We provide everything you need to know about the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Current NFL superstars Jared Verse, Will Anderson Jr., Sauce Gardner, Nick Bosa and Micah Parsons are all former NFL Defensive Rookies of the Year who are still playing in the league.
Who will emerge as the league's best defensive rookie?
Odds for this market will be added when they are available.
Read more: NFL Honors winners, awards, voting results & more
Season | Name | Position | Team |
2024 | Jared Verse | DE | Los Angeles Rams |
2023 | Will Anderson Jr. | DE | Houston Texans |
2022 | Sauce Gardner | CB | New York Jets |
2021 | Micah Parsons | OLB | Dallas Cowboys |
2020 | Chase Young | DE | Washington |
2019 | Nick Bosa | DE | San Francisco 49ers |
2018 | Shaquille Leonard | LB | Indianapolis Colts |
2017 | Marshon Lattimore | CB | New Orleans Saints |
2016 | Joey Bosa | DE | San Diego Chargers |
2015 | Marcus Peters | CB | Kansas City Chiefs |
2014 | Aaron Donald | DT | St. Louis Rams |
2013 | Sheldon Richardson | DT | New York Jets |
2012 | Luke Kuechly | MLB | Carolina Panthers |
2011 | Von Miller | OLB | Denver Broncos |
2010 | Ndamukong Suh | DT | Detroit Lions |
2009 | Brian Cushing | MLB | Houston Texans |
2008 | Jerod Mayo | MLB | New England Patriots |
2007 | Patrick Willis | MLB | San Frnacisco 49ers |
2006 | DeMeco Ryans | MLB | Houston Texans |
2005 | Shawne Merriman | OLB | San Diego Chargers |
2004 | Jonathan Vilma | MLB | New York Jets |
2003 | Terrell Suggs | OLB | Baltimore Ravens |
2002 | Julius Peppers | DE | Carolina Panthers |
2001 | Kendrell Bell | MLB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
2000 | Brian Urlacher | MLB | Chicago Bears |
1999 | Jevon Kearse | DE | Tennessee Titans |
1998 | Charles Woodson | CB | Oakland Raiders |
1997 | Peter Boulware | LB | Baltimore Ravens |
1996 | Simeon Rice | DE | Arizona Cardinals |
1995 | Hugh Douglas | DE | New York Jets |
1994 | Tim Bowens | DT | Miami Dolphins |
1993 | Dana Stubblefield | DT | San Francisco 49ers |
1992 | Dale Carter | CB | Kansas City Chiefs |
1991 | Mike Croel | OLB | Denver Broncos |
1990 | Mark Carrier | S | Chicago Bears |
1989 | Derrick Thomas | OLB | Kansas City Chiefs |
1988 | Erik McMillan | S | New York Jets |
1987 | Shane Conlan | MLB | Buffalo Bills |
1986 | Leslie O'Neal | DE | San Diego Chargers |
1985 | Duane Bickett | OLB | Indianapolis Colts |
1984 | Bill Maas | NT | Kansas City Chiefs |
1983 | Vernon Maxwell | OLB | Baltimore Ravens |
1982 | Chip Banks | OLB | Cleveland Browns |
1981 | Lawrence Taylor | OLB | New York Giants |
1980 | Al Richardson and Buddy Curry | OLB (both) | Atlanta Falcons (both) |
1979 | Jim Haslett | MLB | Buffalo Bills |
1978 | Al Baker | DE | Detroit Lions |
1977 | AJ Duhe | MLB | Miami Dolphins |
1976 | Mike Haynes | CB | New England Patriots |
1975 | Robert Brazile | OLB | Houston Oilers |
1974 | Jack Lambert | MLB | Pittsburgh Steelers |
1973 | Wally Chambers | DT | Chicago Bears |
1972 | Willie Buchanon | CB | Green Bay Packers |
1971 | Isiah Robertson | LB | Los Angeles Rams |
1970 | Bruce Taylor | CB | San Francisco 49ers |
1969 | Joe Greene | DT | Pittsburgh Steelers |
1968 | Claude Humphrey | DE | Atlanta Falcons |
1967 | Lem Barney | CB | Detroit Lions |
The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year trophy features a bronze NFL logo attached to a small pedestal. It is similar to the trophies awarded for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Offensive Rookie of the Year.
The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winner is announced at the NFL Honors ceremony, taking place at 9 PM ET on Thursday, February 8.
A panel of 50 sports journalists affiliated with the Associated Press votes on the NFL end-of-season awards, including the Defensive Rookie of the Year. For Offensive Player of the Year, voters rank their first three choices which makes it easier for the AP to calculate second- and third-placed finishers in voting.
Odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to change.