AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
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. Multiple-award winners include Lawrence Taylor and JJ Watt who both 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), and James Harrison is the only one to win it as an undrafted free agent (2008). In 2012 and 2013, two second year players won this award: JJ Watt and Luke Kuechly of the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers. Most recently, in 2014, JJ Watt became the first player to be selected unanimously.
During the respective seasons, a Defensive Player of the Week and Defensive Player of the Month are also announced.
NFL Defensive Players of the Year
| Year | Player Name | NFL Team | Position | Team Defense Rank | Team Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Page, AlanAlan Page | Minnesota Vikings | Defensive tackle | 2 | NFC Division champ |
| 1972 | Greene, JoeJoe Greene | Pittsburgh Steelers | Defensive tackle | 8 | AFC Championship |
| 1973 | Anderson, DickDick Anderson | Miami Dolphins | Safety | 3 | Won Super Bowl VIII |
| 1974 | Greene, JoeJoe Greene (2) | Pittsburgh Steelers (2) | Defensive tackle | 4 | Won Super Bowl IX |
| 1975 | Blount, MelMel Blount | Pittsburgh Steelers (3) | Cornerback | 4 | Won Super Bowl X |
| 1976 | Lambert, JackJack Lambert | Pittsburgh Steelers (4) | Linebacker | 1 | AFC Championship |
| 1977 | Martin, HarveyHarvey Martin | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive end | 1 | Won Super Bowl XII |
| 1978 | Gradishar, RandyRandy Gradishar | Denver Broncos | Linebacker | 6 | AFC Divisional |
| 1979 | Selmon, Lee RoyLee Roy Selmon | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Defensive end | 1 | NFC Championship |
| 1980 | Hayes, LesterLester Hayes | Oakland Raiders | Cornerback | 11 | Won Super Bowl XV |
| 1981 | Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor-R | New York Giants | Linebacker | 3 | NFC Divisional |
| 1982 | Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor (2) | New York Giants (2) | Linebacker | 7 | 4–5 no playoffs (strike season) |
| 1983 | Betters, DougDoug Betters | Miami Dolphins (2) | Defensive end | 7 | AFC Divisional |
| 1984 | Easley, KennyKenny Easley | Seattle Seahawks | Safety | 6 | AFC Divisional |
| 1985 | Singletary, MikeMike Singletary | Chicago Bears | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XX |
| 1986 | Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor (3) | New York Giants (3) | Linebacker | 2 | Won Super Bowl XXI |
| 1987 | White, ReggieReggie White | Philadelphia Eagles | Defensive end | 23 | 7–8 no playoffs (strike season) |
| 1988 | Singletary, MikeMike Singletary (2) | Chicago Bears (2) | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Championship |
| 1989 | Millard, KeithKeith Millard | Minnesota Vikings (2) | Defensive tackle | 1 | NFC Divisional |
| 1990 | Smith, BruceBruce Smith | Buffalo Bills | Defensive end | 8 | Lost Super Bowl XXV |
| 1991 | Swilling, PatPat Swilling | New Orleans Saints | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Wildcard |
| 1992 | Kennedy, CortezCortez Kennedy | Seattle Seahawks (2) | Defensive tackle | 10 | 2–14 no playoffs |
| 1993 | Woodson, RodRod Woodson | Pittsburgh Steelers (5) | Cornerback | 3 | AFC Wildcard |
| 1994 | Sanders, DeionDeion Sanders | San Francisco 49ers | Cornerback | 8 | Won Super Bowl XXIX |
| 1995 | Paup, BryceBryce Paup | Buffalo Bills (2) | Linebacker | 13 | AFC Divisional |
| 1996 | Smith, BruceBruce Smith (2) | Buffalo Bills (3) | Defensive end | 9 | AFC Wildcard |
| 1997 | Stubblefield, DanaDana Stubblefield | San Francisco 49ers (2) | Defensive tackle | 1 | NFC Championship |
| 1998 | White, ReggieReggie White (2) | Green Bay Packers | Defensive end | 4 | NFC Wildcard |
| 1999 | Sapp, WarrenWarren Sapp | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2) | Defensive tackle | 3 | NFC Championship |
| 2000 | Lewis, RayRay Lewis | Baltimore Ravens | Linebacker | 2 | Won Super Bowl XXXV |
| 2001 | Strahan, MichaelMichael Strahan | New York Giants (4) | Defensive end | 14 | 7–9 no playoffs |
| 2002 | Brooks, DerrickDerrick Brooks | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XXXVII |
| 2003 | Lewis, RayRay Lewis[1] (2) | Baltimore Ravens (2) | Linebacker | 3 | AFC Wildcard |
| 2004 | Reed, EdEd Reed[2] | Baltimore Ravens (3) | Safety | 6 | 9–7 no playoffs |
| 2005 | Urlacher, BrianBrian Urlacher[3] | Chicago Bears (3) | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Divisional |
| 2006 | Taylor, JasonJason Taylor[4] | Miami Dolphins (3) | Defensive end | 4 | 6–10, no playoffs |
| 2007 | Sanders, BobBob Sanders[5] | Indianapolis Colts | Safety | 3 | AFC Divisional |
| 2008 | Harrison, JamesJames Harrison[6] | Pittsburgh Steelers (6) | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XLIII |
| 2009 | Woodson, CharlesCharles Woodson[7] | Green Bay Packers (2) | Cornerback | 2 | NFC Wildcard |
| 2010 | Polamalu, TroyTroy Polamalu | Pittsburgh Steelers (7) | Safety | 2 | Lost Super Bowl XLV |
| 2011 | Suggs, TerrellTerrell Suggs | Baltimore Ravens (4) | Linebacker | 3 | AFC Championship |
| 2012 | Watt, J. J.J. J. Watt | Houston Texans | Defensive end | 10 | AFC Divisional |
| 2013 | Kuechly, LukeLuke Kuechly | Carolina Panthers | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Divisional |
| 2014 | Watt, J. J.J. J. Watt (2) | Houston Texans (2) | Defensive end | 7 | 9–7, no playoffs |
| 2015 | Watt, J. J.J. J. Watt (3) | Houston Texans (3) | Defensive end | 3 | AFC Wildcard |
R- rookie
See also
- All-Pro
- Pro Football Writers Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year Award (NFC and AFC) (Kansas City Committee of 101 Awards) (since 1969)
- NEA NFL Defensive Players of the Year (defunct)
- UPI AFC and NFC Defensive Player of the Year Award (since 1975) (defunct ?)
- NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
- NFL Most Valuable Player awards
- Bert Bell Award
- UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year (defunct)
- UPI NFC Player of the Year (defunct)
References
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "First safety in 20 years to win defensive award". Associated Press. January 7, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ "Urlacher named AP Defensive Player of the Year". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 6, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ Wilner, Barry (January 5, 2007). "Taylor takes home AP Defensive Player of the Year honor". USAToday.com. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ "AP picks Colts' Sanders as top defensive player". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 7, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ Wilner, Barry (January 5, 2009). "Steelers' Harrison is AP Defensive Player of Year". google.com. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
- ↑ "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.
External links
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year at CBSSportsline.com
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year at The Times Leader website
- at NFL.com News
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