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Several organizations give out NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards that are listed in the NFL Record and Fact Book and Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. 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.

Year Player name NFL team Position
1971 Alan Page Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle
1972 Joe Greene Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive tackle
1973 Dick Anderson Miami Dolphins Safety
1974 Joe Greene (2) Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive tackle
1975 Mel Blount Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback
1976 Jack Lambert Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker
1977 Harvey Martin Dallas Cowboys Defensive end
1978 Randy Gradishar Denver Broncos Linebacker
1979 Lee Roy Selmon Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive end
1980 Lester Hayes Oakland Raiders Cornerback
1981 Lawrence Taylor New York Giants Linebacker
1982 Lawrence Taylor (2) New York Giants Linebacker
1983 Doug Betters Miami Dolphins Defensive end
1984 Kenny Easley Seattle Seahawks Safety
1985 Mike Singletary Chicago Bears Linebacker
1986 Lawrence Taylor (3) New York Giants Linebacker
1987 Reggie White Philadelphia Eagles Defensive end
1988 Mike Singletary (2) Chicago Bears Linebacker
1989 Keith Millard Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle
1990 Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end
1991 Pat Swilling New Orleans Saints Linebacker
1992 Cortez Kennedy Seattle Seahawks Defensive tackle
1993 Rod Woodson Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback
1994 Deion Sanders San Francisco 49ers Cornerback
1995 Bryce Paup Buffalo Bills Linebacker
1996 Bruce Smith (2) Buffalo Bills Defensive end
1997 Dana Stubblefield San Francisco 49ers Defensive tackle
1998 Reggie White (2) Green Bay Packers Defensive end
1999 Warren Sapp Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive tackle
2000 Ray Lewis Baltimore Ravens Linebacker
2001 Michael Strahan New York Giants Defensive end
2002 Derrick Brooks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Linebacker
2003 Ray Lewis [1] (2) Baltimore Ravens Linebacker
2004 Ed Reed [2] Baltimore Ravens Safety
2005 Brian Urlacher [3] Chicago Bears Linebacker
2006 Jason Taylor [4] Miami Dolphins Defensive end
2007 Bob Sanders [5] Indianapolis Colts Safety
2008 James Harrison [6] Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker
2009 Charles Woodson [7] Green Bay Packers Cornerback
2010 Troy Polamalu Pittsburgh Steelers Safety
2011 Terrell Suggs Baltimore Ravens Linebacker
2012 J. J. Watt Houston Texans Defensive end
2013 Luke Kuechly Carolina Panthers Linebacker
2014 J. J. Watt (2) Houston Texans Defensive end
2015 J. J. Watt (3) Houston Texans Defensive end
2016 Khalil Mack Oakland Raiders Defensive end
2017 Aaron Donald Los Angeles Rams Defensive tackle
2018 Aaron Donald (2) [8] Los Angeles Rams Defensive tackle
2019 Stephon Gilmore New England Patriots Cornerback
2020 Aaron Donald (3) Los Angeles Rams Defensive tackle
2021 T. J. Watt Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker
2022 Nick Bosa San Francisco 49ers Defensive end
2023 Myles Garrett Cleveland Browns Defensive end

