The Pro Football Writers of America has annually honored a defensive player of the year in the National Football League since 1992. From 1992 through 2012, the award was presented in conjunction with Pro Football Weekly.
Winners Season Player Position Team 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 Source:
See also National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award, overview of all NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards Pro Football Writers of America NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
References