Being named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) is one of the most significant accomplishments for any defensive player. The award is presented during the annual NFL Honors ceremony in the week leading up to the Super Bowl, as the league celebrates the season’s standout achievements from players, coaches, and fans.
List of NFL Defensive Player of the Year Winners
The Defensive Player of the Year Award has been given to the NFL’s most dominant defensive player since 1971, when Alan Page of the Minnesota Vikings became the first recipient, winning the honor in the same season he was named NFL MVP.
Since then, many of the game’s most iconic defenders have claimed the award, including Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants, who also earned league MVP honors in 1986.
DPOY winners have come from every level of the defense, though linebackers account for the largest share. A select few have captured the award multiple times, with Taylor, J.J. Watt, and Aaron Donald each winning it three times, the most in league history.
In 2014, Watt won the award unanimously, receiving 50 of the possible 50 votes from the Associated Press.
Here is the full list of NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners:
- 1971 – Alan Page, DT, Minnesota Vikings
- 1972 – Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1973 – Dick Anderson, S, Miami Dolphins
- 1974 – Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1975 – Mel Blount, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1976 – Jack Lambert, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1977 – Harvey Martin, DE, Dallas Cowboys
- 1978 – Randy Gradishar, LB, Denver Broncos
- 1979 – Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 1980 – Lester Hayes, CB, Oakland Raiders
- 1981 – Lawrence Taylor, LB, New York Giants
- 1982 – Lawrence Taylor, LB, New York Giants
- 1983 – Doug Betters, DE, Miami Dolphins
- 1984 – Kenny Easley, S, Seattle Seahawks
- 1985 – Mike Singletary, LB, Chicago Bears
- 1986 – Lawrence Taylor, LB, New York Giants
- 1987 – Reggie White, DE, Philadelphia Eagles
- 1988 – Mike Singletary, LB, Chicago Bears
- 1989 – Keith Millard, DT, Minnesota Vikings
- 1990 – Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills
- 1991 – Pat Swilling, LB, New Orleans Saints
- 1992 – Cortez Kennedy, DT, Seattle Seahawks
- 1993 – Rod Woodson, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1994 – Deion Sanders, CB, San Francisco 49ers
- 1995 – Bryce Paup, LB, Buffalo Bills
- 1996 – Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills
- 1997 – Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers
- 1998 – Reggie White, DE, Green Bay Packers
- 1999 – Warren Sapp, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 2000 – Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens
- 2001 – Michael Strahan, DE, New York Giants
- 2002 – Derrick Brooks, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 2003 – Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens
- 2004 – Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens
- 2005 – Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears
- 2006 – Jason Taylor, DE, Miami Dolphins
- 2007 – Bob Sanders, S, Indianapolis Colts
- 2008 – James Harrison, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2009 – Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers
- 2010 – Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2011 – Terrell Suggs, LB, Baltimore Ravens
- 2012 – J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
- 2013 – Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
- 2014 – J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
- 2015 – J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
- 2016 – Khalil Mack, DE, Oakland Raiders
- 2017 – Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
- 2018 – Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
- 2019 – Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots
- 2020 – Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams
- 2021 – T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2022 – Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
- 2023 – Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
- 2024 – Pat Surtain II, CB, Denver Broncos
