AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
NFL Defensive Players of the Year
Columns: Year | NFL Team | Position | Team Defense Rank | Team Performance
1971 | Minnesota Vikings | Defensive tackle | 2 | NFC Division champ | 1972 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Defensive tackle | 8 | AFC Championship | 1973 | Miami Dolphins | Safety | 3 | Won Super Bowl VIII | 1974 | Pittsburgh Steelers (2) | Defensive tackle | 4 | Won Super Bowl IX | 1975 | Pittsburgh Steelers (3) | Cornerback | 4 | Won Super Bowl X | 1976 | Pittsburgh Steelers (4) | Linebacker | 1 | AFC Championship | 1977 | Dallas Cowboys | Defensive end | 1 | Won Super Bowl XII | 1978 | Denver Broncos | Linebacker | 6 | AFC Divisional | 1979 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Defensive end | 1 | NFC Championship | 1980 | Oakland Raiders | Cornerback | 11 | Won Super Bowl XV | 1981 | New York Giants | Linebacker | 3 | NFC Divisional | 1982 | New York Giants (2) | Linebacker | 7 | 4–5 no playoffs (strike season) | 1983 | Miami Dolphins (2) | Defensive end | 7 | AFC Divisional | 1984 | Seattle Seahawks | Safety | 6 | AFC Divisional | 1985 | Chicago Bears | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XX | 1986 | New York Giants (3) | Linebacker | 2 | Won Super Bowl XXI | 1987 | Philadelphia Eagles | Defensive end | 23 | 7–8 no playoffs (strike season) | 1988 | Chicago Bears (2) | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Championship | 1989 | Minnesota Vikings (2) | Defensive tackle | 1 | NFC Divisional | 1990 | Buffalo Bills | Defensive end | 8 | Lost Super Bowl XXV | 1991 | New Orleans Saints | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Wildcard | 1992 | Seattle Seahawks (2) | Defensive tackle | 10 | 2–14 no playoffs | 1993 | Pittsburgh Steelers (5) | Cornerback | 3 | AFC Wildcard | 1994 | San Francisco 49ers | Cornerback | 8 | Won Super Bowl XXIX | 1995 | Buffalo Bills (2) | Linebacker | 13 | AFC Divisional | 1996 | Buffalo Bills (3) | Defensive end | 9 | AFC Wildcard | 1997 | San Francisco 49ers (2) | Defensive tackle | 1 | NFC Championship | 1998 | Green Bay Packers | Defensive end | 4 | NFC Wildcard | 1999 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2) | Defensive tackle | 3 | NFC Championship | 2000 | Baltimore Ravens | Linebacker | 2 | Won Super Bowl XXXV | 2001 | New York Giants (4) | Defensive end | 14 | 7–9 no playoffs | 2002 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XXXVII | 2003 | Baltimore Ravens (2) | Linebacker | 3 | AFC Wildcard | 2004 | Baltimore Ravens (3) | Safety | 6 | 9–7 no playoffs | 2005 | Chicago Bears (3) | Linebacker | 2 | NFC Divisional | 2006 | Miami Dolphins (3) | Defensive end | 4 | 6–10, no playoffs | 2007 | Indianapolis Colts | Safety | 3 | AFC Divisional | 2008 | Pittsburgh Steelers (6) | Linebacker | 1 | Won Super Bowl XLIII | 2009 | Green Bay Packers(2) | Cornerback | 2 | NFC Wildcard | 2010 | Pittsburgh Steelers (7) | Safety | 2 | Lost Super Bowl XLV | 2011 | Baltimore Ravens (4) | Linebacker | 3 | AFC Championship | 2012 | Houston Texans | Defensive end | 10 | AFC Divisional