National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award


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 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 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.

Pro Football Writers of America

The Professional Football Writers of America is made up of sportswriters who cover the NFL and the 32 teams on a daily basis.
From 1969 to 1991, the Pro Football Writers Association NFL 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. In 2013, the award was presented by PFWA alone.

Newspaper Enterprise Association

Beginning in 1966, the Newspaper Enterprise Association 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. In his book, A Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football, sportswriter Paul Zimmerman touted the NEA for its All-Pro team and its awards, since they involved polling the players, rather than being a sportswriter's poll like the AP, UPI, and the PFWA.
Winners are awarded George S. Halas Trophy

1966— Larry Wilson, S, St. Louis Cardinals

1967— Deacon Jones, DE, Los Angeles Rams

1968— Deacon Jones, DE, Los Angeles Rams

1969— Dick Butkus, MLB, Chicago Bears

1970— Dick Butkus, MLB, Chicago Bears

1971— Carl Eller, DE, Minnesota Vikings

1972— Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

1973— Alan Page, DT, Minnesota Vikings

1974— Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

1975— Curley Culp, DT, Houston Oilers

1976— Jerry Sherk, DT, Cleveland Browns

1977— Harvey Martin, DE, Dallas Cowboys

1978— Randy Gradishar, ILB, Denver Broncos

1979— Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1980— Lester Hayes, CB, Oakland Raiders

1981— Joe Klecko, DE, New York Jets

1982— Mark Gastineau, DE, New York Jets

1983— Jack Lambert, MLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

1984— Mike Haynes, CB, Los Angeles Raiders

1985— Howie Long, DE, Los Angeles Raiders/
Andre Tippett, OLB, New England Patriots

1986— Lawrence Taylor, OLB, New York Giants

1987— Reggie White, DE, Philadelphia Eagles

1988— Mike Singletary, MLB, Chicago Bears

1989— Tim Harris, OLB, Green Bay Packers

1990— Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills

1991— Pat Swilling, OLB, New Orleans Saints

1992— Junior Seau, LB, San Diego Chargers

1993— Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills

1994— Deion Sanders, CB, San Francisco 49ers

1995— Bryce Paup, OLB, Buffalo Bills

1996— Kevin Greene, OLB, Carolina Panthers

1997— Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers

United Press International

AFC winners

Football Digest

1992 - Junior Seau, MLB, San Diego Chargers
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
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

Sports Illustrated

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

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

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.
NFC Defensive Player of the Year

1969— Carl Eller, Minnesota Vikings

1970— Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings

1971— Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings

1972— Chris Hanburger, Washington Redskins

1973— Lee Roy Jordan, Dallas Cowboys

1974— Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings

1975— Jack Youngblood, Los Angeles Rams

1976— Jack Youngblood, Los Angeles Rams

1977— Harvey Martin, Dallas Cowboys

1978— Randy White, Dallas Cowboys

1979— Lee Roy Selmon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1980— Nolan Cromwell, Los Angeles Rams

1981— Fred Dean, San Francisco 49ers

1982— No award due to players strike

1983— Dave Butz, Washington Redskins

1984— Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants

1985— Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears

1986 —Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants

1987— Reggie White, Philadelphia Eagles

1988— Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears

1989— Keith Millard, Minnesota Vikings

1990— Charles Haley, San Francisco 49ers

1991— Pat Swilling, New Orleans Saints

1992— Wilber Marshall, Washington Redskins

1993— Deion Sanders, Atlanta Falcons

1994— Deion Sanders, San Francisco 49ers

1995— Reggie White, Green Bay Packers

1996— Kevin Greene, Carolina Panthers

1997— Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49ers

1998— Reggie White, Green Bay Packers

1999— Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2000— La'Roi Glover, New Orleans Saints

2001— Michael Strahan, New York Giants

2002— Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2003— Michael Strahan, New York Giants

2004— Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers

2005— Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears

2006— Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears

2007— Patrick Kerney, Seattle Seahawks

2008— DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys

2009— Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers

2010— Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers

2011— Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings

2012— Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers

2013— Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers

2014— Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks

2015— Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams

2016— Landon Collins, New York Giants

2017— Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams

2018— Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
AFC Defensive Player of the Year

1969— Bobby Bell, Kansas City Chiefs

1970— Mike Curtis, Baltimore Colts

1971— Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs

1972— Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers

1973— Dick Anderson, Miami Dolphins

1974— Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers

1975— Mel Blount, Pittsburgh Steelers

1976— Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers

1977— Lyle Alzado, Denver Broncos

1978— Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos

1979— Mike Reinfeldt, Houston Oilers

1980— Lester Hayes, Oakland Raiders

1981— Joe Klecko, New York Jets

1982— No award due to players strike

1983— Doug Betters, Miami Dolphins

1984— Kenny Easley, Seattle Seahawks

1985— Andre Tippett, New England Patriots

1986— Deron Cherry, Kansas City Chiefs

1987— Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills

1988— Cornelius Bennett, Buffalo Bills

1989— Michael Dean Perry, Cleveland Browns

1990— Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills

1991— Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs

1992— Cortez Kennedy, Seattle Seahawks

1993— Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh Steelers

1994— Greg Lloyd, Pittsburgh Steelers

1995— Bryce Paup, Buffalo Bills

1996— Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills

1997— Carnell Lake, Pittsburgh Steelers

1998— Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers

1999— Jevon Kearse, Tennessee Titans

2000— Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

2001— Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

2002— Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins

2003— Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens

2004— Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens

2005— Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts

2006— Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins

2007— Bob Sanders, Indianapolis Colts

2008— James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers

2009— Darrelle Revis, New York Jets

2010— Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers

2011— Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens

2012— J. J. Watt, Houston Texans

2013— Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts

2014— J. J. Watt, Houston Texans

2015— J. J. Watt, Houston Texans

2016— Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders

2017— Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

2018— J. J. Watt, Houston Texans