PFWA NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award

The Pro Football Writers of America has annually honored a defensive player of the year in the National Football League since 1992. From 1992 through 2012, the award was presented in conjunction with Pro Football Weekly.[1]

Season Player Team Position Ref
1992 Cortez Kennedy Seattle Seahawks Defensive tackle [2]
1993 Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end
1994 Deion Sanders San Francisco 49ers Cornerback
1995 Bryce Paup Buffalo Bills Outside linebacker
1996 Bruce Smith Buffalo Bills Defensive end
1997 Dana Stubblefield San Francisco 49ers Defensive tackle
1998 Reggie White Green Bay Packers Defensive end
1999 Warren Sapp Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive tackle
2000 Ray Lewis Baltimore Ravens Middle linebacker
2001 Michael Strahan New York Giants Defensive end
2002 Derrick Brooks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Outside linebacker
2003 Ray Lewis Baltimore Ravens Middle linebacker
2004 Ed Reed Baltimore Ravens Safety
2005 Brian Urlacher Chicago Bears Middle linebacker
2006 Jason Taylor Miami Dolphins Defensive end
2007 Bob Sanders Indianapolis Colts Safety
2008 James Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers Outside linebacker
2009 Charles Woodson Green Bay Packers Cornerback
2010 Clay Matthews III Green Bay Packers Outside linebacker
2011 Terrell Suggs Baltimore Ravens Outside linebacker
2012 J. J. Watt Houston Texans Defensive end
2013 Robert Quinn St. Louis Rams Defensive end
2014 J. J. Watt Houston Texans Defensive end
2015 J. J. Watt Houston Texans Defensive end
2016 Khalil Mack Oakland Raiders Defensive end
2017 Calais Campbell Jacksonville Jaguars Defensive end
2018 Aaron Donald Los Angeles Rams Defensive tackle
2019 Stephon Gilmore New England Patriots Cornerback
2020 Aaron Donald Los Angeles Rams Defensive tackle
2021 T. J. Watt Pittsburgh Steelers Outside linebacker
2022 Nick Bosa San Francisco 49ers Defensive end
2023 Myles Garrett Cleveland Browns Defensive end
  1. ^ "Pro Football Writers of America History (1964-2020)" (PDF). Pro Football Writers of America. September 1, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Offensive Player of the Year | PFWA". Retrieved 2024-01-24.