The Defensive Player of the Year Award was established in 1972, and Sporting News have exclusively announced its winners since 2008. Regarding the various positions on defense, the first and foremost is the defensive line, consisting of the defensive tackles and defensive ends. Then, there are the middle and outside linebackers and the secondary, comprising the cornerbacks and safeties positions.
Statistically, a defensive tackle has been awarded the DPOY award 10 times, whereas a defensive end has won it 15 times, as of January 2025. Linebackers have claimed 17 DPOY awards (via Pro Football Network). While many organizations award the Defensive Player of the Year honors, the one presented by the Associated Press (AP) is recognized at the NFL honors ceremony.
List of AP NFL's Defensive Player of the Year winners
As of January 2025, the winners of NFL Defensive Player of the Year are as follows:
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
| 1971 | Alan Page | Defensive tackle | Minnesota Vikings |
| 1972 | Joe Greene | Defensive tackle | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1973 | Dick Anderson | Safety | Miami Dolphins |
| 1974 | Joe Greene (2) | Defensive tackle | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1975 | Mel Blount | Cornerback | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1976 | Jack Lambert | Linebacker | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1977 | Harvey Martin | Defensive end | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1978 | Randy Gradishar | Linebacker | Denver Broncos |
| 1979 | Lee Roy Selmon | Defensive end | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 1980 | Lester Hayes | Cornerback | Oakland Raiders |
| 1981 | Lawrence Taylor | Linebacker | New York Giants |
| 1982 | Lawrence Taylor | Linebacker | New York Giants |
| 1983 | Doug Betters | Defensive end | Miami Dolphins |
| 1984 | Kenny Easley | Safety | Seattle Seahawks |
| 1985 | Mike Singletary | Linebacker | Chicago Bears |
| 1986 | Lawrence Taylor (3) | Linebacker | New York Giants |
| 1987 | Reggie White | Defensive end | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1988 | Mike Singletary (2) | Linebacker | Chicago Bears |
| 1989 | Keith Millard | Defensive tackle | Minnesota Vikings |
| 1990 | Bruce Smith | Defensive end | Buffalo Bills |
| 1991 | Pat Swilling | Linebacker | New Orleans Saints |
| 1992 | Cortez Kennedy | Defensive tackle | Seattle Seahawks |
| 1993 | Rod Woodson | Cornerback | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1994 | Deion Sanders | Cornerback | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1995 | Bryce Paup | Linebacker | Buffalo Bills |
| 1996 | Bruce Smith (2) | Defensive end | Buffalo Bills |
| 1997 | Dana Stubblefield | Defensive tackle | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1998 | Reggie White (2) | Defensive end | Green Bay Packers |
| 1999 | Warren Sapp | Defensive tackle | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 2000 | Ray Lewis | Linebacker | Baltimore Ravens |
| 2001 | Michael Strahan | Defensive end | New York Giants |
| 2002 | Derrick Brooks | Linebacker | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 2003 | Ray Lewis (2) | Linebacker | Baltimore Ravens |
| 2004 | Ed Reed | Safety | Baltimore Ravens |
| 2005 | Brian Urlacher | Linebacker | Chicago Bears |
| 2006 | Jason Taylor | Defensive end | Miami Dolphins |
| 2007 | Bob Sanders | Safety | Indianapolis Colts |
| 2008 | James Harrison | Linebacker | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2009 | Charles Woodson | Cornerback | Green Bay Packers |
| 2010 | Troy Polamalu | Safety | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2011 | Terrell Suggs | Linebacker | Baltimore Ravens |
| 2012 | J. J. Watt | Defensive end | Houston Texans |
| 2013 | Luke Kuechly | Linebacker | Carolina Panthers |
| 2014 | J. J. Watt | Defensive end | Houston Texans |
| 2015 | J. J. Watt (3) | Defensive end | Houston Texans |
| 2016 | Khalil Mack | Defensive end | Oakland Raiders |
| 2017 | Aaron Donald | Defensive tackle | Los Angeles Rams |
| 2018 | Aaron Donald | Defensive tackle | Los Angeles Rams |
| 2019 | Stephon Gilmore | Cornerback | New England Patriots |
| 2020 | Aaron Donald (3) | Defensive tackle | Los Angeles Rams |
| 2021 | T. J. Watt | Linebacker | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2022 | Nick Bosa | Defensive end | San Francisco 49ers |
| 2023 | Myles Garrett | Defensive end | Cleveland Browns |
FAQs on NFL
A. As of January 2025, three players are tied for the most NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. Aaron Donald, Lawrence Taylor, and J.J. Watt each have won the award a record three times (via Statmuse).
A. Joe Flacco won the Comeback Player of the Year in the 2023 season.
A. The first NFL Defensive Player of the Year award was given in 1971.
A. Myles Garrett, the defensive end for the Cleveland Browns won the award for the 2023 season.
