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NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Odds, winners, trophy, when is it awarded?

The Defensive Player of the Year award is the league's most highly-coveted award for defenders and the list of past winners is filled with legends.

Myles Garrett won the 2023 edition of the award with 14.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, three passes defended, 42 total tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, and 30 QB hits.

Past winners still in the league are Garrett, Nick Bosa, T.J. Watt, Khalil Mack, and Stephon Gilmore.

2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year favorites

TJ Watt

+140

Will Anderson Jr.

+800

Chris Jones

+1000

Dexter Lawrence

+1100

Fred Warner

+1400

Nick Bosa

+1600

Maxx Crosby

+2000

Patrick Surtain II

+2500

Xavier McKinney

+2500

Myles Garrett

+3300

After Detroit Lions DE and NFL sack leader Aidan Hutchinson went down with a season-ending broken leg in Week 6 while he had 7.5 sacks on the season, Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt overtook him as the favorite to win the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award.

So far this season, Watt has 4.5 sacks, 19 solo tackles, 10 QB hits, three forced fumbles, one pass defended and one fumble recovery. His efforts on the edge have helped his team to allow the the third-lowest percentage of scoring drives while ranking in the top 10 in turnovers forced and points per drive allowed.

Second in the odds is Houston Texans DE and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., who has 5.5 sacks, eight QB hits, one pass defended and a league-leading nine tackles for loss. He is just 1.5 sacks from matching the 7.0 sacks he posted last season as a rookie.

Kansas City Chiefs DT and two-time first-team All-Pro Chris Jones is third in the market with 3.0 sacks, three tackles for a loss, seven QB hits and one forced fumble. He's helped the Chiefs defense become elite against the run as the unit allows just 3.7 yards per carry.

New York Giants DT Dexter Lawrence is second in the league in sacks with 7.0, and he's fourth in the Defensive Player of the Year market. Lawrence also has 19 total tackles, five tackles for loss, 11 QB hits and a pass defended.

Fifth in the market is San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner, and he has the shortest odds of any non-pass rusher to win this award. Through six games, the three-time first-team All-Pro has 50 tackles, 1.0 sack, five passes defended, two interceptions, one pick-six, two tackles for loss and a league-best four forced fumbles.

Further back in the odds, between 16/1 and 33/1, are 49ers DE Nick Bosa, Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby, Denver Broncos CB Patrick Surtian II, Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney, and Cleveland Browns DE and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

Read more: NFL Honors winners, awards, voting results & more

NFL Defensive Player of the Year past winners

Season

Name

Position

Team

2023

Myles Garrett

DE

Cleveland Browns

2022

Nick Bosa

DE

San Francisco 49ers

2021

TJ Watt

OLB

Pittsburgh Steelers

2020

Aaron Donald

DT

Los Angeles Rams

2019

Stephon Gilmore

CB

New England Patriots

2018

Aaron Donald

DT

Los Angeles Rams

2017

Aaron Donald

DT

Los Angeles Rams

2016

Khalil Mack

DE

Oakland Raiders

2015

JJ Watt

DE

Houston Texans

2014

JJ Watt

DE

Houston Texans

2013

Luke Keuchly

MLB

Carolina Panthers

2012

JJ Watt

DE

Houston Texans

2011

Terrell Suggs

OLB

Baltimore Ravens

2010

Troy Polamalu

S

Pittsburgh Steelers

2009

Charles Woodson

CB

Green Bay Packers

2008

James Harrison

OLB

Pittsburgh Steelers

2007

Bob Sanders

S

Indianapolis Colts

2006

Jason Taylor

DE

Miami Dolphins

2005

Brian Urlacher

MLB

Chicago Bears

2004

Ed Reed

S

Baltimore Ravens

2003

Ray Lewis

MLB

Baltimore Ravens

2002

Derrick Brooks

MLB

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2001

Michael Strahan

DE

New York Giants

2000

Ray Lewis

MLB

Baltimore Ravens

1999

Warren Sapp

DT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1998

Reggie White

DE

Green Bay Packers

1997

Dana Stubblefield

DT

San Francisco 49ers

1996

Bruce Smith

DE

Buffalo Bills

1995

Bryce Paup

OLB

Buffalo Bills

1994

Deion Sanders

CB

San Francisco 49ers

1993

Rod Woodson

CB

Pittsburgh Steelers

1992

Cortez Kennedy

DT

Seattle Seahawks

1991

Pat Swilling

OLB

New Orleans Saints

1990

Bruce Smith

DE

Buffalo Bills

1989

Keith Millard

DT

Minnesota Vikings

1988

Mike Singletary

MLB

Chicago Bears

1987

Reggie White

DE

Philadelphia Eagles

1986

Lawrence Taylor

OLB

New York Giants

1985

Mike Singletary

MLB

Chicago Bears

1984

Kenny Easley

S

Seattle Seahawks

1983

Doug Betters

DE

Miami Dolphins

1982

Lawrence Taylor

OLB

New York Giants

1981

Lawrence Taylor

OLB

New York Giants

1980

Lester Hayes

CB

Oakland Raiders

1979

Lee Roy Selmon

DE

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1978

Randy Gradishar

MLB

Denver Broncos

1977

Harvey Martin

DE

Dallas Cowboys

1976

Jack Lambert

MLB

Pittsburgh Steelers

1975

Mel Blount

CB

Pittsburgh Steelers

1974

Joe Greene

DT

Pittsburgh Steelers

1973

Dick Anderson

S

Miami Dolphins

1972

Joe Greene

DT

Pittsburgh Steelers

1971

Alan Page

DT

Minnesota Vikings

NFL Defensive Player of the Year trophy

The NFL Defensive Player of the Year trophy features a bronze NFL logo attached to a pedestal. It is similar to the other trophies for awards announced at the NFL Honors ceremony.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year announcement

The NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner is announced at the NFL Honors ceremony, taking place on Thursday, February 8 at 9 PM ET.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting

A panel of 50 sports journalists affiliated with the Associated Press votes on the NFL end-of-season awards, including the Defensive Player of the Year. For Defensive 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.

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