Several organizations give out NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. The Associated Press (AP) has been giving the award since 1972; Pro Football Writers of America/Pro Football Weekly since 1970; and Sporting News has announced winners since 2008. The Newspaper Enterprise Association was the originator of the award in 1966. However, it became defunct after 1997. Also going defunct was the United Press International (UPI) AFC–NFC Defensive Player of the Year Awards that began in 1975.
Associated Press
The AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every NFL season since 1971.
| Season | Player | Position | Team | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | Alan Page | DT | Minnesota | |
1972 | Joe Greene | DT | Pittsburgh | |
1973 | Dick Anderson | S | Miami | |
1974 | Joe Greene | DT | Pittsburgh | |
1975 | Mel Blount | CB | Pittsburgh | |
1976 | Jack Lambert | LB | Pittsburgh | |
1977 | Harvey Martin | DE | Dallas | |
1978 | Randy Gradishar | LB | Denver | |
1979 | Lee Roy Selmon | DE | Tampa Bay | |
1980 | Lester Hayes | CB | Oakland | |
1981 | Lawrence Taylor | LB | NY Giants | |
1982 | Lawrence Taylor | LB | NY Giants | |
1983 | Doug Betters | DE | Miami | |
1984 | Kenny Easley | S | Seattle | |
1985 | Mike Singletary | LB | Chicago | |
1986 | Lawrence Taylor | LB | NY Giants | |
1987 | Reggie White | DE | Philadelphia | |
1988 | Mike Singletary | LB | Chicago | |
1989 | Keith Millard | DT | Minnesota | |
1990 | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo | |
1991 | Pat Swilling | LB | New Orleans | |
1992 | Cortez Kennedy | DT | Seattle | |
1993 | Rod Woodson | CB | Pittsburgh | |
1994 | Deion Sanders | CB | San Francisco | |
1995 | Bryce Paup | LB | Buffalo | |
1996 | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo | |
1997 | Dana Stubblefield | DT | San Francisco | |
1998 | Reggie White | DE | Green Bay | |
1999 | Warren Sapp | DT | Tampa Bay | |
2000 | Ray Lewis | LB | Baltimore | |
2001 | Michael Strahan | DE | NY Giants | |
2002 | Derrick Brooks | LB | Tampa Bay | |
2003 | Ray Lewis | LB | Baltimore | |
2004 | Ed Reed | S | Baltimore | |
2005 | Brian Urlacher | LB | Chicago | |
2006 | Jason Taylor | DE | Miami | |
2007 | Bob Sanders | S | Indianapolis | |
2008 | James Harrison | LB | Pittsburgh | |
2009 | Charles Woodson | CB | Green Bay | |
2010 | Troy Polamalu | S | Pittsburgh | |
2011 | Terrell Suggs | LB | Baltimore | |
2012 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston | |
2013 | Luke Kuechly | LB | Carolina | |
2014 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston | |
2015 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston | |
2016 | Khalil Mack | DE | Oakland | |
2017 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams | |
2018 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams | |
2019 | Stephon Gilmore | CB | New England | |
2020 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams | |
2021 | T. J. Watt | LB | Pittsburgh | |
2022 | Nick Bosa | DE | San Francisco | |
2023 | Myles Garrett | DE | Cleveland | |
2024 | Patrick Surtain II | CB | Denver |
Pro Football Writers of America
The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) is made up of sportswriters who cover the NFL and the 32 teams on a daily basis.
From 1969 to 1991, the Defensive Player of the Year was presented by Pro Football Weekly only. PFW and the Professional Football Writers of America combined their awards in 1992. Since 2013, the award was presented by PFWA alone.
