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List of NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards

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Summary

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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

Main article: AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award

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.

Player	Position	Team
Alan Page	DT	Minnesota
Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh
Dick Anderson	S	Miami
Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh
Mel Blount	CB	Pittsburgh
Jack Lambert	LB	Pittsburgh
Harvey Martin	DE	Dallas
Randy Gradishar	LB	Denver
Lee Roy Selmon	DE	Tampa Bay
Lester Hayes	CB	Oakland
Lawrence Taylor	LB	NY Giants
Lawrence Taylor	LB	NY Giants
Doug Betters	DE	Miami
Kenny Easley	S	Seattle
Mike Singletary	LB	Chicago
Lawrence Taylor	LB	NY Giants
Reggie White	DE	Philadelphia
Mike Singletary	LB	Chicago
Keith Millard	DT	Minnesota
Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
Pat Swilling	LB	New Orleans
Cortez Kennedy	DT	Seattle
Rod Woodson	CB	Pittsburgh
Deion Sanders	CB	San Francisco
Bryce Paup	LB	Buffalo
Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
Dana Stubblefield	DT	San Francisco
Reggie White	DE	Green Bay
Warren Sapp	DT	Tampa Bay
Ray Lewis	LB	Baltimore
Michael Strahan	DE	NY Giants
Derrick Brooks	LB	Tampa Bay
Ray Lewis	LB	Baltimore
Ed Reed	S	Baltimore
Brian Urlacher	LB	Chicago
Jason Taylor	DE	Miami
Bob Sanders	S	Indianapolis
James Harrison	LB	Pittsburgh
Charles Woodson	CB	Green Bay
Troy Polamalu	S	Pittsburgh
Terrell Suggs	LB	Baltimore
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Luke Kuechly	LB	Carolina
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Khalil Mack	DE	Oakland
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
Stephon Gilmore	CB	New England
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
T. J. Watt	LB	Pittsburgh
Nick Bosa	DE	San Francisco
Myles Garrett	DE	Cleveland
Patrick Surtain II	CB	Denver

Pro Football Writers of America

Main article: PFWA NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award

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.

Player	Position	Team
Bobby Bell	OLB	Kansas City
Dick Butkus	MLB	Chicago
Alan Page	DT	Minnesota
Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh
Alan Page	DT	Minnesota
Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh
Jack Ham	OLB	Pittsburgh
Jack Lambert	MLB	Pittsburgh
Harvey Martin	DE	Dallas
Randy Gradishar	ILB	Denver
Lee Roy Selmon	DE	Tampa Bay
Lester Hayes	CB	Oakland
Joe Klecko	DE	NY Jets
Dan Hampton	DT	Chicago
Bob Baumhower	DT	Miami
Kenny Easley	S	Seattle
not awarded
Lawrence Taylor	OLB	NY Giants
Reggie White	DE	Philadelphia
Mike Singletary	MLB	Chicago
Keith Millard	DT	Minnesota
Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
Reggie White	DE	Philadelphia
Cortez Kennedy	DT	Seattle
Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
Deion Sanders	CB	San Francisco
Bryce Paup	OLB	Buffalo
Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
Dana Stubblefield	DT	San Francisco
Reggie White	DE	Green Bay
Warren Sapp	DT	Tampa Bay
Ray Lewis	MLB	Baltimore
Michael Strahan	DE	NY Giants
Derrick Brooks	OLB	Tampa Bay
Ray Lewis	MLB	Baltimore
Ed Reed	S	Baltimore
Brian Urlacher	MLB	Chicago
Jason Taylor	DE	Miami
Bob Sanders	S	Indianapolis
James Harrison	OLB	Pittsburgh
Charles Woodson	CB	Green Bay
Clay Matthews III	OLB	Green Bay
Terrell Suggs	OLB	Baltimore
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Robert Quinn	DE	St. Louis
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Khalil Mack	DE	Oakland
Calais Campbell	DE	Jacksonville
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
Stephon Gilmore	CB	New England
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
T. J. Watt	OLB	Pittsburgh
Nick Bosa	DE	San Francisco
Myles Garrett	DE	Cleveland
Patrick Surtain II	CB	Denver

