"[6] In 1983, the Del Rio News Herald called it the "highest professional football award, period.
[1][13][14] It was named in honor of Jim Thorpe, a professional football pioneer who was a player and the first president of what became the NFL.
[18] The NFLPA took over the balloting and added Pro Football Hall of Fame members to the voting panel in place of coaches.
[27] In 1967, the winner was presented the trophy in a party at CBS Television City in Los Angeles for NEA's All-Pro selections, which was filmed and shown nationally during halftime of the Pro Bowl.
[28] In subsequent years, CBS aired a half-hour special before the Pro Bowl featuring the Jim Thorpe Trophy winner along with the All-Pros.