • 1986, Leslie O'Neal, DE, San Diego Chargers
  • 1987, Shane Conlan, LB, Buffalo Bills
  • 1988, Erik McMillan, S, New York Jets
  • 1989, Steve Atwater, LB, Denver Broncos
  • 1990, Mark Carrier, S, Chicago Bears
  • 1991, Mike Croel, LB, Denver Broncos
  • 1992, Santana Dotson, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • 1993, Dana Stubblefield, DE, San Francisco 49ers
  • 1994, Antonio Langham, CB, Cleveland Browns
  • 1995, Hugh Douglas, DE, New York Jets
  • 1996, Zach Thomas, MLB, Miami Dolphins
  • 1997, Peter Boulware, LB, Baltimore Ravens
  • 1998, Charles Woodson, CB, Oakland Raiders
  • 1999, Jevon Kearse, DE, Tennessee Titans
  • 2000, Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears
  • 2001, Kendrell Bell, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 2002, Julius Peppers, DE, Carolina Panthers
  • 2003, Charles Tillman, CB, Chicago Bears