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
1969 | Bobby Bell | OLB | Kansas City |
1970 | Dick Butkus | MLB | Chicago |
1971 | Alan Page | DT | Minnesota |
1972 | Joe Greene | DT | Pittsburgh |
1973 | Alan Page | DT | Minnesota |
1974 | Joe Greene | DT | Pittsburgh |
1975 | Jack Ham | OLB | Pittsburgh |
1976 | Jack Lambert | MLB | Pittsburgh |
1977 | Harvey Martin | DE | Dallas |
1978 | Randy Gradishar | ILB | Denver |
1979 | Lee Roy Selmon | DE | Tampa Bay |
1980 | Lester Hayes | CB | Oakland |
1981 | Joe Klecko | DE | NY Jets |
1982 | Dan Hampton | DT | Chicago |
1983 | Bob Baumhower | DT | Miami |
1984 | Kenny Easley | S | Seattle |
1985 | not awarded | ||
1986 | Lawrence Taylor | OLB | NY Giants |
1987 | Reggie White | DE | Philadelphia |
1988 | Mike Singletary | MLB | Chicago |
1989 | Keith Millard | DT | Minnesota |
1990 | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1991 | Reggie White | DE | Philadelphia |
1992 | Cortez Kennedy | DT | Seattle |
1993 | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1994 | Deion Sanders | CB | San Francisco |
1995 | Bryce Paup | OLB | Buffalo |
1996 | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1997 | Dana Stubblefield | DT | San Francisco |
1998 | Reggie White | DE | Green Bay |
1999 | Warren Sapp | DT | Tampa Bay |
2000 | Ray Lewis | MLB | Baltimore |
2001 | Michael Strahan | DE | NY Giants |
2002 | Derrick Brooks | OLB | Tampa Bay |
2003 | Ray Lewis | MLB | Baltimore |
2004 | Ed Reed | S | Baltimore |
2005 | Brian Urlacher | MLB | Chicago |
2006 | Jason Taylor | DE | Miami |
2007 | Bob Sanders | S | Indianapolis |
2008 | James Harrison | OLB | Pittsburgh |
2009 | Charles Woodson | CB | Green Bay |
2010 | Clay Matthews III | OLB | Green Bay |
2011 | Terrell Suggs | OLB | Baltimore |
2012 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2013 | Robert Quinn | DE | St. Louis |
2014 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2015 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2016 | Khalil Mack | DE | Oakland |
2017 | Calais Campbell | DE | Jacksonville |
2018 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams |
2019 | Stephon Gilmore | CB | New England |
2020 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams |
2021 | T. J. Watt | OLB | Pittsburgh |
2022 | Nick Bosa | DE | San Francisco |
2023 | Myles Garrett | DE | Cleveland |
2024 | Patrick Surtain II | CB | Denver |
Newspaper Enterprise Association
From 1966 to 1998, the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) annually awarded the George S. Halas Trophy to the NFL's outstanding defensive player. The winner was released via the NEA news service and also appeared in the World Almanac, which was an NEA publication. It was considered one of the major awards and was included in the NFL Record and Fact Book and its winners still appear in the NFL's Official Encyclopedia, Total Football II.
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
1966 | Larry Wilson | S | St. Louis |
1967 | Deacon Jones | DE | LA Rams |
1968 | Deacon Jones | DE | LA Rams |
1969 | Dick Butkus | MLB | Chicago |
1970 | Dick Butkus | MLB | Chicago |
1971 | Carl Eller | DE | Minnesota |
1972 | Joe Greene | DT | Pittsburgh |
1973 | Alan Page | DT | Minnesota |
1974 | Joe Greene | DT | Pittsburgh |
1975 | Curley Culp | DT | Houston |
1976 | Jerry Sherk | DT | Cleveland |
1977 | Harvey Martin | DE | Dallas |
1978 | Randy Gradishar | ILB | Denver |
1979 | Lee Roy Selmon | DE | Tampa Bay |
1980 | Lester Hayes | CB | Oakland |
1981 | Joe Klecko | DE | NY Jets |
1982 | Mark Gastineau | DE | NY Jets |
1983 | Jack Lambert | MLB | Pittsburgh |
1984 | Mike Haynes | CB | LA Raiders |
1985 | Howie Long Andre Tippett | DE OLB | LA Raiders New England |
1986 | Lawrence Taylor | OLB | NY Giants |
1987 | Reggie White | DE | Philadelphia |
1988 | Mike Singletary | MLB | Chicago |
1989 | Tim Harris | OLB | Green Bay |
1990 | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1991 | Pat Swilling | OLB | New Orleans |
1992 | Junior Seau | LB | San Diego |
1993 | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1994 | Deion Sanders | CB | San Francisco |
1995 | Bryce Paup | OLB | Buffalo |
1996 | Kevin Greene | OLB | Carolina |
1997 | Dana Stubblefield | DT | San Francisco |
1998 | Reggie White | DE | Green Bay |
United Press International
| Season | NFC | AFC | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Position | Team | Player | Position | Team | |
1975 | Jack Youngblood | DE | LA Rams | Mel Blount | CB | Pittsburgh |
