NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners
Myles Garrett was the 2025 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Aaron Donald has won it more than anyone, 3 times, out of 55 seasons on record since 1971.
Every NFL Defensive Player of the Year winner by season
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Myles Garrett · Cleveland |
| 2024 | Patrick Surtain II · Denver |
| 2023 | Myles Garrett · Cleveland |
| 2022 | Nick Bosa · San Francisco |
| 2021 | T. J. Watt · Pittsburgh |
| 2020 | Aaron Donald · LA Rams |
| 2019 | Stephon Gilmore · New England |
| 2018 | Aaron Donald · LA Rams |
| 2017 | Aaron Donald · LA Rams |
| 2016 | Khalil Mack · Oakland |
| 2015 | J. J. Watt · Houston |
| 2014 | J. J. Watt · Houston |
| 2013 | Luke Kuechly · Carolina |
| 2012 | J. J. Watt · Houston |
| 2011 | Terrell Suggs · Baltimore |
| 2010 | Troy Polamalu · Pittsburgh |
| 2009 | Charles Woodson · Green Bay |
| 2008 | James Harrison · Pittsburgh |
| 2007 | Bob Sanders · Indianapolis |
| 2006 | Jason Taylor · Miami |
| 2005 | Brian Urlacher · Chicago |
| 2004 | Ed Reed · Baltimore |
| 2003 | Ray Lewis · Baltimore |
| 2002 | Derrick Brooks · Tampa Bay |
| 2001 | Michael Strahan · NY Giants |
| 2000 | Ray Lewis · Baltimore |
| 1999 | Warren Sapp · Tampa Bay |
| 1998 | Reggie White · Green Bay |
| 1997 | Dana Stubblefield · San Francisco |
| 1996 | Bruce Smith · Buffalo |
| 1995 | Bryce Paup · Buffalo |
| 1994 | Deion Sanders · San Francisco |
| 1993 | Rod Woodson · Pittsburgh |
| 1992 | Cortez Kennedy · Seattle |
| 1991 | Pat Swilling · New Orleans |
| 1990 | Bruce Smith · Buffalo |
| 1989 | Keith Millard · Minnesota |
| 1988 | Mike Singletary · Chicago |
| 1987 | Reggie White · Philadelphia |
| 1986 | Lawrence Taylor · NY Giants |
| 1985 | Mike Singletary · Chicago |
| 1984 | Kenny Easley · