Past 30 NFL Defensive Players of the Year

Solidifying himself as the best defensive lineman of this generation, Texans defensive end J.J. Watt won his second Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014. Watt recorded 20.5 sacks, forced four fumbles, recovered five fumbles, and even nabbed a safety and a touchdown. If any player on the defensive side of the ball is going to be the first defender to win MVP since Lawrence Taylor, Watt is the man to do it.

In just his second season in the NFL, Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly won NFL DPOY. Kuechly garnered 96 total tackles, two sacks, four interceptions and eight passes defended. With the 2016 playoffs now approaching, Kuechly is the leader of a Panthers defense that has dominated the opposition.

At just 23 years of age, J.J. Watt won his first DPOY for the Texans in 2012. Watt recorded a league-high 20.5 sacks, to go along with 69 tackles and four forced fumbles. With Watt having emerged as one the best players in the NFL, the Texans posted their all-time best regular-season record, finishing 12-4.

One of the most intimidating players the NFL has ever seen, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs won his first and only DPOY award in 2011. Suggs recorded 14 sacks, two interceptions and forced an incredible seven fumbles over the course of 16 games.

Along with having one of the most iconic hairdos in NFL history, former Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was an incredible defender as well. Polamalu won the 2010 DPOY award behind seven interceptions, 11 passes defended and 49 tackles in just 14 games.

Although he will be remembered as an Oakland Raider, defensive back Charles Woodson had his best season as pro with the Green Bay Packers in 2009. Amazingly, Woodson picked off nine passes, scored three touchdowns and defended 18 passes from the safety position. The former Heisman Trophy winner was named DPOY in a landslide vote.

An undrafted free agent out of Kent State, Steelers linebacker James Harrison came out of seemingly nowhere in 2008 to win DPOY. Harrison recorded 16 sacks, forced seven fumbles and had an iconic interception returned for a touchdown in the Steelers' Super Bowl XLIII win.

Although he only played in a grand total of 50 NFL games due to repeated injuries, former Colts safety Bob Sanders did enough in 2007 to be named DPOY. Sanders was a force to be reckoned with defending both the run and the pass, recording 71 tackles and 3.5 sacks from the safety position.

He might be best known now for his time on “Dancing with the Stars,” but former Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor was a monster of a pass rusher during his prime years in the NFL. Taylor won the 2006 DPOY award behind 13.5 sacks, 40 tackles, two interceptions and two defensive touchdowns scored.

One of the greatest linebackers in NFL history, Bears superstar Brian Urlacher won his first and only DPOY award in 2005. The eight-time Pro Bowler won the award after recording 97 tackles, six sacks and five passes defended.

A five-time First-Team All-Pro selection, former Ravens safety Ed Reed had an absolutely absurd year in 2004. He led the NFL with nine interceptions, including a 106-yard INT return for a touchdown, defended 17 passes and recorded 62 tackles. Reed easily won DPOY for his efforts.

Ray Lewis cemented himself as one the greatest individual defensive players in NFL history with his second DPOY award win in 2003. The Ravens linebacker wrapped up 120 tackles, grabbed six interceptions and forced two fumbles. Lewis’s efforts made the Ravens D one of the most terrifying units for opposing quarterbacks to face in NFL history.

A recent Hall of Fame inductee, former Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks won the 2002 DPOY award behind 87 tackles, five interceptions and an amazing four defensive touchdowns scored. All the more impressive, Brooks won the award after making the switch from middle linebacker to outside linebacker.

Michael Strahan was named DPOY in 2001 for one very simple reason: He set the all-time record for sacks in a season. Although there was some controversy regarding his record-breaking sack, if any player is able to record 22.5 sacks in a season, he’s probably deserving of DPOY. For Strahan, this was exactly the case.

Ray Lewis became the NFL’s preeminent linebacker in 2000, winning his first DPOY award. Lewis led the Ravens with 107 tackles, along with five forced turnovers. The 13-time Pro Bowler led the Ravens to a win over the Giants in Superbowl XXV, winning Super Bowl MVP in the process.

Very few defensive tackles have impacted the game of football in the way that former Bucs great Warren Sapp did. In 1999, Sapp recorded an amazing 12.5 sacks rushing the passer from the interior of the line and also forced four turnovers. For his efforts, Sapp was named DPOY.

Over a decade after winning his first DPOY award, Reggie White proved he still had plenty in the tank in 1998. In his final season with the Packers, White recorded 16 sacks and four forced fumbles. It was White's second DPOY.

Although he’s a player who most casual football fans have forgotten about, in 1997, 49ers defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield was the best defensive player in the NFL. Stubblefield recorded 15 sacks and three forced fumbles on the way to winning to his only DPOY award.

One of the most dominating pass rushers in NFL history, it’s hard to believe that former Bills great Bruce Smith only won two Defensive Player of the Year awards. One of those times came in 1996, when Smith garnered 13.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and 69 tackles. It’s just too bad a Hall of Fame player like Smith was never able to win a Super Bowl.

A teammate of Bruce Smith in Buffalo, linebacker Bryce Paup came out of seemingly nowhere in 1995 to win DPOY. He led the NFL with 17.5 sacks and also recorded 70 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. Paup would never duplicate that type of production for the remainder of his career.

“Prime Time” baby! One of the greatest cover corners and all-around exciting players ever to step on to a football field, defensive back/returner Deion Sanders won his one and only DPOY award in 1994. Sanders recorded six interceptions and led the NFL with three defensive touchdowns scored. The 49ers won the Super Bowl that season with the help of Sanders.

An 11-time Pro Bowl selection, former Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson had his finest year as a pro in 1993. Woodson won DPOY of the year behind eight interceptions, one defensive touchdown, two forced fumbles, two sacks and 95 tackles. Simply put, Woodson could do it all on defense.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012, former Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy was named NFL DPOY in 1992. Kennedy was a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen to deal with, as he recorded 92 tackles and 14 sacks that season. Very few NFL players have been able to get into the backfield and disrupt a play the way Kennedy was able to.

In the early 1990s, Saints linebacker/defensive end Pat Swilling was one the best defensive players in the NFL. He won the 1990 DPOY award behind a league-leading 17 sacks, to go along with 60 tackles. Swilling was also a two-time First-Team All-Pro during his career for the Saints.

Bills defensive end Bruce Smith won his first DPOY award in 1990 after he recorded an incredible 19 sacks. Unfortunately for Smith and the Bills organization, the early 1990s would bring much heartache, as the team would go on to make it to four straight Super Bowls but lose all of them.

The Minnesota Vikings of the late 1980s and early 1990s came tantalizingly close to making it to a Super Bowl, and one of the main reasons was defensive lineman Keith Millard. Millard won the 1989 DPOY award after he recorded 18 sacks and scored one defensive touchdown. It was the high point of Millard’s career, as injuries caused him to retire by 1994.

Hall of Fame Bears linebacker Mike Singletary won his second DPOY award in 1988. Singletary was the defensive quarterback of a Bears defense that never gave an inch to opposing players. He was also a seven-time First-Team All-Pro selection over the course of his career.

Playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, the 1987 NFL season belonged to Reggie White. He recorded a then NFL record 21 sacks in just 12 games! For his astonishing efforts, White easily won his first DPOY award.

Perhaps the greatest defensive player in NFL history, the former Giants linebacker had one of the greatest all-around seasons ever in 1986. Not only did Taylor win DPOY, but he was also named NFL MVP. He recorded a then NFL record 20.5 sacks that season, and no defensive player has won MVP since Taylor did so in 1986.

The 1985 Chicago Bears are considered by many to be the greatest football team in NFL history. A huge reason why was linebacker Mike Singletary. Singletary was the leader of a Bears defense that dominated the opposition in a manner in which NFL fans had never seen before. For his efforts as leader of that defense, Singletary was named the NFL’s DPOY in 1985.