The NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (DROY) Award is presented to the best first-year player on the defensive side of the ball. It stands as one of the league’s most prestigious honors and is announced during the NFL Honors ceremony held on the Thursday leading into the Super Bowl. Over the years, some of the most talented young defenders the NFL has ever produced have earned this notable distinction.
List of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners
The Defensive Rookie of the Year Award was not introduced until 1967. Prior to that, beginning in 1957, the NFL presented a single Rookie of the Year Award. A decade later, the league added a separate honor specifically designed to spotlight elite defensive talent entering the NFL.
Lem Barney of the Detroit Lions captured the first-ever DROY award during the 1967 season, while running back Mel Farr took home Offensive Rookie of the Year that same year.
Created to highlight the league’s rising defensive stars, the award recognizes the remarkable transition many players make during their rookie campaigns. Over the years, several all-time NFL greats have earned this prestigious honor and later built Hall of Fame careers. Some winners are even regarded as the greatest players ever at their respective positions.
Despite the award being dominated by linebackers and defensive ends, other positions have also seen success. Cornerbacks have won the award nine times, while defensive tackles have taken the award home on seven occasions. There is also a lone safety on the list: the Chicago Bears’ Mark Carrier (1990).
The complete list of the Defensive Rookie of the Year award winners is:
- 1967 – Lem Barney, CB, Detroit Lions
- 1968 – Claude Humphrey, DE, Atlanta Falcons
- 1969 – Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1970 – Bruce Taylor, CB, San Francisco 49ers
- 1971 – Isiah Robertson, LB, Los Angeles Rams
- 1972 – Willie Buchanon, CB, Green Bay Packers
- 1973 – Wally Chambers, DT, Chicago Bears
- 1974 – Jack Lambert, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1975 – Robert Brazile, LB, Houston Oilers
- 1976 – Mike Haynes, CB, New England Patriots
- 1977 – A. J. Duhe, DE, Miami Dolphins
- 1978 – Al Baker, DE, Detroit Lions
- 1979 – Jim Haslett, LB, Buffalo Bills
- 1980- Buddy Curry and Al Richardson (co-winners), LBs, Atlanta Falcons
- 1981 – Lawrence Taylor, LB, New York Giants
- 1982 – Chip Banks, LB, Cleveland Browns
- 1983 – Vernon Maxwell, LB, Baltimore Colts
- 1984 – Bill Maas, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
- 1985 – Duane Bickett, LB, Indianapolis Colts
- 1986 – Leslie O’Neal, DE, San Diego Chargers
- 1987 – Shane Conlan, LB, Buffalo Bills
- 1988 – Erik McMillan, S, New York Jets
- 1989 – Derrick Thomas, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
- 1990 – Mark Carrier, S, Chicago Bears
- 1991 – Mike Croel, LB, Denver Broncos
- 1992 – Dale Carter, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
- 1993 – Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers
- 1994 – Tim Bowens, DT, Miami Dolphins
- 1995 – Hugh Douglas, DE, New York Jets
- 1996 – Simeon Rice, DE, Arizona Cardinals
- 1997 – Peter Boulware, LB, Baltimore Ravens
- 1998 – Charles Woodson, CB, Oakland Raiders
- 1999 – Jevon Kearse, DE, Tennessee Titans
- 2000 – Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears
- 2001 – Kendrell Bell, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2002 – Julius Peppers, DE, Carolina Panthers
- 2003 – Terrell Suggs, LB, Baltimore Ravens
- 2004 – Jonathan Vilma, LB, New York Jets
- 2005 – Shawne Merriman, LB, San Diego Chargers
- 2006 – DeMeco Ryans, LB, Houston Texans
- 2007 – Patrick Willis, LB, San Francisco 49ers
- 2008 – Jerod Mayo, LB, New England Patriots
- 2009 – Brian Cushing, LB, Houston Texans
- 2010 – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions
- 2011 – Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos
- 2012 – Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers
- 2013 – Sheldon Richardson, DE, New York Jets
- 2014 – Aaron Donald, DT, St. Louis Rams
- 2015 – Marcus Peters, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
- 2016 – Joey Bosa, DE, San Diego Chargers
- 2017 – Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints
- 2018 – Shaquille Leonard, LB, Indianapolis Colts
- 2019 – Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers
- 2020 – Chase Young, DE, Washington Football Team
- 2021 – Micah Parsons, LB, Dallas Cowboys
- 2022 – Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets
- 2023 – Will Anderson Jr., DE, Houston Texans
- 2024 – Jared Verse, DE, Los Angeles Rams
