The 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.
Two members of the Green Bay Packers have been honored with the award. In 1998, defensive end Reggie White won the award for a second time in his final season with the team. The most recent winner is cornerback Charles Woodson , who had nine interceptions and three touchdown runbacks for the Packers to take the 2009 honor.
Multiple-award winners include Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt, who won it three times, and Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, and Ray Lewis, who each won it twice. Lawrence Taylor is the only player to win the award as a rookie (1981).
Winners
NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners • Presented by the Associated Press •
Year
No.
Player of the Year
Pos
Team
G
Tkl
Sck
Int
Yds
TD
FF
FR
Yds
1971 1971
88
Alan Page
22 DT
min Minnesota Vikings
14 14
--
--
00 0
000 0
00 0
--
03 3
008 8
1972 1972
75
Joe Greene
22 DT
pit Pittsburgh Steelers
14 14
--
--
00 0
000 0
00 0
--
01 1
000 0
1973 1973
40
Dick Anderson
29 S
mia Miami Dolphins
14 14
--
--
08 8
163 163
02 2
--
00 0
000 0
1974 1974
75
Joe Greene
22 DT
pit Pittsburgh Steelers
14 14
--
--
01 1
026 26
00 0
--
04 4
007 7
1975 1975
47
Mel Blount
27 CB
pit Pittsburgh Steelers
14 14
--
--
11 11
121 121
00 0
--
00 0
000 0
1976 1976
58
Jack Lambert
25 MLB
pit Pittsburgh Steelers
14 14
--
--
02 2
032 32
00 0
--
08 8
036 36
1977 1977
79
Harvey Martin
20 DE
dal Dallas Cowboys
14 14
--
--
00 0
000 0
00 0
--
02 2
007 7
1978 1978
53
Randy Gradishar
26 OLB
den Denver Broncos
14 14
--
--
03 3
056 56
00 0
--
04 4
033 33
1979 1979
63
Lee Roy Selmon
20 DE
tam Tampa Bay Buccaneers
16 16
--
--
00 0
000 0
00 0
--
02 2
029 29
1980 1980
37
Lester Hayes
27 CB
oak Oakland Raiders
16 16
--
--
13 13
273 273
01 1
--
02 2
000 0
1981 1981
56
Lawrence Taylor
26 OLB
nyg New York Giants
16 16
--
--
01 1
001 1
00 0
--
01 1
004 4
1982 1982
56
Lawrence Taylor
26 OLB
nyg New York Giants
09 9
--
075 7.5
01 1
097 97
01 1
--
00 0
000 0
1983 1983
75
Doug Betters
20 DE
mia Miami Dolphins
16 16
--
160 16.0
00 0
000 0
00 0
--
04 4
000 0
1984 1984
45
Kenny Easley
29 S
sea Seattle Seahawks
16 16
--
000 0.0
10 10
126 126
02 2
--
01 1
000 0
1985 1985
50
Mike Singletary
25 MLB
chi Chicago Bears
16 16
--
030 3.0
01 1
023 23
00 0
--
03 3
011 11
1986 1986
56
Lawrence Taylor
26 OLB
nyg New York Giants
16 16
--
205 20.5
00 0
000 0
00 0
--
00 0
000 0
1987 1987
92
Reggie White
20 DE
phi Philadelphia Eagles
12 12
076 76
210 21.0
00 0
000 0
00 0
04 4
01 1
070 70
1988 1988
50
Mike Singletary
25 MLB
chi Chicago Bears
16 16
--
010 1.0
01 1
013 13
00 0
--
01 1
004 4
1989 1989
75
Keith Millard
22 DT
min Minnesota Vikings
16 16
--
180 18.0
01 1
048 48
00 0
00 0
01 1
031 31
1990 1990
78
Bruce Smith
20 DE
buf Buffalo Bills
16 16
101 101
190 19.0
00 0
000 0
00 0
04 4
00 0
000 0
