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.
Pat Surtain II, the Denver Broncos cornerback, won the 2024 edition of the award with four interceptions including a 100-yard pick-six, 11 passes defended, one tackle for loss, and just 326 yards and two touchdowns allowed in coverage.
Past winners still in the league are Surtain, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, T.J. Watt, Khalil Mack, and Stephon Gilmore.
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Read more: NFL Honors winners, awards, voting results & more
Season | Name | Position | Team |
2024 | Pat Surtain II | CB | Denver Broncos |
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 |
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.
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.
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.