The NFL is not for the light-hearted. The action-packed, hard-hitting league is all about physicality, especially for a member of the defensive unit. The job of the defense seems simple but it is far from it. However, they know that if they can limit the offense from scoring then their team has a great chance of winning. As it is said many times, defense wins games and therefore having a strong all-round defense is as important as a well-oiled offense.
If we are to consider the various positions on defense then, first and foremost we have the defensive line consisting of the defensive tackles and the defensive ends. After that, there are the middle and outside linebackers and then the secondary which comprises the cornerbacks and the safeties. The best part about the Defensive Player of the Year award in the NFL is that it has been won by players from all positions. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the Offensive Player of the Year award which has been dominated by the quarterbacks and the running backs.
To put things into a clearer picture, a defensive tackle has been awarded the award on ten occasions, whereas a defensive end has won it fourteen times. Linebackers have claimed seventeen DPOY awards while cornerbacks and safeties have won it on six and five occasions respectively. Even though the defensive backs have won fewer times than the other positions, the spread is still more even than what we can see on the offensive side of the ball.
While many organizations are giving out the Defensive Player of the Year award, the one presented by the Associated Press (AP) is the one recognized at the NFL honors ceremony.
List of AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners
| 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
A. Currently, 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.
A. The NFL Defensive Player of the Year award has gone to a cornerback on six occasions.
A. Alan Page, the defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings won the first NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 1971.
A. Myles Garrett, the defensive end for the Cleveland Browns won the award for the 2023 season.
A. The great thing about the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award is that all positions have won it. Linebackers with 17 awards are leading the rest of the pack.
