From 1966 to 1998, the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) annually awarded the George Halas Trophy to the most outstanding defensive player in the National Football League (NFL). 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 appeared in the encyclopedia, Total Football II.
Winners 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 LongAndre Tippett DEOLB LA RaidersNew 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
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