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 Team Position College
1969 Bobby Bell Kansas City Chiefs Outside linebacker Minnesota
1970 Dick Butkus Chicago Bears Middle linebacker Illinois
1971 Alan Page Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle Notre Dame
1972 Joe Greene Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive tackle North Texas State
1973 Alan Page Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle Notre Dame
1974 Joe Greene Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive tackle North Texas State
1975 Jack Ham Pittsburgh Steelers Outside linebacker Penn State
1976 Jack Lambert Pittsburgh Steelers Middle linebacker Kent State
1977 Harvey Martin Dallas Cowboys Defensive end North Texas State
1978 Randy Gradishar Denver Broncos Inside linebacker Ohio State
1979 Lee Roy Selmon Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive end Oklahoma
1980 Lester Hayes Oakland Raiders Cornerback Texas A&M
1981 Joe Klecko New York Jets Defensive end Temple
1982 Dan Hampton Chicago Bears Defensive tackle Arkansas
1983 Bob Baumhower Miami Dolphins Defensive tackle Alabama
1984 Kenny Easley Seattle Seahawks Safety UCLA
1985 No Award
1986 Lawrence Taylor New York Giants Outside linebacker North Carolina
1987 Reggie White Philadelphia Eagles Defensive end Tennessee
1988 Mike Singletary Chicago Bears Middle linebacker Baylor
1989 Keith Millard Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle Washington State
1990 Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end Virginia Tech
1991 Reggie White Philadelphia Eagles Defensive end Tennessee
1992 Cortez Kennedy Seattle Seahawks Defensive tackle Miami
1993 Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end Virginia Tech
1994 Deion Sanders San Francisco 49ers Cornerback Florida State
1995 Bryce Paup Buffalo Bills Outside linebacker Northern Iowa
1996 Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end Virginia Tech
1997 Dana Stubblefield San Francisco 49ers Defensive tackle Kansas
1998 Reggie White Green Bay Packers Defensive end Tennessee
1999 Warren Sapp Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive tackle Miami
2000 Ray Lewis Baltimore Ravens Middle linebacker Miami
2001 Michael Strahan New York Giants Defensive end Texas Southern
2002 Derrick Brooks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Outside linebacker Florida St
2003 Ray Lewis Baltimore Ravens Middle linebacker Miami
2004 Ed Reed Baltimore Ravens Safety Miami, FL
2005 Brian Urlacher Chicago Bears Middle linebacker New Mexico
2006 Jason Taylor Miami Dolphins Defensive end Akron
2007 Bob Sanders Indianapolis Colts Safety Iowa
2008 James Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers Outside linebacker Kent State
2009 Charles Woodson Green Bay Packers Cornerback Michigan
2010 Clay Matthews III Green Bay Packers Outside linebacker USC
2011 Terrell Suggs Baltimore Ravens Outside linebacker Arizona State
2012 J. J. Watt Houston Texans Defensive end Wisconsin
2013 Robert Quinn St. Louis Rams Defensive end North Carolina
2014 J. J. Watt Houston Texans Defensive end Wisconsin
2015 J. J. Watt Houston Texans Defensive end Wisconsin
2016 Khalil Mack Oakland Raiders Defensive end Buffalo
2017 Calais Campbell Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive end Miami
2018 Aaron Donald Los Angeles Rams Defensive tackle Pittsburgh
2019 Stephon Gilmore New England Patriots Cornerback South Carolina
2020 Aaron Donald Los Angeles Rams Defensive tackle Pittsburgh
2021 T. J. Watt Pittsburgh Steelers Outside linebacker Wisconsin
2022 Nick Bosa San Francisco 49ers Defensive end Ohio State
2023 Myles Garrett Cleveland Browns Defensive end Texas A&M

Newspaper Enterprise Association

Beginning in 1966, 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. The award ran through 1996. It was considered one of the major awards and as included in the NFL Record and Fact Book and its winners still appear in the NFL's Official Encyclopedia, Total Football II.

Winners are awarded George S. Halas Trophy
1966Larry Wilson, S, St. Louis Cardinals
1967Deacon Jones, DE, Los Angeles Rams
1968— Deacon Jones, DE, Los Angeles Rams
1969Dick Butkus, MLB, Chicago Bears
1970— Dick Butkus, MLB, Chicago Bears
1971Carl Eller, DE, Minnesota Vikings
1972Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
1973Alan Page, DT, Minnesota Vikings
1974— Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
1975Curley Culp, DT, Houston Oilers
1976Jerry Sherk, DT, Cleveland Browns
1977Harvey Martin, DE, Dallas Cowboys
1978Randy Gradishar, ILB, Denver Broncos
1979Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1980Lester Hayes, CB, Oakland Raiders
1981Joe Klecko, DE, New York Jets
1982Mark Gastineau, DE, New York Jets
1983Jack Lambert, MLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
1984Mike Haynes, CB, Los Angeles Raiders
1985Howie Long, DE, Los Angeles Raiders/ Andre Tippett, OLB, New England Patriots (tie)
1986Lawrence Taylor, OLB, New York Giants
1987Reggie White, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
1988Mike Singletary, MLB, Chicago Bears
1989Tim Harris, OLB, Green Bay Packers
1990Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills
1991Pat Swilling, OLB, New Orleans Saints
1992Junior Seau, LB, San Diego Chargers
1993— Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills
1994Deion Sanders, CB, San Francisco 49ers
1995Bryce Paup, OLB, Buffalo Bills
1996Kevin Greene, OLB, Carolina Panthers
1997Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers

United Press International

NFC winners

Season Player Team Position
1975 Jack Youngblood Los Angeles Rams Defensive end
1976 Wally Chambers Chicago Bears Defensive tackle
1977 Harvey Martin Dallas Cowboys Defensive tackle
1978 Randy White Dallas Cowboys Defensive tackle
1979 Lee Roy Selmon Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive end
1980 Nolan Cromwell Los Angeles Rams Safety
1981 Fred Dean San Francisco 49ers Defensive end
1982 No Award
1983 Lawrence Taylor New York Giants Linebacker
1984 Mike Singletary Chicago Bears Linebacker
1985 Mike Singletary Chicago Bears Linebacker
1986 Lawrence Taylor New York Giants Linebacker
1987 Reggie White Philadelphia Eagles Defensive end
1988 Mike Singletary Chicago Bears Linebacker
1989 Keith Millard Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle
1990 Charles Haley San Francisco 49ers Linebacker
1991 Reggie White Philadelphia Eagles Defensive end
1992 Chris Doleman Minnesota Vikings Defensive end
1993 Eric Allen Philadelphia Eagles Cornerback
1994 Charles Haley Dallas Cowboys Defensive end
1995 Reggie White Green Bay Packers Defensive end
1996 Kevin Greene Carolina Panthers Linebacker

