Track & Field News has been choosing a U.S. Men’s Athlete Of The Year since 1959. Winning back-to-back titles isn’t uncommon, having been accomplished by Bob Hayes (1963–64), Jim Ryun (1966–67), Edwin Moses (1977–78), Carl Lewis (1981–84 for 4 straight), Lewis again (1987–88), Michael Johnson (1993–96 for 4 straight) & Ashton Eaton (2015–16).
Overall, 4 athletes have won more than twice: Lewis 7, Johnson 6, Moses & Eaton 3.
The all-time men’s winners, with the event(s) in which they made the World Rankings that year (if the events are out of normal event order, it reflects the existence of a “primary” discipline):
| 1950s | ||
| 1959 | Ray Norton (San José State) | 100, 200 |
| 1960s | ||
| 1960 | Rafer Johnson (Southern California Striders) | Decathlon |
| 1961 | Ralph Boston (Southern California Striders) | Long Jump, 110 Hurdles |
| 1962 | Jim Beatty (Los Angeles TC) | 1500/Mile |
| 1963 | Bob Hayes (Florida A&M) | 100, 200 |
| 1964 | Bob Hayes (Florida A&M) | 100, 200 |
| 1965 | Randy Matson (Texas A&M) | Shot, Discus |
| 1966 | Jim Ryun (Kansas) | 800, 1500/Mile |
| 1967 | Jim Ryun (Kansas) | 1500/Mile |
| 1968 | Bob Beamon (Houston Striders) | Long Jump |
| 1969 | Bill Toomey (Southern California Striders) | Decathlon |
| 1970s | ||
| 1970 | Randy Matson (Texas Striders) | Shot |
| 1971 | Rod Milburn (Southern U) | 110 Hurdles |
| 1972 | Frank Shorter (Florida TC) | Marathon, 10,000, |
| 1973 | Al Feuerbach (Pacific Coast Club) | Shot |
| 1974 | Rick Wohlhuter (University Of Chicago TC) | 800, 1500/Mile |
| 1975 | Brian Oldfield (International Track Association) | Shot |
| 1976 | Bruce Jenner (San José Stars) | Decathlon |
| 1977 | Edwin Moses (Morehouse) | 400 Hurdles |
| 1978 | Edwin Moses (Athletes In Action) | 400 Hurdles |
| 1979 | Renaldo Nehemiah (Maryland) | 110 Hurdles |
| 1980s | ||
| 1980 | Edwin Moses (adidas) | 400 Hurdles |
| 1981 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, Long Jump |
| 1982 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
| 1983 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
| 1984 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
| 1985 | Willie Banks (Los Angeles TC) | Triple Jump |
| 1986 | Mike Conley (Tyson) | Long Jump, Triple Jump |
| 1987 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
| 1988 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, 200, Long Jump |
| 1989 | Roger Kingdom (adidas) | 110 Hurdles |
| 1990s | ||
| 1990 | Michael Johnson (Baylor) | 200, 400 |
| 1991 | Carl Lewis (Santa Monica TC) | 100, Long Jump |
| 1992 | Kevin Young (Foot Locker AC) | 400 Hurdles |
| 1993 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
| 1994 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
| 1995 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
| 1996 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
| 1997 | Allen Johnson (Nike) | 110 Hurdles |
| 1998 | John Godina (Reebok Bruin TC) | Shot, Discus |
| 1999 | Maurice Greene (Nike) | 100, 200 |
| 2000s | ||
| 2000 | Michael Johnson (Nike) | 200, 400 |
| 2001 | Maurice Greene (Nike) | 100 |
| 2002 | Khalid Khannouchi (New Balance) | Marathon |
| 2003 | Allen Johnson (Nike) | 110 Hurdles |
| 2004 | Dwight Phillips (Nike) | Long Jump |
| 2005 | Justin Gatlin (Nike) | 100, 200 |
| 2006 | Jeremy Wariner (adidas) | 400 |
| 2007 | Tyson Gay (adidas) | 100, 200 |
| 2008 | Bryan Clay (Nike) | Decathlon |
| 2009 | Tyson Gay (adidas) | 100, 200 |
| 2010s | ||
| 2010 | David Oliver (Nike) | 110 Hurdles |
| 2011 | Trey Hardee (Nike) | Decathlon |
| 2012 | Ashton Eaton (Nike) | Decathlon |
| 2013 | LaShawn Merritt (Nike) | 400 |
| 2014 | Justin Gatlin (Nike) | 100, 200 |
| 2015 | Ashton Eaton (Oregon TC) | Decathlon |
| 2016 | Ashton Eaton (Oregon TC) | Decathlon |
| 2017 | Sam Kendricks (Nike) | Pole Vault |
| 2018 | Noah Lyles (adidas) | 100, 200 |