List of NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards

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 Alan Page DT Minnesota Joe GreeneDT Pittsburgh Dick Anderson S Miami Joe GreeneDT 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 MillardDT 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 Myles Garrett DE Cleveland

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 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 Myles Garrett DE Cleveland

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 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

United Press International

SeasonNFCAFC Player Position Team Player Position Team 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 SmithCornelius Bennett DELB BuffaloBuffalo 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 Season 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

Season 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 Myles Garrett DE Cleveland

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

Season 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. Season 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 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.

SeasonNFCAFC Player Position Team Player Position Team 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 GreeneDT 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 MillardDT 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 Micah Parsons DE Green Bay Myles Garrett DE Cleveland

See also List of NFL awards

References

External links at CBSSportsline.com NFL Defensive Player of the Year at The Times Leader website Steelers' Polamalu voted AP's NFL Defensive Player of the Year at NFL.com News