1991 1991
56
Pat Swilling
26 OLB
neo New Orleans Saints
16 16
060 60
170 17.0
01 1
039 39
01 1
06 6
01 1
005 5
1992 1992
96
Cortez Kennedy
22 DT
sea Seattle Seahawks
16 16
092 92
140 14.0
00 0
000 0
00 0
04 4
01 1
019 19
1993 1993
26
Rod Woodson
27 CB
pit Pittsburgh Steelers
16 16
095 95
020 2.0
08 8
138 138
01 1
02 2
01 1
000 0
1994 1994
21
Deion Sanders
27 CB
saf San Francisco 49ers
14 14
034 34
000 0.0
06 6
303 303
03 3
00 0
01 1
000 0
1995 1995
95
Bryce Paup
26 OLB
buf Buffalo Bills
15 15
070 70
175 17.5
02 2
000 0
00 0
03 3
01 1
000 0
1996 1996
78
Bruce Smith
20 DE
buf Buffalo Bills
16 16
069 69
135 13.5
00 0
000 0
00 0
05 5
01 1
000 0
1997 1997
94
Dana Stubblefield
22 DT
saf San Francisco 49ers
16 16
048 48
150 15.0
00 0
000 0
00 0
03 3
00 0
000 0
1998 1998
92
Reggie White
20 DE
gb Green Bay Packers
16 16
033 33
160 16.0
00 0
000 0
00 0
00 4
00 0
00 0
1999 1999
99
Warren Sapp
22 DT
tam Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15 15
027 27
125 12.5
00 0
000 0
00 0
04 4
02 2
000 0
2000 2000
52
Ray Lewis
25 MLB
bal Baltimore Ravens
16 16
107 107
030 3.0
02 2
001 1
00 0
00 0
03 3
000 0
2001 2001
92
Michael Strahan
20 DE
nyg New York Giants
16 16
062 62
225 22.5
00 0
000 0
00 0
06 6
01 1
013 13
2002 2002
55
Derrick Brooks
26 OLB
tam Tampa Bay Buccaneers
16 16
088 88
010 1.0
05 5
218 218
03 3
01 1
01 1
011 11
2003 2003
52
Ray Lewis
25 MLB
bal Baltimore Ravens
16 16
121 121
015 1.5
06 6
099 99
01 1
02 2
02 2
001 1
2004 2004
20
Ed Reed
29 S
bal Baltimore Ravens
16 16
064 64
020 2.0
09 9
358 358
01 1
03 3
02 2
044 44
2005 2005
54
Brian Urlacher
25 MLB
chi Chicago Bears
16 16
098 98
060 6.0
00 0
000 0
00 0
01 1
01 1
000 0
2006 2006
99
Jason Taylor
20 DE
mia Miami Dolphins
16 16
041 41
135 13.5
02 2
071 71
02 2
09 9
02 2
033 33
2007 2007
21
Bob Sanders
29 S
ind Indianapolis Colts
15 15
071 71
035 3.5
02 2
032 32
00 0
00 0
01 1
025 25
2008 2008
92
James Harrison
26 OLB
pit Pittsburgh Steelers
15 15
059 59
160 16.0
01 1
033 33
00 0
07 7
00 0
000 0
2009 2009
21
Charles Woodson
27 CB
gb Green Bay Packers
16 16
065 65
020 2.0
09 9
179 179
03 3
04 4
00 0
00 0
2010 2010
43
Troy Polamalu
29 S
pit Pittsburgh Steelers
14 14
049 49
010 1.0
07 7
101 101
01 1
01 1
01 1
000 0
2011 2011
55
Terrell Suggs
26 OLB
bal Baltimore Ravens
16 16
070 70
140 14.0
02 2
009 9
00 0
07 7
00 0
000 0
2012 2012
99
J.J. Watt
27 DE
bal Houston Texans
16 16
081 81
205 20.5
0 0
000 0
00 0
04 4
02 2
007 7
Comparison
By player
Multiple-award winners include Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt, who won it three times, and Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, and Ray Lewis, who each won it twice. Lawrence Taylor is the only player to win the award as a rookie (1981).
National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award winners • Multiple winners by player •
See also
References