1976 | Wally Chambers | DT | Chicago | Jack Lambert | LB | Pittsburgh |
1977 | Harvey Martin | DT | Dallas | Lyle Alzado | DE | Denver |
1978 | Randy White | DT | Dallas | Randy Gradishar | LB | Denver |
1979 | Lee Roy Selmon | DE | Tampa Bay | Jack Lambert | LB | Pittsburgh |
1980 | Nolan Cromwell | S | LA Rams | Lester Hayes | CB | Oakland |
1981 | Fred Dean | DE | San Francisco | Joe Klecko | DE | NY Jets |
1982 | not awarded | |||||
1983 | Lawrence Taylor | LB | NY Giants | Rod Martin | LB | LA Raiders |
1984 | Mike Singletary | LB | Chicago | Mark Gastineau | DE | NY Jets |
1985 | Mike Singletary | LB | Chicago | Andre Tippett | LB | New England |
1986 | Lawrence Taylor | LB | NY Giants | Rulon Jones | DE | Denver |
1987 | Reggie White | DE | Philadelphia | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1988 | Mike Singletary | LB | Chicago | Bruce Smith Cornelius Bennett | DE LB | Buffalo Buffalo |
1989 | Keith Millard | DT | Minnesota | Michael Dean Perry | NT | Cleveland |
1990 | Charles Haley | LB | San Francisco | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1991 | Reggie White | DE | Philadelphia | Cornelius Bennett | LB | Buffalo |
1992 | Chris Doleman | DE | Minnesota | Junior Seau | LB | San Diego |
1993 | Eric Allen | CB | Philadelphia | Rod Woodson | CB | Pittsburgh |
1994 | Charles Haley | DE | Dallas | Greg Lloyd | LB | Pittsburgh |
1995 | Reggie White | DE | Green Bay | Bryce Paup | LB | Buffalo |
1996 | Kevin Greene | LB | Carolina | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
Football Digest
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Junior Seau | MLB | San Diego |
1993 | Deion Sanders | CB | Atlanta |
1994 | Charles Haley | DE | Dallas |
1995 | Merton Hanks | S | San Francisco |
1996 | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1997 | Dana Stubblefield | DT | San Francisco |
1998 | Junior Seau | MLB | San Diego |
1999 | Warren Sapp | DT | Tampa Bay |
2000 | Ray Lewis | MLB | Baltimore |
2001 | Brian Urlacher | MLB | Chicago |
2002 | Derrick Brooks | OLB | Tampa Bay |
2003 | Ray Lewis | ILB | Baltimore |
2004 | Ed Reed | S | Baltimore |
Sporting News
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Albert Haynesworth | DT | Tennessee |
2009 | Charles Woodson | CB | Green Bay |
2010 | Clay Matthews | OLB | Green Bay |
2011 | Jared Allen | DE | Minnesota |
2012 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2013 | Luke Kuechly | OLB | Carolina |
2014 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2015 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2016 | Khalil Mack | DE | Oakland |
2017 | Calais Campbell | DE | Jacksonville |
2018 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams |
2019 | Stephon Gilmore | CB | New England |
2020 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams |
2021 | T. J. Watt | OLB | Pittsburgh |
2022 | Nick Bosa | DE | San Francisco |
2023 | Myles Garrett | DE | Cleveland |
2024 | Myles Garrett | DE | Cleveland |
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated's Defensive Player of the Year Awards spanned from 2008 to 2014
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
2008 | DeMarcus Ware | OLB | Dallas |
2009 | Darrelle Revis | CB | NY Jets |
2010 | Julius Peppers | DE | Chicago |
2011 | Justin Smith | DE | San Francisco |
2012 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2013 | Robert Quinn | DE | St. Louis |
2014 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
Pro Football Focus
Pro Football Focus has given individual awards since 2011.
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Justin Smith | DE | San Francisco |
2012 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2013 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2014 | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2015 | Aaron Donald | DT | St. Louis |
2016 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams |
2017 | Harrison Smith | S | Minnesota |
2018 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams |
2019 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams |
2020 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams |
2021 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams |
2022 | Chris Jones | DT | Kansas City |
2023 | Myles Garrett | DE | Cleveland |
2024 | Myles Garrett | DE | Cleveland |
101 Awards
Began in 1969, the "101" is 101 of the top NFL sportswriters who have been voting on awards, such as the Defensive Player of each Conference since 1969.