Newspaper Enterprise Association

Main article: Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award

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
	Larry Wilson	S	St. Louis
	Deacon Jones	DE	LA Rams
	Deacon Jones	DE	LA Rams
	Dick Butkus	MLB	Chicago
	Dick Butkus	MLB	Chicago
	Carl Eller	DE	Minnesota
	Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh
	Alan Page	DT	Minnesota
	Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh
	Curley Culp	DT	Houston
	Jerry Sherk	DT	Cleveland
	Harvey Martin	DE	Dallas
	Randy Gradishar	ILB	Denver
	Lee Roy Selmon	DE	Tampa Bay
	Lester Hayes	CB	Oakland
	Joe Klecko	DE	NY Jets
	Mark Gastineau	DE	NY Jets
	Jack Lambert	MLB	Pittsburgh
	Mike Haynes	CB	LA Raiders
	Howie Long
Andre Tippett	DE
OLB	LA Raiders
New England
	Lawrence Taylor	OLB	NY Giants
	Reggie White	DE	Philadelphia
	Mike Singletary	MLB	Chicago
	Tim Harris	OLB	Green Bay
	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
	Pat Swilling	OLB	New Orleans
	Junior Seau	LB	San Diego
	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
	Deion Sanders	CB	San Francisco
	Bryce Paup	OLB	Buffalo
	Kevin Greene	OLB	Carolina
	Dana Stubblefield	DT	San Francisco
	Reggie White	DE	Green Bay

United Press International

Season	NFC	AFC	Player	Position	Team	Player
	Jack Youngblood	DE	LA Rams	Mel Blount	CB	Pittsburgh
	Wally Chambers	DT	Chicago	Jack Lambert	LB	Pittsburgh
	Harvey Martin	DT	Dallas	Lyle Alzado	DE	Denver
	Randy White	DT	Dallas	Randy Gradishar	LB	Denver
	Lee Roy Selmon	DE	Tampa Bay	Jack Lambert	LB	Pittsburgh
	Nolan Cromwell	S	LA Rams	Lester Hayes	CB	Oakland
	Fred Dean	DE	San Francisco	Joe Klecko	DE	NY Jets
	not awarded
	Lawrence Taylor	LB	NY Giants	Rod Martin	LB	LA Raiders
	Mike Singletary	LB	Chicago	Mark Gastineau	DE	NY Jets
	Mike Singletary	LB	Chicago	Andre Tippett	LB	New England
	Lawrence Taylor	LB	NY Giants	Rulon Jones	DE	Denver
	Reggie White	DE	Philadelphia	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
	Mike Singletary	LB	Chicago	Bruce Smith
Cornelius Bennett	DE
LB	Buffalo
Buffalo
	Keith Millard	DT	Minnesota	Michael Dean Perry	NT	Cleveland
	Charles Haley	LB	San Francisco	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
	Reggie White	DE	Philadelphia	Cornelius Bennett	LB	Buffalo
	Chris Doleman	DE	Minnesota	Junior Seau	LB	San Diego
	Eric Allen	CB	Philadelphia	Rod Woodson	CB	Pittsburgh
	Charles Haley	DE	Dallas	Greg Lloyd	LB	Pittsburgh
	Reggie White	DE	Green Bay	Bryce Paup	LB	Buffalo
	Kevin Greene	LB	Carolina	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo

''Football Digest''

Player	Position	Team
Junior Seau	MLB	San Diego

Deion Sanders	CB	Atlanta
Charles Haley	DE	Dallas
Merton Hanks	S	San Francisco
Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
Dana Stubblefield	DT	San Francisco
Junior Seau	MLB	San Diego
Warren Sapp	DT	Tampa Bay
Ray Lewis	MLB	Baltimore
Brian Urlacher	MLB	Chicago

Derrick Brooks	OLB	Tampa Bay
Ray Lewis	ILB	Baltimore
Ed Reed	S	Baltimore

''Sporting News''

Player	Position	Team
Albert Haynesworth	DT	Tennessee
Charles Woodson	CB	Green Bay
Clay Matthews	OLB	Green Bay
Jared Allen	DE	Minnesota
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Luke Kuechly	OLB	Carolina
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Khalil Mack	DE	Oakland
Calais Campbell	DE	Jacksonville
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
Stephon Gilmore	CB	New England
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
T. J. Watt	OLB	Pittsburgh
Nick Bosa	DE	San Francisco
Myles Garrett	DE	Cleveland
Myles Garrett	DE	Cleveland

''Sports Illustrated''

Sports Illustrated's Defensive Player of the Year Awards spanned from 2008 to 2014

Player	Position	Team
DeMarcus Ware	OLB	Dallas
Darrelle Revis	CB	NY Jets
Julius Peppers	DE	Chicago
Justin Smith	DE	San Francisco
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Robert Quinn	DE	St. Louis
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston

Pro Football Focus

Pro Football Focus has given individual awards since 2011.

Player	Position	Team
Justin Smith	DE	San Francisco
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Aaron Donald	DT	St. Louis
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
Harrison Smith	S	Minnesota
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams
Chris Jones	DT	Kansas City
Myles Garrett	DE	Cleveland
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.https://101awards.com/

NFC	AFC	Player	Position	Team	Player
Carl Eller	DE	Minnesota	Bobby Bell	LB	Kansas City
Alan Page	DT	Minnesota	Mike Curtis	LB	Baltimore
Alan Page	DT	Minnesota	Willie Lanier	LB	Kansas City
Chris Hanburger	LB	Washington	Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh
Lee Roy Jordan	LB	Dallas	Dick Anderson	S	Miami
Alan Page	DT	Minnesota	Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh
Jack Youngblood	DE	LA Rams	Mel Blount	CB	Pittsburgh
Jack Youngblood	DE	LA Rams	Jack Lambert	LB	Pittsburgh
Harvey Martin	DE	Dallas	Lyle Alzado	DE	Denver
Randy White	DT	Dallas	Randy Gradishar	LB	Denver
Lee Roy Selmon	DE	Tampa Bay	Mike Reinfeldt	S	Houston
Nolan Cromwell	DB	LA Rams	Lester Hayes	CB	Oakland
Fred Dean	DE	San Francisco	Joe Klecko	DE	NY Jets
Not awarded due to players strike
Dave Butz	DT	Washington	Doug Betters	DE	Miami
Lawrence Taylor	LB	NY Giants	Kenny Easley	S	Seattle
Mike Singletary	LB	Chicago	Andre Tippett	OLB	New England
Lawrence Taylor	LB	NY Giants	Deron Cherry	S	Kansas City
Reggie White	DE	Philadelphia	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
Mike Singletary	LB	Chicago	Cornelius Bennett	LB	Buffalo
Keith Millard	DT	Minnesota	Michael Dean Perry	NT	Cleveland
Charles Haley	LB	San Francisco	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
Pat Swilling	LB	New Orleans	Derrick Thomas	LB	Kansas City
Wilber Marshall	LB	Washington	Cortez Kennedy	DT	Seattle
Deion Sanders	CB	Atlanta	Rod Woodson	CB	Pittsburgh
Deion Sanders	CB	San Francisco	Greg Lloyd	LB	Pittsburgh
Reggie White	DE	Green Bay	Bryce Paup	LB	Buffalo
Kevin Greene	OLB	Carolina	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo
Dana Stubblefield	DT	San Francisco	Carnell Lake	DB	Pittsburgh
Reggie White	DE	Green Bay	Junior Seau	LB	San Diego
Warren Sapp	DT	Tampa Bay	Jevon Kearse	DE	Tennessee
La'Roi Glover	DT	New Orleans	Ray Lewis	LB	Baltimore
Michael Strahan	DE	NY Giants	Ray Lewis	LB	Baltimore
Derrick Brooks	LB	Tampa Bay	Jason Taylor	DE	Miami
Michael Strahan	DE	NY Giants	Ray Lewis	LB	Baltimore
Julius Peppers	DE	Carolina	Ed Reed	S	Baltimore
Brian Urlacher	LB	Chicago	Dwight Freeney	DE	Indianapolis
Brian Urlacher	LB	Chicago	Jason Taylor	DE	Miami
Patrick Kerney	DE	Seattle	Bob Sanders	S	Indianapolis
DeMarcus Ware	OLB	Dallas	James Harrison	LB	Pittsburgh
Charles Woodson	CB	Green Bay	Darrelle Revis	CB	NY Jets
Clay Matthews III	OLB	Green Bay	Troy Polamalu	S	Pittsburgh
Jared Allen	DE	Minnesota	Terrell Suggs	LB	Baltimore
Aldon Smith	DE	San Francisco	J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Luke Kuechly	LB	Carolina	Robert Mathis	LB	Indianapolis
Richard Sherman	CB	Seattle	J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Aaron Donald	DT	St. Louis	J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Landon Collins	S	NY Giants	Khalil Mack	DE	Oakland
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams	Calais Campbell	DE	Jacksonville
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams	J. J. Watt	DE	Houston
Chandler Jones	DE	Arizona	Stephon Gilmore	CB	New England
Aaron Donald	DT	LA Rams	T. J. Watt	LB	Pittsburgh
Micah Parsons	DE	Dallas	T. J. Watt	LB	Pittsburgh
Nick Bosa	DE	San Francisco	Chris Jones	DT	Kansas City
Micah Parsons	DE	Dallas	T. J. Watt	LB	Pittsburgh
Kerby Joseph	S	Detroit	Patrick Surtain II	CB	Denver

