Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award - wikipedia Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award Given for Defensive player of the year in the National Football League Presented by Associated Press History First award 1971 Most wins Lawrence Taylor & J.J. Watt ( 3 ) Most recent Aaron Donald The Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press ( AP ) to the league 's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every National Football League ( NFL ) season. It has been awarded since 1971. The winner is decided by votes from a panel of fifty AP sportswriters who regularly cover the NFL. Since 2011, the award has been presented at the annual NFL Honors ceremony the day before the Super Bowl, along with other AP awards, such as the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award and AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award. Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt are the only three - time winners of the award. Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, and Ray Lewis have each won it twice. Taylor is the only player to win the award as a rookie, doing so in 1981. In 2008, James Harrison became the only undrafted free agent to win the award. White is the only player to win the award with two different teams, winning in 1987 with the Philadelphia Eagles and again with the Green Bay Packers in 1998. Watt is the only player to win the award unanimously, receiving 50 out of 50 first place votes in 2014. He was also a near - unanimous winner in 2012 as he earned 49 out of 50 votes. As of the end of the 2017 NFL season, linebackers have won the award 16 times, more than any other position. A defensive end has won thirteen times, followed by eight defensive tackles, five cornerbacks, and five safeties. 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 tackle Alan Page in 1971 for the Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986 for the New York Giants. Aaron Donald is the incumbent holder of the award after winning it for the 2017 NFL season. Winners Ray Lewis ( No. 52 ) and Terrell Suggs ( No. 55 ) each won the award playing for the Baltimore Ravens. Brian Urlacher won the award in 2005 with the Chicago Bears. Key Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame ( includes electees awaiting induction ) * Denotes player who is still active in the NFL Player ( X ) Denotes the number of times the player has received the award AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winners Season Player Position Team Ref 1971 Alan Page Defensive tackle Minnesota Vikings 1972 Joe Greene Defensive tackle Pittsburgh Steelers 1973 Dick Anderson Safety Miami Dolphins Joe Greene ( 2 ) Defensive tackle Pittsburgh Steelers 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 ( 2 ) Linebacker New York Giants 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 Reggie White Defensive end Philadelphia Eagles Mike Singletary ( 2 ) Linebacker Chicago Bears Keith Millard Defensive tackle Minnesota Vikings Bruce Smith Defensive end Buffalo Bills 1991 Pat Swilling Linebacker New Orleans Saints Cortez Kennedy Defensive tackle Seattle Seahawks Rod Woodson Cornerback Pittsburgh Steelers Deion Sanders Cornerback San Francisco 49ers 1995 Bryce Paup Linebacker Buffalo Bills Bruce Smith ( 2 ) Defensive end Buffalo Bills 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 Michael Strahan Defensive end New York Giants 2002 Derrick Brooks Linebacker Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2003 Ray Lewis ( 2 ) Linebacker Baltimore Ravens 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 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 ( 2 ) 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 See also National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award for an overview of similar awards by other organizations Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award Pro Football Writers Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year Kansas City Committee of 101 AFC and NFC Defensive Players of the Year Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award References 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. Retrieved August 14, 2018. `` AP Defensive Player of the Year Winners ''. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 11, 2016. `` NFL Defensive Player of the Year ''. The San Diego Union - Tribune. Associated Press. February 6, 2016. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Footnotes ^ Jump up to : Rosenthal, Gregg ( February 2, 2013 ). `` J.J. Watt near unanimous Defensive Player of the Year ''. NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Wesseling, Chris ( February 6, 2016 ). `` J.J Watt wins third Defensive Player of Year award ''. NFL.com. NFL. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Lewis, Michael ( 2007 ). The Blind Side : Evolution of a Game. W.W. Norton & Company. p. 17. ISBN 0393066223. Retrieved July 6, 2017. Jump up ^ Kremer, Andrea ( January 8, 2017 ). `` Ageless Steelers star James Harrison strives to be like his father ''. NFL.com. Retrieved October 23, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Wilner, Barry ( January 7, 1999 ). `` White named defensive player of year ''. Herald - Journal. Associated Press. p. D1. Retrieved July 11, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Brinson, Will ( January 31, 2015 ). `` J.J. Watt is first - ever unanimous NFL Defensive Player of the Year ''. CBS Sports. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Corry, Joel ( December 30, 2014 ). `` Who deserves the NFL MVP award ? ''. National Football Post. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved July 6, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Reyes, Lorenzo ( February 4, 2017 ). `` Raiders ' Khalil Mack named NFL defensive player of the year ''. USA Today. Retrieved April 24, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees ''. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Football Encyclopedia of Players ''. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 14, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Alan Page ' Hurrys ' To Defensive Award ''. Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. January 7, 1972. p. 14. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Mihoces, Gary ( January 5, 1973 ). `` Joe Greene Defensive Player of the Year ''. The Evening News. Associated Press. p. 6B. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Buffalo 's Simpson, Dolphins ' Anderson Named Top Gridders ''. Herald - Journal. Associated Press. January 4, 1974. p. B4. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Defensive Honor Goes To ' Mean ' Joe Greene ''. Sarasota Herald - Tribune. Associated Press. January 8, 1975. p. 1C. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Pittsburgh 's Mel Blount Is Top Player ''. Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. January 9, 1976. p. 11. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Lambert defense winner ''. The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 29, 1976. p. 15. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Martin Named As Top Defensive Player ''. The Times - News. Associated Press. January 5, 1978. p. 16. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Broncos ' Gradishar Wins Award ''. Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. January 12, 1979. p. 1D. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Lee Roy Selmon of Tampa defensive player of year ''. The Day. Associated Press. December 21, 1979. p. 34. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Lowitt, Bruce ( January 8, 1981 ). `` Lester Hayes picks off defensive player award ''. Beaver County Times. Associated Press. p. B - 1. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Taylor 1st rookie to be Defensive Player of Year ''. The Evening Independent. Associated Press. January 8, 1982. p. 4 - C. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Defensive player honors go to Taylor once more ''. The Spokesman - Review. Associated Press. January 8, 1983. p. 15. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Miami 's Betters Named Defensive Player Of Year ''. Sarasota Herald - Tribune. Associated Press. December 23, 1983. p. 14B. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Seahawks ' Easley top defender ''. The Sumter Daily Item. Associated Press. December 19, 1984. p. 2C. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Chicago 's Singletary gets defensive honor ''. The Free Lance - Star. Associated Press. December 31, 1985. p. 9. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Taylor sweeps post-season honors ''. The Free Lance - Star. Associated Press. December 31, 1986. p. 14. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` White named top defensive player ''. The Hour. Associated Press. December 31, 1987. p. 25. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Top defensive player : Singletary ''. Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. December 29, 1988. p. 2B. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Millard defensive player of year ''. The Times - News. Associated Press. December 30, 1989. p. 15. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Buffalo 's Bruce Smith honored ''. Ellensburg Daily Record. Associated Press. January 10, 1991. p. 11. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Saints ' Swilling Defensive Player of the Year ''. Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. December 30, 1991. p. 6. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Seattle tackle named defensive player of year ''. The Times - News. Associated Press. January 6, 1993. p. 1B. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Steelers ' Woodson top defensive player ''. The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. January 7, 1994. p. 2B. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Sanders are players of the year ''. The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 29, 1994. p. 3C. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Bills ' Paup garners defensive player of year award ''. The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. December 29, 1995. p. 3B. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Consolation for Smith : Bills star voted Defensive Player of Year ''. Sun Journal. Associated Press. December 30, 1996. p. 1C. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Stubblefield is defensive player of year ''. Lodi News - Sentinel. Associated Press. December 26, 1997. p. 17. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Bucs ' Sapp named NFL 's top defensive player ''. The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. January 14, 2000. p. 1B. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Ginsburg, David ( January 3, 2001 ). `` Ravens ' Lewis named defensive player of the year ''. Moscow - Pullman Daily News. Associated Press. p. 1B. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Wilner, Barry ( January 17, 2002 ). `` Sackmaster Strahan wins Defensive Player award ''. Kingman Daily Miner. Associated Press. p. 7. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Wilner, Barry ( January 9, 2003 ). `` Bucs ' linebacker is NFL Defensive Player of the Year ''. The Argus - Press. Associated Press. p. 15. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Ravens Lewis ' win player of the year awards ''. Boca Raton News. Associated Press. January 1, 2004. p. 24. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` First safety in 20 years to win defensive award ''. ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 7, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Urlacher named AP Defensive Player of the Year ''. ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 6, 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2009. Jump up ^ Wilner, Barry ( January 5, 2007 ). `` Taylor takes home AP Defensive Player of the Year honor ''. USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved January 5, 2009. Jump up ^ `` AP picks Colts ' Sanders as top defensive player ''. ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 7, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Harrison has death grip on defensive award ''. ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 5, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` CB Woodson voted AP 's top defensive player ''. NFL.com. Associated Press. January 12, 2010. Archived from the original on March 26, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Steelers ' Polamalu voted AP 's NFL Defensive Player of the Year ''. NFL.com. National Football League. January 31, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Zrebiec, Jeff ( February 4, 2012 ). `` Terrell Suggs selected AP Defensive Player of the Year ''. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Brinson, Will ( February 1, 2014 ). `` Luke Kuechly wins 2013 Defensive Player of the Year ''. CBS Sports. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ `` J.J. Watt wins third Defensive Player of the Year award, calls out doubters ''. CBS Sports. February 7, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016. Jump up ^ Shook, Nick ( February 3, 2018 ). `` Aaron Donald named NFL Defensive Player of the Year ''. NFL.com. Retrieved February 3, 2018. NFL Honors Ceremonies 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 AP awards presented Most Valuable Player Coach of the Year Assistant Coach of the Year Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Offensive Rookie of the Year Defensive Rookie of the Year Comeback Player of the Year Other awards presented Walter Payton Man of the Year FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Year Play of the Year Pepsi Rookie of the Year NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year Salute to Service Award Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Greatness on the Road Award Deacon Jones Award Art Rooney Award Former awards presented Madden Most Valuable Protectors Award ( 2011 ) GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year ( 2011 -- 14 ) Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award winners 1971 : Page 1972 : Greene 1973 : Anderson 1974 : Greene 1975 : Blount 1976 : Lambert 1977 : Martin 1978 : Gradishar 1979 : Selmon 1980 : Hayes 1981 : Taylor 1982 : Taylor 1983 : Betters 1984 : Easley 1985 : Singletary 1986 : Taylor 1987 : White 1988 : Singletary 1989 : Millard 1990 : Smith 1991 : Swilling 1992 : Kennedy 1993 : R. Woodson 1994 : D. Sanders 1995 : Paup 1996 : Smith 1997 : Stubblefield 1998 : White 1999 : Sapp 2000 : Lewis 2001 : Strahan 2002 : Brooks 2003 : Lewis 2004 : Reed 2005 : Urlacher 2006 : Taylor 2007 : B. Sanders 2008 : Harrison 2009 : C. Woodson 2010 : Polamalu 2011 : Suggs 2012 : Watt 2013 : Kuechly 2014 : Watt 2015 : Watt 2016 : Mack 2017 : Donald Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Associated_Press_NFL_Defensive_Player_of_the_Year_Award&oldid=857035394 '' Categories : National Football League trophies and awards Associated Press awards Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Featured lists Talk About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Italiano Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 29 August 2018, at 04 : 10 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: who has the most defensive player of the year awards nfl
Answer: Lawrence Taylor