| Season | NFC | AFC | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Position | Team | Player | Position | Team | |
1969 | Carl Eller | DE | Minnesota | Bobby Bell | LB | Kansas City |
1970 | Alan Page | DT | Minnesota | Mike Curtis | LB | Baltimore |
1971 | Alan Page | DT | Minnesota | Willie Lanier | LB | Kansas City |
1972 | Chris Hanburger | LB | Washington | Joe Greene | DT | Pittsburgh |
1973 | Lee Roy Jordan | LB | Dallas | Dick Anderson | S | Miami |
1974 | Alan Page | DT | Minnesota | Joe Greene | DT | Pittsburgh |
1975 | Jack Youngblood | DE | LA Rams | Mel Blount | CB | Pittsburgh |
1976 | Jack Youngblood | DE | LA Rams | Jack Lambert | LB | Pittsburgh |
1977 | Harvey Martin | DE | Dallas | Lyle Alzado | DE | Denver |
1978 | Randy White | DT | Dallas | Randy Gradishar | LB | Denver |
1979 | Lee Roy Selmon | DE | Tampa Bay | Mike Reinfeldt | S | Houston |
1980 | Nolan Cromwell | DB | LA Rams | Lester Hayes | CB | Oakland |
1981 | Fred Dean | DE | San Francisco | Joe Klecko | DE | NY Jets |
1982 | Not awarded due to players strike | |||||
1983 | Dave Butz | DT | Washington | Doug Betters | DE | Miami |
1984 | Lawrence Taylor | LB | NY Giants | Kenny Easley | S | Seattle |
1985 | Mike Singletary | LB | Chicago | Andre Tippett | OLB | New England |
1986 | Lawrence Taylor | LB | NY Giants | Deron Cherry | S | Kansas City |
1987 | Reggie White | DE | Philadelphia | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1988 | Mike Singletary | LB | Chicago | Cornelius Bennett | LB | Buffalo |
1989 | Keith Millard | DT | Minnesota | Michael Dean Perry | NT | Cleveland |
1990 | Charles Haley | LB | San Francisco | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1991 | Pat Swilling | LB | New Orleans | Derrick Thomas | LB | Kansas City |
1992 | Wilber Marshall | LB | Washington | Cortez Kennedy | DT | Seattle |
1993 | Deion Sanders | CB | Atlanta | Rod Woodson | CB | Pittsburgh |
1994 | Deion Sanders | CB | San Francisco | Greg Lloyd | LB | Pittsburgh |
1995 | Reggie White | DE | Green Bay | Bryce Paup | LB | Buffalo |
1996 | Kevin Greene | OLB | Carolina | Bruce Smith | DE | Buffalo |
1997 | Dana Stubblefield | DT | San Francisco | Carnell Lake | DB | Pittsburgh |
1998 | Reggie White | DE | Green Bay | Junior Seau | LB | San Diego |
1999 | Warren Sapp | DT | Tampa Bay | Jevon Kearse | DE | Tennessee |
2000 | La'Roi Glover | DT | New Orleans | Ray Lewis | LB | Baltimore |
2001 | Michael Strahan | DE | NY Giants | Ray Lewis | LB | Baltimore |
2002 | Derrick Brooks | LB | Tampa Bay | Jason Taylor | DE | Miami |
2003 | Michael Strahan | DE | NY Giants | Ray Lewis | LB | Baltimore |
2004 | Julius Peppers | DE | Carolina | Ed Reed | S | Baltimore |
2005 | Brian Urlacher | LB | Chicago | Dwight Freeney | DE | Indianapolis |
2006 | Brian Urlacher | LB | Chicago | Jason Taylor | DE | Miami |
2007 | Patrick Kerney | DE | Seattle | Bob Sanders | S | Indianapolis |
2008 | DeMarcus Ware | OLB | Dallas | James Harrison | LB | Pittsburgh |
2009 | Charles Woodson | CB | Green Bay | Darrelle Revis | CB | NY Jets |
2010 | Clay Matthews III | OLB | Green Bay | Troy Polamalu | S | Pittsburgh |
2011 | Jared Allen | DE | Minnesota | Terrell Suggs | LB | Baltimore |
2012 | Aldon Smith | DE | San Francisco | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2013 | Luke Kuechly | LB | Carolina | Robert Mathis | LB | Indianapolis |
2014 | Richard Sherman | CB | Seattle | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2015 | Aaron Donald | DT | St. Louis | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2016 | Landon Collins | S | NY Giants | Khalil Mack | DE | Oakland |
2017 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams | Calais Campbell | DE | Jacksonville |
2018 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams | J. J. Watt | DE | Houston |
2019 | Chandler Jones | DE | Arizona | Stephon Gilmore | CB | New England |
2020 | Aaron Donald | DT | LA Rams | T. J. Watt | LB | Pittsburgh |
2021 | Micah Parsons | DE | Dallas | T. J. Watt | LB | Pittsburgh |
2022 | Nick Bosa | DE | San Francisco | Chris Jones | DT | Kansas City |
2023 | Micah Parsons | DE | Dallas | T. J. Watt | LB | Pittsburgh |
2024 | Kerby Joseph | S | Detroit | Patrick Surtain II | CB | Denver |
See also
- List of NFL awards
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