NFL Defensive Player of the Year Winners List
At the end of each season, the Associated Press (AP) awards the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award to the most outstanding defensive player in the NFL. The award has been given every year, and the title is determined by the votes of 50 AP sportswriters. The award is presented at the NFL Honors ceremony the day before the Super Bowl and is considered the official defensive player award by the NFL. Keep reading to find all of the Defensive Player of the Year award winners, as well as the players that have won the award the most times.
List of NFL Defensive Player of the Year Winners
- 1971: Alan Page (Minnesota Vikings)
- 1972: Joe Greene (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- 1973: Dick Anderson (Miami Dolphins)
- 1974: Joe Greene (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- 1975: Mel Blount (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- 1976: Jack Lambert (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- 1977: Harvey Martin (Dallas Cowboys)
- 1978: Randy Gradishar (Denver Broncos)
- 1979: Lee Roy Selmon (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- 1980: Lester Hayes (Oakland Raiders)
- 1981: Lawrence Taylor (New York Giants)
- 1982: Lawrence Taylor (New York Giants)
- 1983: Doug Betters (Miami Dolphins)
- 1984: Kenny Easley (Seattle Seahawks)
- 1985: Mike Singletary (Chicago Bears)
- 1986: Lawrence Taylor (New York Giants)
- 1987: Reggie White (Philadelphia Eagles)
- 1988: Mike Singletary (Chicago Bears)
- 1989: Keith Millard (Minnesota Vikings)
- 1990: Bruce Smith (Buffalo Bills)
- 1991: Pat Swilling (New Orlean Saints)
- 1992: Cortez Kennedy (Seattle Seahawks)
- 1993: Rod Woodson (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- 1994: Deion Sanders (San Francisco 49ers)
- 1995: Bryce Paup (Buffalo Bills)
- 1996: Bruce Smith (Buffalo Bills)
- 1997: Dana Stubblefield (San Francisco 49ers)
- 1998: Reggie White (Green Bay Packers)
- 1999: Warren Sapp (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- 2000: Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens)
- 2001: Michael Strahan (New York Giants)
- 2002: Derrick Brooks (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- 2003: Ray Lewis (Baltimore Ravens)
- 2004: Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens)
- 2005: Brian Urlacher (Chicago Bears)
- 2006: Jason Taylor (Miami Dolphins)
- 2007: Bob Sanders (Indianapolis Colts)
- 2008: James Harrison (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- 2009: Charles Woodson (Green Bay Packers)
- 2010: Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- 2011: Terrell Suggs (Baltimore Ravens)
- 2012: J.J. Watt (Houston Texans)
- 2013: Luke Kuechly (Carolina Panthers)
- 2014: J.J. Watt (Houston Texans)
- 2015: J.J. Watt (Houston Texans)
- 2016: Khalil Mack (Oakland Raiders)
- 2017: Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams)
- 2018: Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams)
- 2019: Stephon Gilmore (New England Patriots)
- 2020: Aaron Donald (Los Angeles Rams)
- 2021: T.J. Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- 2022: TBA
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Winners By Most Wins
- Lawrence Taylor - 3 Wins
- J.J. Watt - 3 Wins
- Aaron Donald - 3 Wins
- Joe Greene - 2 Wins
- Mike Singletary - 2 Wins
- Bruce Smith - 2 Wins
- Reggie White - 2 Wins
- Ray Lewis - 2 Wins
FAQ
Who has won the most NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards?
Three players have been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times: Lawrence Taylor, J.J. Watt, and Aaron Donald. Taylor was the first player to win the award thrice, in 1981, 1982, and 1986. Three decades later, J.J. Watt won it in 2012, 2014, and 2015. The most recent three-timer is Aaron Donald, winning in 2017, 2018, and 2020.
What is the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award?
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year award is given for the best defensive player during a single NFL season. Just before the postseason has concluded, notable defensive performances throughout the past year are reviewed and a single player is chosen as the best performer.
How is the NFL Defensive Player of the Year chosen?
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year is chosen by members of the Associated Press (AP). 50 AP sports writers are gathered and they vote on which player they think had the best defensive performance throughout the entire last season. The honor is then given at the NFL Honors ceremony the day before the Super Bowl.