References

(January 7, 1972). "Alan Page 'Hurrys' to Defensive Award". Daytona Beach Morning Journal.
(January 5, 1973). "Joe Greene Defensive Player of the Year". The Evening News.
(January 4, 1974). "Buffalo's Simpson, Dolphins' Anderson Named Top Gridders". Herald-Journal.
(January 8, 1975). "Defensive Honor Goes To 'Mean' Joe Greene". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
(January 9, 1976). "Pittsburgh's Mel Blount Is Top Player". Gettysburg Times.
(December 29, 1976). "Lambert defense winner". The Tuscaloosa News.
(January 5, 1978). "Martin Named As Top Defensive Player". The Times-News.
(January 12, 1979). "Broncos' Gradishar Wins Award". Lakeland Ledger.
(December 21, 1979). "Lee Roy Selmon of Tampa defensive player of year". The Day.
(January 8, 1981). "Lester Hayes picks off defensive player award". Beaver County Times.
(January 8, 1982). "Taylor 1st rookie to be Defensive Player of Year". The Evening Independent.
(January 8, 1983). "Defensive player honors go to Taylor once more". The Spokesman-Review.
(December 23, 1983). "Miami's Betters Named Defensive Player Of Year". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
(December 19, 1984). "Seahawks' Easley top defender". The Sumter Daily Item.
(December 31, 1985). "Chicago's Singletary gets defensive honor". The Free Lance-Star.
(December 31, 1986). "Taylor sweeps post-season honors". The Free Lance-Star.
(December 31, 1987). "White named top defensive player". The Hour.
(December 29, 1988). "Top defensive player: Singletary". Gettysburg Times.
(December 30, 1989). "Millard defensive player of year". The Times-News.
(January 10, 1991). "Buffalo's Bruce Smith honored". Ellensburg Daily Record.
(December 30, 1991). "Saints' Swilling Defensive Player of the Year". Kingman Daily Miner.
(January 6, 1993). "Seattle tackle named defensive player of year". The Times-News.
(January 7, 1994). "Steelers' Woodson top defensive player". The Southeast Missourian.
(December 29, 1994). "Sanders are players of the year". The Tuscaloosa News.
(December 29, 1995). "Bills' Paup garners defensive player of year award". The Victoria Advocate.
(December 30, 1996). "Consolation for Smith: Bills star voted Defensive Player of Year". Sun Journal.
(December 26, 1997). "Stubblefield is defensive player of year". Lodi News-Sentinel.
(January 7, 1999). "White named defensive player of year". Herald-Journal.
(January 14, 2000). "Bucs' Sapp named NFL's top defensive player". The Southeast Missourian.
(January 3, 2001). "Ravens' Lewis named defensive player of the year". Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
(January 17, 2002). "Sackmaster Strahan wins Defensive Player award". Kingman Daily Miner.
(January 9, 2003). "Bucs' linebacker is NFL Defensive Player of the Year". The Argus-Press.
(January 3, 2001). "Ray Lewis goes from murder suspect to NFL's Defensive Player of Year". Associated Press.
(January 1, 2004). "Ravens Lewis' win player of the year awards". Boca Raton News.
(January 7, 2005). "First safety in 20 years to win defensive award". Associated Press.
