The AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) is an annual award presented by the Associated Press (AP) to the defensive player in the National Football League (NFL) deemed to have had the most outstanding season. It has been awarded since 1971. The winner is decided by votes from a panel of 50 AP sportswriters. Since 2011, the award has been presented at the annual NFL Honors ceremony the day before the Super Bowl, along with other AP awards, such as the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, AP NFL Most Valuable Player award, and AP NFL Rookie of the Year award. The most recent winner is defensive end Myles Garrett, who won the award on the Cleveland Browns.
Lawrence Taylor, J. J. Watt, and Aaron Donald are the only three-time winners of the award. Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Ray Lewis and Myles Garrett have each won it twice. Taylor is the only player to win the award as a rookie, doing so in 1981. In 2008, James Harrison became the only undrafted free agent to win the award. White is the only player to win the award with two different teams, winning in 1987 with the Philadelphia Eagles and again with the Green Bay Packers in 1998. J. J. Watt and Myles Garrett are the only players to win the award unanimously, both receiving 50 out of 50 first place votes.
As of the end of the 2024 NFL season, linebackers have won the award seventeen times, more than any other position. A defensive end has won fifteen times, followed by ten defensive tackles, seven cornerbacks, and five safeties. Only two winners of the AP Defensive Player of the Year award have also won the AP's Most Valuable Player award for the same season: defensive tackle Alan Page in 1971 for the Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986 for the New York Giants.
Winners
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
Multiple-time winners + List of multiple-time winnersAwardsPlayerTeam(s)Years3Aaron DonaldLos Angeles Rams2017, 2018, 2020Lawrence TaylorNew York Giants1981, 1982, 1986J. J. WattHouston Texans2012, 2014, 20152Myles GarrettCleveland Browns2023, 2025Joe GreenePittsburgh Steelers1972, 1974Ray LewisBaltimore Ravens2000, 2003Mike SingletaryChicago Bears1985, 1988Bruce SmithBuffalo Bills1990, 1996Reggie WhiteGreen Bay Packers (1) / Philadelphia Eagles (1)1987, 1998
See also AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year
References General
Footnotes