The NFL 101 Awards were founded in 1969 by Lamar Hunt and Jack Wheeler[1] to recognize the top players and coaches in professional American football.
[2] Winners are selected by a national voter based consisting of 101 sportswriters and sportscasters who cover the NFL.
The awards are unique in that they honor achievement in each conference separately, rather than the NFL as a whole.
From 1969 to 2023, the awards were presented at an annual event held in Kansas City, Missouri.
NFC Defensive Player of the Year[4] 1969— Carl Eller, Minnesota Vikings 1970— Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings 1971— Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings 1972— Chris Hanburger, Washington Redskins 1973— Lee Roy Jordan, Dallas Cowboys 1974— Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings 1975— Jack Youngblood, Los Angeles Rams 1976— Jack Youngblood, Los Angeles Rams 1977— Harvey Martin, Dallas Cowboys 1978— Randy White, Dallas Cowboys 1979— Lee Roy Selmon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1980— Nolan Cromwell, Los Angeles Rams 1981— Fred Dean, San Francisco 49ers 1982— No award due to players strike 1983— Dave Butz, Washington Redskins 1984— Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants 1985— Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears 1986 —Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants 1987— Reggie White, Philadelphia Eagles 1988— Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears 1989— Keith Millard, Minnesota Vikings 1990— Charles Haley, San Francisco 49ers 1991— Pat Swilling, New Orleans Saints 1992— Wilber Marshall, Washington Redskins 1993— Deion Sanders, Atlanta Falcons 1994— Deion Sanders, San Francisco 49ers 1995— Reggie White, Green Bay Packers 1996— Kevin Greene, Carolina Panthers 1997— Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49ers 1998— Reggie White, Green Bay Packers 1999— Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2000— La'Roi Glover, New Orleans Saints 2001— Michael Strahan, New York Giants 2002— Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2003— Michael Strahan, New York Giants 2004— Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers 2005— Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears 2006— Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears 2007— Patrick Kerney, Seattle Seahawks 2008— DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys 2009— Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers 2010— Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers 2011— Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings 2012— Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers 2013— Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers 2014— Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks 2015— Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams 2016— Landon Collins, New York Giants 2017— Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams 2018— Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams 2019— Chandler Jones, Arizona Cardinals 2020— Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams 2021— Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys 2022— Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers 2023— Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys 2024— Kerby Joseph, Detroit Lions AFC Defensive Player of the Year[5] 1969— Bobby Bell, Kansas City Chiefs 1970— Mike Curtis, Baltimore Colts 1971— Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs 1972— Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers 1973— Dick Anderson, Miami Dolphins 1974— Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers 1975— Mel Blount, Pittsburgh Steelers 1976— Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers 1977— Lyle Alzado, Denver Broncos 1978— Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos 1979— Mike Reinfeldt, Houston Oilers 1980— Lester Hayes, Oakland Raiders 1981— Joe Klecko, New York Jets 1982— No award due to players strike 1983— Doug Betters, Miami Dolphins 1984— Kenny Easley, Seattle Seahawks 1985— Andre Tippett, New England Patriots 1986— Deron Cherry, Kansas City Chiefs 1987— Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills 1988— Cornelius Bennett, Buffalo Bills 1989— Michael Dean Perry, Cleveland Browns 1990— Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills 1991— Derrick Thomas, Kansas City Chiefs 1992— Cortez Kennedy, Seattle Seahawks 1993— Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh Steelers 1994— Greg Lloyd, Pittsburgh Steelers 1995— Bryce Paup, Buffalo Bills 1996— Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills 1997— Carnell Lake, Pittsburgh Steelers 1998— Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers 1999— Jevon Kearse, Tennessee Titans 2000— Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens 2001— Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens 2002— Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins 2003— Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens 2004— Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens 2005— Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts 2006— Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins 2007— Bob Sanders, Indianapolis Colts 2008— James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers 2009— Darrelle Revis, New York Jets 2010— Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers 2011— Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens 2012— J. J. Watt, Houston Texans 2013— Robert Mathis, Indianapolis Colts 2014— J. J. Watt, Houston Texans 2015— J. J. Watt, Houston Texans 2016— Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders 2017— Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars 2018— J. J. Watt, Houston Texans 2019— Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots 2020— T. J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers 2021— T. J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers 2022— Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs 2023— T. J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers 2024— Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos NFC Coach of the Year[6] 1969— Bud Grant, Minnesota Vikings 1970— Dick Nolan, San Francisco 49ers 1971— George Allen, Washington Redskins 1972— Dan Devine, Green Bay Packers 1973— Chuck Knox, Los Angeles Rams 1974— Don Coryell, St. Louis Cardinals 1975— Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboys 1976— George Allen, Washington Redskins 1977— Leeman Bennett, Atlanta Falcons 1978— Dick Vermeil, Philadelphia Eagles 1979— Dick Vermeil, Philadelphia Eagles 1980— Leeman Bennett, Atlanta Falcons 1981— Bill Walsh, San Francisco 49ers 1982— No award due to players strike 1983— Joe Gibbs, Washington Redskins 1984— Bill Walsh, San Francisco 49ers 1985— Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears 1986— Bill Parcells, New York Giants 1987— Jim Mora, New Orleans Saints 1988— Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears 1989— Lindy Infante, Green Bay Packers 1990— George Seifert, San Francisco 49ers 1991— Wayne Fontes, Detroit Lions 1992— Mike Holmgren, Green Bay Packers 1993— Dan Reeves, New York Giants 1994— Dave Wannstedt, Chicago Bears 1995— Ray Rhodes, Philadelphia Eagles 1996— Dom Capers, Carolina Panthers 1997— Jim Fassel, New York Giants 1998— Dan Reeves, Atlanta Falcons 1999— Dick Vermeil, St. Louis Rams 2000— Jim Haslett, New Orleans Saints 2001— Dick Jauron, Chicago Bears 2002— Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles 2003— Bill Parcells, Dallas Cowboys 2004— Jim Mora, Jr., Atlanta Falcons 2005— Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears 2006— Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints 2007— Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers 2008— Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons 2009— Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints 2010— Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons 2011— Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers 2012— Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks 2013— Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers 2014— Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals 2015— Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers 2016— Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys 2017— Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams 2018— Matt Nagy, Chicago Bears 2019— Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers 2020— Ron Rivera, Washington Football Team 2021— Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers 2022— Brian Daboll, New York Giants 2023— Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions 2024— Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings AFC Coach of the Year[7] 1969— Hank Stram, Kansas City Chiefs 1970— Paul Brown, Cincinnati Bengals 1971— Don Shula, Miami Dolphins 1972— Don Shula, Miami Dolphins 1973— John Ralston, Denver Broncos 1974— Sid Gillman, Houston Oilers 1975— Ted Marchibroda, Baltimore Colts 1976— Chuck Fairbanks, New England Patriots 1977— Red Miller, Denver Broncos 1978— Jack Patera, Seattle Seahawks 1979— Don Coryell, San Diego Chargers 1980— Chuck Knox, Buffalo Bills 1981— Forrest Gregg, Cincinnati Bengals 1982— No award due to players strike 1983— Chuck Knox, Seattle Seahawks 1984— Dan Reeves, Denver Broncos 1985— Raymond Berry, New England Patriots 1986— Marty Schottenheimer, Cleveland Browns 1987— Ron Meyer, Indianapolis Colts 1988— Marv Levy, Buffalo Bills 1989— Dan Reeves, Denver Broncos 1990— Art Shell, Los Angeles Raiders 1991— Dan Reeves, Denver Broncos 1992— Bobby Ross, San Diego Chargers 1993— Jack Pardee, Houston Oilers 1994— Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers 1995— Marty Schottenheimer, Kansas City Chiefs 1996— Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos 1997— Marty Schottenheimer, Kansas City Chiefs 1998— Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos 1999— Jim Mora, Indianapolis Colts 2000— Jon Gruden, Oakland Raiders 2001— Bill Belichick, New England Patriots 2002— Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans 2003— Bill Belichick, New England Patriots 2004— Marty Schottenheimer San Diego Chargers 2005— Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts 2006— Eric Mangini, New York Jets 2007— Bill Belichick, New England Patriots 2008— Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins 2009— Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals 2010— Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs 2011— Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans 2012— Chuck Pagano and Bruce Arians, co-winners, Indianapolis Colts 2013— Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs 2014— Bill Belichick, New England Patriots 2015— Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs 2016— Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders 2017— Doug Marrone, Jacksonville Jaguars 2018— Frank Reich, Indianapolis Colts 2019— John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens 2020— Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns 2021— Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans 2022— Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars 2023— DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans 2024— Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs