NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award - Definition and Overview

The NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every NFL season since 1971.

NFL Defensive Players Of The Year

• 1971 Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings DT
• 1972 Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers DT
• 1973 Dick Anderson, Miami Dolphins S
• 1974 Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers DT
• 1975 Mel Blount, Pittsburgh Steelers CB
• 1976 Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers LB
• 1977 Harvey Martin, Dallas Cowboys DE
• 1978 Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos LB
• 1979 Lee Roy Selmon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE
• 1980 Lester Hayes, Oakland Raiders CB
• 1981 Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants LB
• 1982 Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants LB
• 1983 Doug Betters, Miami Dolphins DE
• 1984 Kenny Easley, Seattle Seahawks S
• 1985 Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears LB
• 1986 Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants LB
• 1987 Reggie White, Philadelphia Eagles DE
• 1988 Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears LB
• 1989 Keith Millard, Minnesota Vikings DT
• 1990 Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills DE
• 1991 Pat Swilling, New Orleans Saints LB
• 1992 Cortez Kennedy, Seattle Seahawks DT
• 1993 Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh Steelers CB
• 1994 Deion Sanders, San Francisco 49ers CB
• 1995 Bryce Paup, Buffalo Bills LB
• 1996 Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills DE
• 1997 Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49ers DT
• 1998 Reggie White, Green Bay Packers DE
• 1999 Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT
• 2000 Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens LB
• 2001 Michael Strahan, New York Giants DE
• 2002 Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers LB
• 2003 Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens LB
• 2004 Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens