Beginning in 1966 the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) annually awarded the George Halas Trophy to the most outstanding defensive player in the National Football League (NFL).
[1] The winner was released via the NEA news service and also appeared in the World Almanac, which was an NEA publication.
The award ran through 1998.
It was considered one of the major awards and was included in the NFL Record and Fact Book and its winners appeared in the encyclopedia, Total Football II.
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[2] 1970— Dick Butkus, MLB, Chicago Bears[3] 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[4] 1993— Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills 1994— Deion Sanders, CB, San Francisco 49ers 1995— Bryce Paup, OLB, Buffalo Bills 1996— Kevin Greene, LB, Carolina Panthers[5] 1997— Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers[6] 1998— Reggie White, DE, Green Bay Packers[7] Source:[8]