Also going defunct was the United Press International (UPI) AFC–NFC Defensive Player of the Year Awards that began in 1975.
The Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) is made up of sportswriters who cover the NFL and the 32 teams on a daily basis.
Beginning in 1966, the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) annually awarded the George S. Halas Trophy to the NFL's outstanding defensive player.
Winners are awarded George S. Halas Trophy 1966— Larry Wilson, S, St. Louis Cardinals 1967— Deacon Jones, DE, Los Angeles Rams 1968— Deacon Jones, DE, Los Angeles Rams 1969— Dick Butkus, MLB, Chicago Bears 1970— Dick Butkus, MLB, Chicago Bears 1971— Carl Eller, DE, Minnesota Vikings 1972— Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers 1973— Alan Page, DT, Minnesota Vikings 1974— Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers 1975— Curley Culp, DT, Houston Oilers 1976— Jerry Sherk, DT, Cleveland Browns 1977— Harvey Martin, DE, Dallas Cowboys 1978— Randy Gradishar, ILB, Denver Broncos 1979— Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1980— Lester Hayes, CB, Oakland Raiders 1981— Joe Klecko, DE, New York Jets 1982— Mark Gastineau, DE, New York Jets 1983— Jack Lambert, MLB, Pittsburgh Steelers 1984— Mike Haynes, CB, Los Angeles Raiders 1985— Howie Long, DE, Los Angeles Raiders/ Andre Tippett, OLB, New England Patriots (tie) 1986— Lawrence Taylor, OLB, New York Giants 1987— Reggie White, DE, Philadelphia Eagles 1988— Mike Singletary, MLB, Chicago Bears 1989— Tim Harris, OLB, Green Bay Packers 1990— Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills 1991— Pat Swilling, OLB, New Orleans Saints 1992— Junior Seau, LB, San Diego Chargers 1993— Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills 1994— Deion Sanders, CB, San Francisco 49ers 1995— Bryce Paup, OLB, Buffalo Bills 1996— Kevin Greene, OLB, Carolina Panthers 1997— Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers 1992 - Junior Seau, MLB, San Diego Chargers[9] 1993 - Deion Sanders, CB, Atlanta Falcons 1994 - Charles Haley, DE, Dallas Cowboys 1995 - Merton Hanks, S, San Francisco 49ers 1996 - Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills 1997 - Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers 1998 - Junior Seau, MLB, San Diego Chargers 1999 - Warren Sapp, DT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2000 - Ray Lewis, MLB, Baltimore Ravens 2001 - Brian Urlacher, MLB, Chicago Bears[10] 2002 - Derrick Brooks, OLB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2003 - Ray Lewis, ILB, Baltimore Ravens 2004 - Ed Reed, S, Baltimore Ravens 2008 - Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee Titans 2009 - Charles Woodson, CB, Green Bay Packers 2010 - Clay Matthews, LB, Green Bay Packers 2011 - Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings 2012 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans 2013 - Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers 2014 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans 2015 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans 2016 - Khalil Mack, DE, Oakland Raiders 2017 - Calais Campbell, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars 2018 - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams 2019 - Stephon Gilmore, CB, New England Patriots 2020 - Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams 2021 - T. J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 - Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers 2023 - Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns 2024 - Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns Sports Illustrated's Defensive Player of the Year Awards spanned from 2008 to 2014 [11] 2008 - DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys 2009 - Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets 2010 - Julius Peppers, DE, Chicago Bears 2011 - Justin Smith, DE, San Francisco 49ers 2012 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans 2013 - Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis Rams 2014 - J. J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans Pro Football Focus began giving individual awards in 2011 and have continued since.
[13] NFC Defensive Player of the Year 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 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