AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
NFL Defensive Players of the Year
Columns: Year | Player Name | NFL Team | Position | Team Defense Rank | Team Performance
1971 | Alan Page Category:Articles with hCards | Minnesota Vikings | Defensive tackle | 2 | NFC Division champ | 1972 | Joe Greene Category:Articles with hCards | Pittsburgh Steelers | Defensive tackle | 8 | AFC Championship | 1973 | Dick Anderson Category:Articles with hCards | Miami Dolphins | Safety | 3 | Won Super Bowl VIII | 1974 | Joe Greene Category:Articles with hCards (2) | Pittsburgh Steelers (2) | Defensive tackle | 4 | Won Super Bowl IX | 1975 | Mel Blount Category:Articles with hCards | Pittsburgh Steelers (3) | Cornerback | 4 | Won Super Bowl X | 1976 | Jack Lambert Category:Articles with hCards | Pittsburgh Steelers (4) | Linebacker | 1 | AFC Championship | 1977 | Harvey Martin Category:Articles with hCards | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive end | 1 | Won Super Bowl XII | 1978 | Randy Gradishar Category:Articles with hCards | Denver Broncos | Linebacker | 6 | AFC Divisional | 1979 | Lee Roy Selmon Category:Articles with hCards | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Defensive end | 1 | NFC Championship | 1980 | Lester Hayes Category:Articles with hCards | Oakland Raiders | Cornerback | 11 | Won Super Bowl XV | 1981 | Lawrence Taylor Category:Articles with hCards -R | New York Giants | Linebacker | 3 | NFC Divisional | 1982 | Lawrence Taylor Category:Articles with hCards (2) | New York Giants (2) | Linebacker | 7 | 4–5 no playoffs (strike season) | 1983 | Doug Betters Category:Articles with hCards | Miami Dolphins (2) | Defensive end | 7 | AFC Divisional | 1984 | Kenny Easley Category:Articles with hCards | Seattle Seahawks | Safety | 6 | AFC Divisional | 1985 | Mike Singletary Category:Articles with hCards | Chicago Bears | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XX | 1986 | Lawrence Taylor Category:Articles with hCards (3) | New York Giants (3) | Linebacker | 2 | Won Super Bowl XXI | 1987 | Reggie White Category:Articles with hCards | Philadelphia Eagles | Defensive end | 23 | 7–8 no playoffs (strike season) | 1988 | Mike Singletary Category:Articles with hCards (2) | Chicago Bears (2) | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Championship | 1989 | Keith Millard Category:Articles with hCards | Minnesota Vikings (2) | Defensive tackle | 1 | NFC Divisional | 1990 | Bruce Smith Category:Articles with hCards | Buffalo Bills | Defensive end | 8 | Lost Super Bowl XXV | 1991 | Pat Swilling Category:Articles with hCards | New Orleans Saints | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Wildcard | 1992 | Cortez Kennedy Category:Articles with hCards | Seattle Seahawks (2) | Defensive tackle | 10 | 2–14 no playoffs | 1993 | Rod Woodson Category:Articles with hCards | Pittsburgh Steelers (5) | Cornerback | 3 | AFC Wildcard | 1994 | Deion Sanders Category:Articles with hCards | San Francisco 49ers | Cornerback | 8 | Won Super Bowl XXIX | 1995 | Bryce Paup Category:Articles with hCards | Buffalo Bills (2) | Linebacker | 13 | AFC Divisional | 1996 | Bruce Smith Category:Articles with hCards (2) | Buffalo Bills (3) | Defensive end | 9 | AFC Wildcard | 1997 | Dana Stubblefield Category:Articles with hCards | San Francisco 49ers (2) | Defensive tackle | 1 | NFC Championship | 1998 | Reggie White Category:Articles with hCards (2) | Green Bay Packers | Defensive end | 4 | NFC Wildcard | 1999 | Warren Sapp Category:Articles with hCards | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2) | Defensive tackle | 3 | NFC Championship | 2000 | Ray Lewis Category:Articles with hCards | Baltimore Ravens | Linebacker | 2 | Won Super Bowl XXXV | 2001 | Michael Strahan Category:Articles with hCards | New York Giants (4) | Defensive end | 14 | 7–9 no playoffs | 2002 | Derrick Brooks Category:Articles with hCards | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XXXVII | 2003 | Ray Lewis Category:Articles with hCards (2) | Baltimore Ravens (2) | Linebacker | 3 | AFC Wildcard | 2004 | Ed Reed Category:Articles with hCards | Baltimore Ravens (3) | Safety | 6 | 9–7 no playoffs | 2005 | Brian Urlacher Category:Articles with hCards | Chicago Bears (3) | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Divisional | 2006 | Jason Taylor Category:Articles with hCards | Miami Dolphins (3) | Defensive end | 4 | 6–10, no playoffs | 2007 | Bob Sanders Category:Articles with hCards | Indianapolis Colts | Safety | 3 | AFC Divisional | 2008 | James Harrison Category:Articles with hCards | Pittsburgh Steelers (6) | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XLIII | 2010 | Troy Polamalu Category:Articles with hCards | Pittsburgh Steelers (7) | Safety | 2 | Lost Super Bowl XLV | 2011 | Terrell Suggs Category:Articles with hCards | Baltimore Ravens (4) | Linebacker | 3 | AFC Championship