AFC winners

Season Player Team Position
1975 Mel Blount Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback
1976 Jack Lambert Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker
1977 Lyle Alzado Denver Broncos Defensive end
1978 Randy Gradishar Denver Broncos Linebacker
1979 Jack Lambert Pittsburgh Steelers Linbebacker
1980 Lester Hayes Oakland Raiders Cornerback
1981 Joe Klecko New York Jets Defensive end
1982 No Award
1983 Rod Martin Los Angeles Raiders Linebacker
1984 Mark Gastineau New York Jets Defensive end
1985 Andre Tippett New England Patriots Linebacker
1986 Rulon Jones Denver Broncos Defensive end
1987 Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end
1988 (tie) Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end
Cornelius Bennett Buffalo Bills Linebacker
1989 Michael Dean Perry Cleveland Browns Nose tackle
1990 Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end
1991 Cornelius Bennett Buffalo Bills Linebacker
1992 Junior Seau San Diego Chargers Linebacker
1993 Rod Woodson Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback
1994 Greg Lloyd Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker
1995 Bryce Paup Buffalo Bills Linebacker
1996 Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end

Football Digest

1992 - Junior Seau, MLB, San Diego Chargers [9]
1993 - Deion Sanders, CB, Atlanta Falcons
1994 - Charles Haley, DE, Dallas Cowboys
1995 - Merton Hanks, S, San Francisco 49ers
1996 - Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills
1997 - Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers
1998 - Junior Seau, MLB, San Diego Chargers
1999 - Warren Sapp, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2000 - Ray Lewis, MLB, Baltimore Ravens
2001 - Brian Urlacher, MLB, Chicago Bears [10]
2002 - Derrick Brooks, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2003 - Ray Lewis, ILB, Baltimore Ravens
2004 - Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens

Sporting News

2008 - Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee Titans
2009 - Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers
2010 - Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers
2011 - Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings
2012 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
2013 - Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
2014 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
2015 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
2016 - Khalil Mack, DE, Oakland Raiders
2017 - Calais Campbell, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
2018 - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
2019 - Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots
2020 - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
2021 - T. J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
2022 - Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
2023 - Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns

Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated's Defensive Player of the Year Awards spanned from 2008 to 2014 [11]
2008 - DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys
2009 - Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets
2010 - Julius Peppers, DE, Chicago Bears
2011 - Justin Smith, DE, San Francisco 49ers
2012 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
2013 - Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis Rams
2014 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans

Pro Football Focus

Pro Football Focus began giving individual awards in 2011 and have continued since. [12]
2011 - Justin Smith, DE, San Francisco 49ers
2012 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
2013 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
2014 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
2015 - Aaron Donald, DT, St. Louis Rams
2016 - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
2017 - Harrison Smith, S, Minnesota Vikings
2018 - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
2019 - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
2020 - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
2021 - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
2022 - Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
2023 - Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Committee of 101

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. [13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ray Lewis goes from murder suspect to NFL's Defensive Player of Year". Batesville Daily Guard website. Associated Press. January 3, 2001. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  2. ^ "First safety in 20 years to win defensive award". Associated Press. January 7, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  3. ^ "Urlacher named AP Defensive Player of the Year". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 6, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  4. ^ Wilner, Barry (January 5, 2007). "Taylor takes home AP Defensive Player of the Year honor". USAToday.com. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  5. ^ "AP picks Colts' Sanders as top defensive player". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 7, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  6. ^ Wilner, Barry (January 5, 2009). "Steelers' Harrison is AP Defensive Player of Year". google.com. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  7. ^ "CB Woodson voted AP's top defensive player". nfl.com. Associated Press. January 12, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
  8. ^ "Complete list of 'NFL Honors' award winners". NFL.com. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
  9. ^ Groeschen, Tom (September 8, 1994). "Bengals just have to take medicine: 'Say Ow'". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C4. Retrieved June 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Wright, Rick (May 16, 2008). "Bears' Urlacher Isn't Running on Fumes". Albuquerque Journal. p. B1, B6. Retrieved June 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Defensive Player of the Year Award: 2007-2014".
  12. ^ "2022 PFF Awards: Patrick Mahomes wins MVP, Sauce Gardner takes home multiple honors | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics". 12 January 2023.
  13. ^ https://101awards.com/

External links