American football award given by the Associated Press
TheAP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) is an annual award presented by theAssociated Press (AP) to thedefensive player in theNational Football League (NFL) deemed to have had the most outstanding season. It has been awarded since 1971. The winner is decided by votes from a panel of 50 AP sportswriters. Since 2011, the award has been presented at the annualNFL Honors ceremony the day before theSuper Bowl , along with other AP awards, such as theAP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award ,AP NFL Most Valuable Player award , andAP NFL Rookie of the Year award . The most recent winner is cornerbackPatrick Surtain II of theDenver Broncos .
Lawrence Taylor ,J. J. Watt , andAaron Donald are the only three-time winners of the award.[ 1] Joe Greene ,Ray Lewis ,Mike Singletary ,Bruce Smith , andReggie White have each won it twice. Taylor is the only player to win the award as arookie , doing so in 1981.[ 2] James Harrison became the onlyundrafted free agent to win the award.[ 3] Philadelphia Eagles and again with theGreen Bay Packers in 1998.[ 4] [ 5] [ 5]
As of the end of the 2024 NFL season,linebackers have won the award seventeen times, more than any other position. Adefensive end has won fifteen times, followed by tendefensive tackles , sevencornerbacks , and fivesafeties . Only two winners of the AP Defensive Player of the Year award have also won the AP's Most Valuable Player award for the same season: defensive tackleAlan Page in 1971 for theMinnesota Vikings and linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986 for theNew York Giants .[ 6]
Ray Lewis (No. 52) andTerrell Suggs (No. 55) each won the award playing for theBaltimore Ravens .Multiple-time winners [ edit ] List of multiple-time winners Player Awards Position Team Seasons Lawrence Taylor 3 Linebacker New York Giants 1981 ,1982 ,1986 J. J. Watt 3 Defensive end Houston Texans 2012 ,2014 ,2015 Aaron Donald 3 Defensive tackle Los Angeles Rams 2017 ,2018 ,2020 Joe Greene 2 Defensive tackle Pittsburgh Steelers 1972 ,1974 Mike Singletary 2 Linebacker Chicago Bears 1985 ,1988 Bruce Smith 2 Defensive end Buffalo Bills 1990 ,1996 Reggie White 2 Defensive end Philadelphia Eagles Green Bay Packers 1987 ,1998 Ray Lewis 2 Linebacker Baltimore Ravens 2000 ,2003
General Gellerman, Jacob; Drexler, Sam; Marini, Matt; Cocchiaro, Nicolas; Zerkel, Alex, eds. (2016).2018 Official NFL Record and Fact Book (PDF) . National Football League. pp. 524– 525.Archived (PDF) from the original on March 15, 2021. RetrievedAugust 14, 2018 . "AP Defensive Player of the Year Winners" .Pro-Football-Reference.com . Sports Reference LLC.Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 ."NFL Defensive Player of the Year" .The San Diego Union-Tribune . Associated Press. February 6, 2016.Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. RetrievedJuly 6, 2017 .Footnotes ^ Wesseling, Chris (February 6, 2016)."J.J Watt wins third Defensive Player of Year award" .NFL.com . NFL. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ Lewis, Michael (2007).The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game ISBN 978-0393066227 . RetrievedJuly 6, 2017 . ^ Kremer, Andrea (January 8, 2017)."Ageless Steelers star James Harrison strives to be like his father" .NFL.com .Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. RetrievedOctober 23, 2017 . ^a b Wilner, Barry (January 7, 1999)."White named defensive player of year" .Herald-Journal . Associated Press. p. D1.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^a b c Brinson, Will (January 31, 2015)."J.J. Watt is first-ever unanimous NFL Defensive Player of the Year" .CBS Sports .Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ Corry, Joel (December 30, 2014)."Who deserves the NFL MVP award?" .National Football Post . Archived fromthe original on February 1, 2015. RetrievedJuly 6, 2017 . ^ "Alan Page 'Hurrys' to Defensive Award" .Daytona Beach Morning Journal . Associated Press. January 7, 1972. p. 14.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ Mihoces, Gary (January 5, 1973)."Joe Greene Defensive Player of the Year" .The Evening News . Associated Press. p. 6B.Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ "Buffalo's Simpson, Dolphins' Anderson Named Top Gridders" .Herald-Journal . Associated Press. January 4, 1974. p. B4.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Defensive Honor Goes To 'Mean' Joe Greene" .Sarasota Herald-Tribune . Associated Press. January 8, 1975. p. 1C.Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Pittsburgh's Mel Blount Is Top Player" .Gettysburg Times . Associated Press. January 9, 1976. p. 11.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Lambert defense winner" .The Tuscaloosa News . Associated Press. December 29, 1976. p. 15.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Martin Named As Top Defensive Player" .The Times-News . Associated Press. January 5, 1978. p. 16.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Broncos' Gradishar Wins Award" .Lakeland Ledger . Associated Press. January 12, 1979. p. 1D.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Lee Roy Selmon of Tampa defensive player of year" .The Day . Associated Press. December 21, 1979. p. 34.Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ Lowitt, Bruce (January 8, 1981)."Lester Hayes picks off defensive player award" .Beaver County Times . Associated Press. p. B-1.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ "Taylor 1st rookie to be Defensive Player of Year" .The Evening Independent . Associated Press. January 8, 1982. p. 4-C.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Defensive player honors go to Taylor once more" .The Spokesman-Review . Associated Press. January 8, 1983. p. 15.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Miami's Betters Named Defensive Player Of Year" .Sarasota Herald-Tribune . Associated Press. December 23, 1983. p. 14B.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Seahawks' Easley top defender" .The Sumter Daily Item . Associated Press. December 19, 1984. p. 2C.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Chicago's Singletary gets defensive honor" .The Free Lance-Star . Associated Press. December 31, 1985. p. 9.