List of NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards
(Redirected from NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award)
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
[edit]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
[edit]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.
Newspaper Enterprise Association
[edit]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.
United Press International
[edit]Football Digest
[edit]Sporting News
[edit]Sports Illustrated
[edit]Sports Illustrated's Defensive Player of the Year Awards spanned from 2008 to 2014 [62]
| 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
[edit]Pro Football Focus has given individual awards since 2011.[63]
101 Awards
[edit]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.[64]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Alan Page 'Hurrys' to Defensive Award". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. January 7, 1972. p. 14. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Mihoces, Gary (January 5, 1973). "Joe Greene Defensive Player of the Year". The Evening News. Associated Press. p. 6B. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Buffalo's Simpson, Dolphins' Anderson Named Top Gridders". Herald-Journal. Associated Press. January 4, 1974. p. B4. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Defensive Honor Goes To 'Mean' Joe Greene". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. January 8, 1975. p. 1C. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Pittsburgh's Mel Blount Is Top Player". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. January 9, 1976. p. 11. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Lambert defense winner". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 29, 1976. p. 15. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Martin Named As Top Defensive Player". The Times-News. Associated Press. January 5, 1978. p. 16. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Broncos' Gradishar Wins Award". Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. January 12, 1979. p. 1D. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Lee Roy Selmon of Tampa defensive player of year". The Day. Associated Press. December 21, 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Lowitt, Bruce (January 8, 1981). "Lester Hayes picks off defensive player award". Beaver County Times. Associated Press. p. B-1. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Taylor 1st rookie to be Defensive Player of Year". The Evening Independent. Associated Press. January 8, 1982. p. 4-C. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Defensive player honors go to Taylor once more". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. January 8, 1983. p. 15. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Miami's Betters Named Defensive Player Of Year". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. December 23, 1983. p. 14B. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Seahawks' Easley top defender". The Sumter Daily Item. Associated Press. December 19, 1984. p. 2C. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Chicago's Singletary gets defensive honor". The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press. December 31, 1985. p. 9. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Taylor sweeps post-season honors". The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press. December 31, 1986. p. 14. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "White named top defensive player". The Hour. Associated Press. December 31, 1987. p. 25. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Top defensive player: Singletary". Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. December 29, 1988. p. 2B. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Millard defensive player of year". The Times-News. Associated Press. December 30, 1989. p. 15. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Buffalo's Bruce Smith honored". Ellensburg Daily Record. Associated Press. January 10, 1991. p. 11. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Saints' Swilling Defensive Player of the Year". Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. December 30, 1991. p. 6. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Seattle tackle named defensive player of year". The Times-News. Associated Press. January 6, 1993. p. 1B. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Steelers' Woodson top defensive player". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. January 7, 1994. p. 2B. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Sanders are players of the year". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 29, 1994. p. 3C. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Bills' Paup garners defensive player of year award". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. December 29, 1995. p. 3B. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Consolation for Smith: Bills star voted Defensive Player of Year". Sun Journal. Associated Press. December 30, 1996. p. 1C. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Stubblefield is defensive player of year". Lodi News-Sentinel. Associated Press. December 26, 1997. p. 17. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Wilner, Barry (January 7, 1999). "White named defensive player of year". Herald-Journal. Associated Press. p. D1. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Bucs' Sapp named NFL's top defensive player". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. January 14, 2000. p. 1B. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Ginsburg, David (January 3, 2001). "Ravens' Lewis named defensive player of the year". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Associated Press. p. 1B. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Wilner, Barry (January 17, 2002). "Sackmaster Strahan wins Defensive Player award". Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. p. 7. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Wilner, Barry (January 9, 2003). "Bucs' linebacker is NFL Defensive Player of the Year". The Argus-Press. Associated Press. p. 15. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "Ray Lewis goes from murder suspect to NFL's Defensive Player of Year". Batesville Daily Guard website. Associated Press. January 3, 2001. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Ravens Lewis' win player of the year awards". Boca Raton News. Associated Press. January 1, 2004. p. 24. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "First safety in 20 years to win defensive award". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 7, 2005. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Urlacher named AP Defensive Player of the Year". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 6, 2006. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ Wilner, Barry (January 5, 2007). "Taylor takes home AP Defensive Player of the Year honor". USA Today. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ "AP picks Colts' Sanders as top defensive player". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 7, 2008. Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ Wilner, Barry (January 5, 2009). "Steelers' Harrison is AP Defensive Player of Year". Google News. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2009.[dead link]
- ↑ "Harrison has death grip on defensive award". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 5, 2009. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "CB Woodson voted AP's top defensive player". NFL.com. Associated Press. January 12, 2010. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
- ↑ "CB Woodson voted AP's top defensive player". NFL.com. Associated Press. January 12, 2010. Archived from the original on March 26, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
- ↑ "Steelers' Polamalu voted AP's NFL Defensive Player of the Year". NFL.com. National Football League. January 31, 2011. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Zrebiec, Jeff (February 4, 2012). "Terrell Suggs selected AP Defensive Player of the Year". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (February 2, 2013). "J.J. Watt near unanimous Defensive Player of the Year". NFL.com. National Football League. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Brinson, Will (February 1, 2014). "Luke Kuechly wins 2013 Defensive Player of the Year". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Brinson, Will (January 31, 2015). "J.J. Watt is first-ever unanimous NFL Defensive Player of the Year". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ "J.J. Watt wins third Defensive Player of the Year award, calls out doubters". CBS Sports. February 7, 2016. Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
- ↑ Reyes, Lorenzo (February 4, 2017). "Raiders' Khalil Mack named NFL defensive player of the year". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
- ↑ Shook, Nick (February 3, 2018). "Aaron Donald named NFL Defensive Player of the Year". NFL.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- ↑ "Complete list of 'NFL Honors' award winners". NFL.com. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
- ↑ Patra, Kevin (February 2, 2019). "Aaron Donald named 2018 Defensive Player of Year". Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ↑ Shook, Nick (February 1, 2020). "Stephon Gilmore named 2019 Defensive Player of Year". NFL.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ↑ Patra, Kevin (February 6, 2021). "Rams DT Aaron Donald wins AP Defensive Player of the Year for third time". NFL.com. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
- ↑ Patra, Kevin (February 10, 2022). "Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt named 2021 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year". NFL.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
- ↑ Shook, Nick (February 9, 2023). "Niners DE Nick Bosa named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year". NFL.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
- ↑ Shook, Nick (February 8, 2024). "Browns DE Myles Garrett named AP 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year". NFL.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ↑ Edholm, Eric (2025-02-06). "Broncos CB Pat Surtain II wins 2024 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award". NFL.com. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ↑ Gordon, Grant (2026-02-05). "Browns star Myles Garrett named 2025 AP NFL Defensive Player of Year after breaking sack record". NFL.com. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
- ↑ Groeschen, Tom (September 8, 1994). "Bengals just have to take medicine: 'Say Ow'". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C4. Retrieved June 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Wright, Rick (May 16, 2008). "Bears' Urlacher Isn't Running on Fumes". Albuquerque Journal. p. B1, B6. Retrieved June 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Defensive Player of the Year Award: 2007-2014".
- ↑ "2022 PFF Awards: Patrick Mahomes wins MVP, Sauce Gardner takes home multiple honors | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics". 12 January 2023.
- ↑ "101 Awards". 101awards.com.
External links
[edit]- NFL Defensive Player of the Year[link removed] 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