NFL Defensive Players of The Year
| Year | Player Name | NFL Team | Position | Team Defense Rank | Team Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Page, AlanAlan Page | Minnesota Vikings | Defensive tackle | 2 | NFC Division champ |
| 1972 | Greene, JoeJoe Greene | Pittsburgh Steelers | Defensive tackle | 8 | AFC Championship |
| 1973 | Anderson, DickDick Anderson | Miami Dolphins | Safety | 3 | Won Super Bowl VIII |
| 1974 | Greene, JoeJoe Greene (2) | Pittsburgh Steelers (2) | Defensive tackle | 4 | Won Super Bowl IX |
| 1975 | Blount, MelMel Blount | Pittsburgh Steelers (3) | Cornerback | 4 | Won Super Bowl X |
| 1976 | Lambert, JackJack Lambert | Pittsburgh Steelers (4) | Linebacker | 1 | AFC Championship |
| 1977 | Martin, HarveyHarvey Martin | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive end | 1 | Won Super Bowl XII |
| 1978 | Gradishar, RandyRandy Gradishar | Denver Broncos | Linebacker | 6 | AFC Divisional |
| 1979 | Selmon, Lee RoyLee Roy Selmon | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Defensive end | 1 | NFC Championship |
| 1980 | Hayes, LesterLester Hayes | Oakland Raiders | Cornerback | 11 | Won Super Bowl XV |
| 1981 | Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor-R | New York Giants | Linebacker | 3 | NFC Divisional |
| 1982 | Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor (2) | New York Giants (2) | Linebacker | 7 | 4–5 no playoffs (strike season) |
| 1983 | Betters, DougDoug Betters | Miami Dolphins (2) | Defensive end | 7 | AFC Divisional |
| 1984 | Easley, KennyKenny Easley | Seattle Seahawks | Safety | 6 | AFC Divisional |
| 1985 | Singletary, MikeMike Singletary | Chicago Bears | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XX |
| 1986 | Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor (3) | New York Giants (3) | Linebacker | 2 | Won Super Bowl XXI |
| 1987 | White, ReggieReggie White | Philadelphia Eagles | Defensive end | 23 | 7–8 no playoffs (strike season) |
| 1988 | Singletary, MikeMike Singletary (2) | Chicago Bears (2) | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Championship |
| 1989 | Millard, KeithKeith Millard | Minnesota Vikings (2) | Defensive tackle | 1 | NFC Divisional |
| 1990 | Smith, BruceBruce Smith | Buffalo Bills | Defensive end | 8 | Lost Super Bowl XXV |
| 1991 | Swilling, PatPat Swilling | New Orleans Saints | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Wildcard |
| 1992 | Kennedy, CortezCortez Kennedy | Seattle Seahawks (2) | Defensive tackle | 10t | 2–14 no playoffs |
| 1993 | Woodson, RodRod Woodson | Pittsburgh Steelers (5) | Cornerback | 3 | AFC Wildcard |
| 1994 | Sanders, DeionDeion Sanders | San Francisco 49ers | Cornerback | 8 | Won Super Bowl XXIX |
| 1995 | Paup, BryceBryce Paup | Buffalo Bills (2) | Linebacker | 13 | AFC Divisional |
| 1996 | Smith, BruceBruce Smith (2) | Buffalo Bills (3) | Defensive end | 9 | AFC Wildcard |
| 1997 | Stubblefield, DanaDana Stubblefield | San Francisco 49ers (2) | Defensive tackle | 1 | NFC Championship |
| 1998 | White, ReggieReggie White (2) | Green Bay Packers | Defensive end | 4 | NFC Wildcard |
| 1999 | Sapp, WarrenWarren Sapp | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2) | Defensive tackle | 3 | NFC Championship |
| 2000 | Lewis, RayRay Lewis | Baltimore Ravens | Linebacker | 2 | Won Super Bowl XXXV |
| 2001 | Strahan, MichaelMichael Strahan | New York Giants (4) | Defensive end | 14 | 7–9 no playoffs |
| 2002 | Brooks, DerrickDerrick Brooks | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XXXVII |
| 2003 | Lewis, RayRay Lewis (2) | Baltimore Ravens (2) | Linebacker | 3 | AFC Wildcard |
| 2004 | Reed, EdEd Reed | Baltimore Ravens (3) | Safety | 6 | 9–7 no playoffs |
| 2005 | Urlacher, BrianBrian Urlacher | Chicago Bears (3) | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Divisional |
| 2006 | Taylor, JasonJason Taylor | Miami Dolphins (3) | Defensive end | 4 | 6–10, no playoffs |
| 2007 | Sanders, BobBob Sanders | Indianapolis Colts | Safety | 3 | AFC Divisional |
| 2008 | Harrison, JamesJames Harrison | Pittsburgh Steelers (6) | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XLIII |
| 2009 | Woodson, CharlesCharles Woodson | Green Bay Packers(2) | Cornerback | 2 | NFC Wildcard |
| 2010 | Polamalu, TroyTroy Polamalu | Pittsburgh Steelers (7) | Safety | 2 | Lost Super Bowl XLV |
| 2011 | Suggs, TerrellTerrell Suggs | Baltimore Ravens (4) | Linebacker | 3 | AFC Championship |
Read more about this topic: National Football League Defensive Player Of The Year Award
Famous quotes containing the words defensive, players and/or year:
“Hats divide generally into three classes: offensive hats, defensive hats, and shrapnel.”
—Katharine Whitehorn (b. 1926)
“The players have often mentioned it as an honour to Shakespeare, that in his writing, whatsoever he penned, he never blotted out [a] line. My answer hath been, “Would he had blotted a thousand.””
—Ben Jonson (c. 1572–1637)
“In another year I’ll have enough money saved. Then I’m gonna go back to my hometown in Oregon and I’m gonna build a house for my mother and myself. And join the country club and take up golf. And I’ll meet the proper man with the proper position. And I’ll make a proper wife who can run a proper home and raise proper children. And I’ll be happy, because when you’re proper, you’re safe.”
—Daniel Taradash (b. 1913)