Year |
Player Name |
NFL Team |
Position |
Team Defense Rank |
Team Performance
|
1971 |
Page, AlanAlan Page |
Minnesota Vikings |
Defensive tackle |
2 |
NFC Division champ
|
1972 |
Greene, JoeJoe Greene |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Defensive tackle |
8 |
AFC Championship
|
1973 |
Anderson, DickDick Anderson |
Miami Dolphins |
Safety |
3 |
Won Super Bowl VIII
|
1974 |
Greene, JoeJoe Greene (2) |
Pittsburgh Steelers (2) |
Defensive tackle |
4 |
Won Super Bowl IX
|
1975 |
Blount, MelMel Blount |
Pittsburgh Steelers (3) |
Cornerback |
4 |
Won Super Bowl X
|
1976 |
Lambert, JackJack Lambert |
Pittsburgh Steelers (4) |
Linebacker |
1 |
AFC Championship
|
1977 |
Martin, HarveyHarvey Martin |
Dallas Cowboys |
Defensive end |
1 |
Won Super Bowl XII
|
1978 |
Gradishar, RandyRandy Gradishar |
Denver Broncos |
Linebacker |
6 |
AFC Divisional
|
1979 |
Selmon, Lee RoyLee Roy Selmon |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
Defensive end |
1 |
NFC Championship
|
1980 |
Hayes, LesterLester Hayes |
Oakland Raiders |
Cornerback |
11 |
Won Super Bowl XV
|
1981 |
Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor-R |
New York Giants |
Linebacker |
3 |
NFC Divisional
|
1982 |
Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor (2) |
New York Giants (2) |
Linebacker |
7 |
4–5 no playoffs (strike season)
|
1983 |
Betters, DougDoug Betters |
Miami Dolphins (2) |
Defensive end |
7 |
AFC Divisional
|
1984 |
Easley, KennyKenny Easley |
Seattle Seahawks |
Safety |
6 |
AFC Divisional
|
1985 |
Singletary, MikeMike Singletary |
Chicago Bears |
Linebacker |
1 |
Won Super Bowl XX
|
1986 |
Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor (3) |
New York Giants (3) |
Linebacker |
2 |
Won Super Bowl XXI
|
1987 |
White, ReggieReggie White |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Defensive end |
23 |
7–8 no playoffs (strike season)
|
1988 |
Singletary, MikeMike Singletary (2) |
Chicago Bears (2) |
Linebacker |
2 |
NFC Championship
|
1989 |
Millard, KeithKeith Millard |
Minnesota Vikings (2) |
Defensive tackle |
1 |
NFC Divisional
|
1990 |
Smith, BruceBruce Smith |
Buffalo Bills |
Defensive end |
8 |
Lost Super Bowl XXV
|
1991 |
Swilling, PatPat Swilling |
New Orleans Saints |
Linebacker |
2 |
NFC Wildcard
|
1992 |
Kennedy, CortezCortez Kennedy |
Seattle Seahawks (2) |
Defensive tackle |
10t |
2–14 no playoffs
|
1993 |
Woodson, RodRod Woodson |
Pittsburgh Steelers (5) |
Cornerback |
3 |
AFC Wildcard
|
1994 |
Sanders, DeionDeion Sanders |
San Francisco 49ers |
Cornerback |
8 |
Won Super Bowl XXIX
|
1995 |
Paup, BryceBryce Paup |
Buffalo Bills (2) |
Linebacker |
13 |
AFC Divisional
|
1996 |
Smith, BruceBruce Smith (2) |
Buffalo Bills (3) |
Defensive end |
9 |
AFC Wildcard
|
1997 |
Stubblefield, DanaDana Stubblefield |
San Francisco 49ers (2) |
Defensive tackle |
1 |
NFC Championship
|
1998 |
White, ReggieReggie White (2) |
Green Bay Packers |
Defensive end |
4 |
NFC Wildcard
|
1999 |
Sapp, WarrenWarren Sapp |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2) |
Defensive tackle |
3 |
NFC Championship
|
2000 |
Lewis, RayRay Lewis |
Baltimore Ravens |
Linebacker |
2 |
Won Super Bowl XXXV
|
2001 |
Strahan, MichaelMichael Strahan |
New York Giants (4) |
Defensive end |
14 |
7–9 no playoffs
|
2002 |
Brooks, DerrickDerrick Brooks |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) |
Linebacker |
1 |
Won Super Bowl XXXVII
|
2003 |
Lewis, RayRay Lewis[1] (2) |
Baltimore Ravens (2) |
Linebacker |
3 |
AFC Wildcard
|
2004 |
Reed, EdEd Reed[2] |
Baltimore Ravens (3) |
Safety |
6 |
9–7 no playoffs
|
2005 |
Urlacher, BrianBrian Urlacher[3] |
Chicago Bears (3) |
Linebacker |
2 |
NFC Divisional
|
2006 |
Taylor, JasonJason Taylor[4] |
Miami Dolphins (3) |
Defensive end |
4 |
6–10, no playoffs
|
2007 |
Sanders, BobBob Sanders[5] |
Indianapolis Colts |
Safety |
3 |
AFC Divisional
|
2008 |
Harrison, JamesJames Harrison[6] |
Pittsburgh Steelers (6) |
Linebacker |
1 |
Won Super Bowl XLIII
|
2009 |
Woodson, CharlesCharles Woodson[7] |
Green Bay Packers (2) |
Cornerback |
2 |
NFC Wildcard
|
2010 |
Polamalu, TroyTroy Polamalu
|
Pittsburgh Steelers (7) |
Safety |
2 |
Lost Super Bowl XLV
|
2011 |
Suggs, TerrellTerrell Suggs
|
Baltimore Ravens (4) |
Linebacker |
3 |
AFC Championship
|