The Star Tribune's Metro Players of the Year in football since the award began. All were seniors except for Cretin-Derham Hall's Carl McCullough, who was a junior in 1991.
Year Player School Position
2011 Trey Heid Lakeville North QB
2010 Eric Kline Blaine QB
2009 A.J. Tarpley Wayzata LB
2008 Anders Lee Edina QB
2007 Michael Floyd Cretin-DH WR
2006 Blake Sorensen Eden Prairie LB
2005 Jake Machacek Eastview RB
2004 Walker Ashley Eden Prairie DL
2003 Nathan Swift Hutchinson RB
2002 John Majeski Hastings RB/DB
2001 Kim Sarin Cretin-DH RB/KR
2000 Joe Mauer Cretin-DH QB
1999 Dominique Sims DeLaSalle QB/DB
1998 Thomas Tapeh SP Johnson RB
1997 Marvin Spencer Blaine RB
1996 Aaron Runk Stillwater DB/WR
1995 Adam Runk Stillwater RB
1994 LeRoy McFadden Eden Prairie RB
1993 Tommy Reynolds SP Johnson RB
1992 Marcus Harris Brooklyn Ctr RB
1991 Carl McCullough Cretin-DH RB
1990 Bryce Darnell Brooklyn Ctr QB
1989 Joe Dziedzic Mpls. Edison RB/LB
1988 Paul Meyer Mpls. Henry RB/LB
1987 Rod Smith Roseville RB
1986 Kurt Gunning Stillwater RB
1985 Bob Coughlin Osseo NG
Ron Goetz Waconia RB/LB
1984 Steve Walsh Cretin-DH QB
The Star Tribune All- Metro teams and Player of the Year were chosen based on nominations from various area coaches, conversations with representatives from each conference and staff observations.
The Wild’s Brock Faber played in the 2022 Games in Beijing when he was still at the University of Minnesota and NHL players stayed at home. In 2026, he’s back.
