Defensive Player of the Year

The Defensive Player of the Year is given annually by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player.

"His (Bob Sanders) presence makes us better. He's a game-changer. But his presence gives us a comfort level, knowing he's going to be back there to clean up for us." - Indianapolis Colts Linebacker Gary Brackett (ESPN.com, AP picks Colts' Sanders as top defensive player, 01/07/2008)

Defensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year on Football Almanac
Season	Winner^(Quantity)	Position	Team / Roster^{(Franchise #)}
1971	Alan Page⁽¹⁾	DT	1971 Minnesota Vikings⁽¹⁾
1972	Joe Greene⁽¹⁾	DT	1972 Pittsburgh Steelers⁽¹⁾
1973	Dick Anderson⁽¹⁾	S	1973 Miami Dolphins⁽¹⁾
1974	Joe Greene⁽²⁾	DT	1974 Pittsburgh Steelers⁽²⁾
1975	Mel Blount⁽¹⁾	CB	1975 Pittsburgh Steelers⁽³⁾
1976	Jack Lambert⁽¹⁾	LB	1976 Pittsburgh Steelers⁽⁴⁾
1977	Harvey Martin⁽¹⁾	DE	1977 Dallas Cowboys⁽¹⁾
1978	Randy Gradishar⁽¹⁾	LB	1978 Denver Broncos⁽¹⁾
1979	Lee Roy Selmon⁽¹⁾	DE	1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers⁽¹⁾
1980	Lester Hayes⁽¹⁾	CB	1980 Oakland Raiders⁽¹⁾
1981	Lawrence Taylor⁽¹⁾	LB	1981 New York Giants⁽¹⁾
1982	Lawrence Taylor⁽²⁾	LB	1982 New York Giants⁽²⁾
1983	Doug Betters⁽¹⁾	DE	1983 Miami Dolphins⁽²⁾
1984	Kenny Easley⁽¹⁾	S	1984 Seattle Seahawks⁽¹⁾
1985	Mike Singletary⁽¹⁾	LB	1985 Chicago Bears⁽¹⁾
1986	Lawrence Taylor⁽³⁾	LB	1986 New York Giants⁽³⁾
1987	Reggie White⁽¹⁾	DE	1987 Philadelphia Eagles⁽¹⁾
1988	Mike Singletary⁽²⁾	LB	1988 Chicago Bears⁽²⁾
1989	Keith Millard⁽¹⁾	DT	1989 Minnesota Vikings⁽²⁾
1990	Bruce Smith⁽¹⁾	DE	1990 Buffalo Bills⁽¹⁾
1991	Pat Swilling⁽¹⁾	LB	1991 New Orleans Saints⁽¹⁾
1992	Cortez Kennedy⁽¹⁾	DT	1992 Seattle Seahawks⁽²⁾
1993	Rod Woodson⁽¹⁾	CB	1993 Pittsburgh Steelers⁽⁵⁾
1994	Deion Sanders⁽¹⁾	CB	1994 San Francisco 49ers⁽¹⁾
1995	Bryce Paup⁽¹⁾	LB	1995 Buffalo Bills⁽²⁾
1996	Bruce Smith⁽²⁾	DE	1996 Buffalo Bills⁽³⁾
1997	Dana Stubblefield⁽¹⁾	DT	1997 San Francisco 49ers⁽²⁾
1998	Reggie White⁽²⁾	DE	1998 Green Bay Packers⁽¹⁾
1999	Warren Sapp⁽¹⁾	DT	1999 Tampa Bay Buccaneers⁽²⁾
2000	Ray Lewis⁽¹⁾	LB	2000 Baltimore Ravens⁽¹⁾
2001	Michael Strahan⁽¹⁾	DE	2001 New York Giants⁽⁴⁾
2002	Derrick Brooks⁽¹⁾	LB	2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers⁽³⁾
2003	Ray Lewis⁽²⁾	LB	2003 Baltimore Ravens⁽²⁾
2004	Ed Reed⁽¹⁾	S	2004 Baltimore Ravens⁽³⁾
2005	Brian Urlacher⁽¹⁾	LB	2005 Chicago Bears⁽³⁾
2006	Jason Taylor⁽¹⁾	DE	2006 Miami Dolphins⁽³⁾
2007	Bob Sanders⁽¹⁾	S	2007 Indianapolis Colts⁽¹⁾
2008	James Harrison⁽¹⁾	LB	2008 Pittsburgh Steelers⁽⁶⁾
2009	Charles Woodson⁽¹⁾	CB	2009 Green Bay Packers⁽¹⁾
2010	Not Announced^(01-2011)	--	To Be Determined^(x)
Season	Winner^(Quantity)	Position	Team / Roster^{(Franchise #)}
Defensive Player of the Year on Football Almanac

Trivia time: Lawrence Taylor is the only player in NFL history to win the Defensive Player of the Year three times over the course of his career. Too easy? Lawrence Taylor is also the only rookie (1981) in NFL history to win the Defensive Player of the Year.

Who do you believe was the greatest defensive player in history? How about the most undeserving winner of the Defensive Player of the Year? Share your opinion on Pigskin Fever.

Did you know that the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team to have six former Defensive Player of the Year recipients? Did you know the New York Giants were next with four?

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