(January 7, 2005). "First safety in 20 years to win defensive award". Associated Press.
(January 6, 2006). "Urlacher named AP Defensive Player of the Year". Associated Press.
(January 6, 2006). "Urlacher named AP Defensive Player of the Year". Associated Press.
Wilner, Barry. (January 5, 2007). "Taylor takes home AP Defensive Player of the Year honor". Associated Press.
Wilner, Barry. (January 5, 2007). "Taylor takes home AP Defensive Player of the Year honor". Associated Press.
(January 7, 2008). "AP picks Colts' Sanders as top defensive player". Associated Press.
(January 7, 2008). "AP picks Colts' Sanders as top defensive player". Associated Press.
Wilner, Barry. (January 5, 2009). "Steelers' Harrison is AP Defensive Player of Year". Associated Press.
(January 5, 2009). "Harrison has death grip on defensive award". Associated Press.
(January 12, 2010). "CB Woodson voted AP's top defensive player". Associated Press.
(January 12, 2010). "CB Woodson voted AP's top defensive player". Associated Press.
(January 31, 2011). "Steelers' Polamalu voted AP's NFL Defensive Player of the Year". National Football League.
(February 4, 2012). "Terrell Suggs selected AP Defensive Player of the Year". The Baltimore Sun.
(February 2, 2013). "J.J. Watt near unanimous Defensive Player of the Year". National Football League.
(February 1, 2014). "Luke Kuechly wins 2013 Defensive Player of the Year". CBS Sports.
(January 31, 2015). "J.J. Watt is first-ever unanimous NFL Defensive Player of the Year". CBS Sports.
(February 7, 2016). "J.J. Watt wins third Defensive Player of the Year award, calls out doubters". CBS Sports.
(February 4, 2017). "Raiders' Khalil Mack named NFL defensive player of the year". USA Today.
(February 3, 2018). "Aaron Donald named NFL Defensive Player of the Year". NFL.com.
"Complete list of 'NFL Honors' award winners".
Patra, Kevin. (February 2, 2019). "Aaron Donald named 2018 Defensive Player of Year".
Shook, Nick. (February 1, 2020). "Stephon Gilmore named 2019 Defensive Player of Year".
Patra, Kevin. (February 6, 2021). "Rams DT Aaron Donald wins AP Defensive Player of the Year for third time".
Patra, Kevin. (February 10, 2022). "Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt named 2021 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year".
Shook, Nick. (February 9, 2023). "Niners DE Nick Bosa named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year".
Shook, Nick. (February 8, 2024). "Browns DE Myles Garrett named AP 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year".
Edholm, Eric. (2025-02-06). "Broncos CB Pat Surtain II wins 2024 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award".
Groeschen, Tom. (September 8, 1994). "Bengals just have to take medicine: 'Say Ow'". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Wright, Rick. (May 16, 2008). "Bears' Urlacher Isn't Running on Fumes". Albuquerque Journal.
(12 January 2023). "2022 PFF Awards: Patrick Mahomes wins MVP, Sauce Gardner takes home multiple honors | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics".

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