Let's go back to that "character" thing that was being discussed earlier. I'm glad Brown didn't win it.
Now, strictly speaking of football? Tough question since I wasn't on earth in 1956. I do know that there was another running back that finished ahead of Brown in the voting who averaged 7.2 yards per carry versus Brown's 6.2. Also, Hornung did everything. He was a quarterback, a running back, a receiver, a punter, a kick returner, and a punt returner. Maybe that had something to do with it?
It's not like there wasn't other qualified candidates that year.