NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award
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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. Multiple Winners include Lawrence Taylor who won it 3 times, and Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, and Ray Lewis who all won it twice. Lawrence Taylor is the only player to win it as a rookie (1981).
[edit] NFL Defensive Players Of The Year
- 1971 Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle
- 1972 Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive tackle
- 1973 Dick Anderson, Miami Dolphins Safety
- 1974 Joe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive tackle
- 1975 Mel Blount, Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback
- 1976 Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker
- 1977 Harvey Martin, Dallas Cowboys Defensive end
- 1978 Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos Linebacker
- 1979 Lee Roy Selmon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive end
- 1980 Lester Hayes, Oakland Raiders Cornerback
- 1981 Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants Linebacker
- 1982 Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants Linebacker
- 1983 Doug Betters, Miami Dolphins Defensive end
- 1984 Kenny Easley, Seattle Seahawks Safety
- 1985 Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears Linebacker
- 1986 Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants Linebacker
- 1987 Reggie White, Philadelphia Eagles Defensive end
- 1988 Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears Linebacker
- 1989 Keith Millard, Minnesota Vikings Defensive tackle
- 1990 Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills Defensive end
- 1991 Pat Swilling, New Orleans Saints Linebacker
- 1992 Cortez Kennedy, Seattle Seahawks Defensive tackle
- 1993 Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh Steelers Cornerback
- 1994 Deion Sanders, San Francisco 49ers Cornerback
- 1995 Bryce Paup, Buffalo Bills Linebacker
- 1996 Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills Defensive end
- 1997 Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49ers Defensive tackle
- 1998 Reggie White, Green Bay Packers Defensive end
- 1999 Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive tackle
- 2000 Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens Linebacker
- 2001 Michael Strahan, New York Giants Defensive end
- 2002 Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Linebacker
- 2003 Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens Linebacker
- 2004 Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens Safety
- 2005 Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears, Linebacker
