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NFL Defensive Player of the Year Rankings (All)

26 rankings

A definitive, chronological record and ranking of every Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award winner in history, celebrating defensive titans from Alan Page and Joe Greene to Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, J.J. Watt, Aaron Donald, and Myles Garrett.

World Ranking

▲ Top 5

#1
Lawrence Taylor (1986) – New York Giants
Lawrence Taylor (1986) – New York Giants
Captured his historic third DPOY and NFL MVP honors with 20.5 sacks, leading Big Blue to a 14-2 record and Super Bowl XXI crown.
+101
#2
Aaron Donald (2018) – Los Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald (2018) – Los Angeles Rams
Set the all-time NFL single-season defensive tackle sack record with 20.5 sacks and 25 tackles for loss.
+79
#3
Reggie White (1987) – Philadelphia Eagles
Reggie White (1987) – Philadelphia Eagles
'The Minister of Defense' set an astonishing record with 21.0 sacks in just 12 strike-shortened games, averaging 1.75 sacks per contest.
+63
#4
J.J. Watt (2012) – Houston Texans
J.J. Watt (2012) – Houston Texans
Broke out with 20.5 sacks, 39 tackles for loss, and an astonishing 16 batted passes at the line of scrimmage.
+40
#5
Ray Lewis (2000) – Baltimore Ravens
Ray Lewis (2000) – Baltimore Ravens
Field general of a historic defense that allowed an all-time 16-game low of 165 points, recording 137 tackles and Super Bowl XXXV MVP honors.
+29

▼ Bottom 5

#1
Doug Betters (1983) – Miami Dolphins
Doug Betters (1983) – Miami Dolphins
Anchored Miami's 'Killer B's' defense with 16.0 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries, terrorizing opposing quarterbacks from the strong-side end.
-129
#2
Keith Millard (1989) – Minnesota Vikings
Set an all-time NFL single-season record for defensive tackles with 18.0 sacks while adding a fumble recovery and an interception.
-84
#3
Dick Anderson (1973) – Miami Dolphins
Dick Anderson (1973) – Miami Dolphins
Led the NFL with 8 interceptions (returning 2 for touchdowns) to power the back-to-back world champion Dolphins' 'No-Name Defense'.
-69
#4
Bryce Paup (1995) – Buffalo Bills
Outside pass-rushing menace led the NFL with 17.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles in his first season after arriving from Green Bay.
-59
#5
Dana Stubblefield (1997) – San Francisco 49ers
Dominant interior tackle registered 15.0 sacks and 3 forced fumbles for the NFL's top-ranked total defense.
-29
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26 rankings
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Pro-Football-Reference
AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Winners
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NFL Honors: History and Complete List of DPOY Recipients
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All Items (55)

Lawrence Taylor (1986) – New York Giants+101
Aaron Donald (2018) – Los Angeles Rams+79
Reggie White (1987) – Philadelphia Eagles+63
J.J. Watt (2012) – Houston Texans+40
Ray Lewis (2000) – Baltimore Ravens+29
Lawrence Taylor (1981) – New York Giants+18
T.J. Watt (2021) – Pittsburgh Steelers+14
Jack Lambert (1976) – Pittsburgh Steelers+11
Joe Greene (1972) – Pittsburgh Steelers+10
Mike Singletary (1985) – Chicago Bears+10
Ed Reed (2004) – Baltimore Ravens+4
James Harrison (2008) – Pittsburgh Steelers+4
Joe Greene (1974) – Pittsburgh Steelers+3
Myles Garrett (2025) – Cleveland Browns+2
Rod Woodson (1993) – Pittsburgh Steelers+1
J.J. Watt (2014) – Houston Texans+1
Alan Page (1971) – Minnesota Vikings—
Mel Blount (1975) – Pittsburgh Steelers—
Harvey Martin (1977) – Dallas Cowboys—
Randy Gradishar (1978) – Denver Broncos—
Lee Roy Selmon (1979) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers—
Lester Hayes (1980) – Oakland Raiders—
Lawrence Taylor (1982) – New York Giants—
Kenny Easley (1984) – Seattle Seahawks—
Mike Singletary (1988) – Chicago Bears—
Bruce Smith (1990) – Buffalo Bills—
Cortez Kennedy (1992) – Seattle Seahawks—
Deion Sanders (1994) – San Francisco 49ers—
Bruce Smith (1996) – Buffalo Bills—
Reggie White (1998) – Green Bay Packers—
Warren Sapp (1999) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers—
Michael Strahan (2001) – New York Giants—
Derrick Brooks (2002) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers—
Ray Lewis (2003) – Baltimore Ravens—
Brian Urlacher (2005) – Chicago Bears—
Jason Taylor (2006) – Miami Dolphins—
Charles Woodson (2009) – Green Bay Packers—
Troy Polamalu (2010) – Pittsburgh Steelers—
Luke Kuechly (2013) – Carolina Panthers—
J.J. Watt (2015) – Houston Texans—
Khalil Mack (2016) – Oakland Raiders—
Aaron Donald (2017) – Los Angeles Rams—
Aaron Donald (2020) – Los Angeles Rams—
Nick Bosa (2022) – San Francisco 49ers—
Myles Garrett (2023) – Cleveland Browns—
Patrick Surtain II (2024) – Denver Broncos-1
Stephon Gilmore (2019) – New England Patriots-2
Pat Swilling (1991) – New Orleans Saints-4
Terrell Suggs (2011) – Baltimore Ravens-5
Bob Sanders (2007) – Indianapolis Colts-8
Dana Stubblefield (1997) – San Francisco 49ers-29
Bryce Paup (1995) – Buffalo Bills-59
Dick Anderson (1973) – Miami Dolphins-69
Keith Millard (1989) – Minnesota Vikings-84
Doug Betters (1983) – Miami Dolphins-129
Image credits (45)

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