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Taylor sweeps post-season honors" .The Free Lance-Star . Associated Press. December 31, 1986. p. 14.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "White named top defensive player" .The Hour . Associated Press. December 31, 1987. p. 25.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Top defensive player: Singletary" .Gettysburg Times . Associated Press. December 29, 1988. p. 2B.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Millard defensive player of year" .The Times-News . Associated Press. December 30, 1989. p. 15.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Buffalo's Bruce Smith honored" .Ellensburg Daily Record . Associated Press. January 10, 1991. p. 11.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Saints' Swilling Defensive Player of the Year" .Kingman Daily Miner . Associated Press. December 30, 1991. p. 6.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Seattle tackle named defensive player of year" .The Times-News . Associated Press. January 6, 1993. p. 1B.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Steelers' Woodson top defensive player" .The Southeast Missourian . Associated Press. January 7, 1994. p. 2B.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Sanders are players of the year" .The Tuscaloosa News . Associated Press. December 29, 1994. p. 3C.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Bills' Paup garners defensive player of year award" .The Victoria Advocate . Associated Press. December 29, 1995. p. 3B.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Consolation for Smith: Bills star voted Defensive Player of Year" .Sun Journal . Associated Press. December 30, 1996. p. 1C.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Stubblefield is defensive player of year" .Lodi News-Sentinel . Associated Press. December 26, 1997. p. 17.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "Bucs' Sapp named NFL's top defensive player" .The Southeast Missourian . Associated Press. January 14, 2000. p. 1B. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ Ginsburg, David (January 3, 2001)."Ravens' Lewis named defensive player of the year" .Moscow-Pullman Daily News . Associated Press. p. 1B.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ Wilner, Barry (January 17, 2002)."Sackmaster Strahan wins Defensive Player award" .Kingman Daily Miner . Associated Press. p. 7.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ Wilner, Barry (January 9, 2003)."Bucs' linebacker is NFL Defensive Player of the Year" .The Argus-Press . Associated Press. p. 15.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ "Ravens Lewis' win player of the year awards" .Boca Raton News . Associated Press. January 1, 2004. p. 24.Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "First safety in 20 years to win defensive award" .ESPN.com . Associated Press. January 7, 2005.Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. RetrievedJanuary 5, 2009 .^ "Urlacher named AP Defensive Player of the Year" .ESPN.com . Associated Press. January 6, 2006.Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. RetrievedJanuary 5, 2009 .^ Wilner, Barry (January 5, 2007)."Taylor takes home AP Defensive Player of the Year honor" .USA Today . Associated Press.Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. RetrievedJanuary 5, 2009 . ^ "AP picks Colts' Sanders as top defensive player" .ESPN.com . Associated Press. January 7, 2008.Archived from the original on March 2, 2009. RetrievedJanuary 5, 2009 .^ "Harrison has death grip on defensive award" .ESPN.com . Associated Press. January 5, 2009.Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ "CB Woodson voted AP's top defensive player" .NFL.com . Associated Press. January 12, 2010. Archived fromthe original on March 26, 2010. RetrievedOctober 27, 2010 .^ "Steelers' Polamalu voted AP's NFL Defensive Player of the Year" .NFL.com . National Football League. January 31, 2011.Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ Zrebiec, Jeff (February 4, 2012)."Terrell Suggs selected AP Defensive Player of the Year" .The Baltimore Sun .Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ Rosenthal, Gregg (February 2, 2013)."J.J. Watt near unanimous Defensive Player of the Year" .NFL.com . National Football League.Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ Brinson, Will (February 1, 2014)."Luke Kuechly wins 2013 Defensive Player of the Year" .CBS Sports .Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 . ^ "J.J. Watt wins third Defensive Player of the Year award, calls out doubters" .CBS Sports . February 7, 2016.Archived from the original on September 18, 2016. RetrievedJuly 11, 2016 .^ Reyes, Lorenzo (February 4, 2017)."Raiders' Khalil Mack named NFL defensive player of the year" .USA Today .Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. RetrievedApril 24, 2017 . ^ Shook, Nick (February 3, 2018)."Aaron Donald named NFL Defensive Player of the Year" .NFL.com .Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2018 . ^ Patra, Kevin (February 2, 2019)."Aaron Donald named 2018 Defensive Player of Year" .Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 2, 2019 . ^ Shook, Nick (February 1, 2020)."Stephon Gilmore named 2019 Defensive Player of Year" .NFL.com .Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. RetrievedFebruary 1, 2020 . ^ Patra, Kevin (February 6, 2021)."Rams DT Aaron Donald wins AP Defensive Player of the Year for third time" .NFL.com . RetrievedFebruary 6, 2021 . ^ Patra, Kevin (February 10, 2022)."Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt named 2021 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year" .NFL.com .Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 11, 2022 . ^ Shook, Nick (February 9, 2023)."Niners DE Nick Bosa named AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year" .NFL.com .Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2023 . ^ Shook, Nick (February 8, 2024)."Browns DE Myles Garrett named AP 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year" .NFL.com .Archived from the original on February 9, 2024. RetrievedFebruary 8, 2024 . ^ Edholm, Eric (February 6, 2025)."Broncos CB Pat Surtain II wins 2024 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award" .NFL.com . RetrievedFebruary 6, 2025 .
Ceremonies AP awards Other awards Former awards
_(cropped).jpg)
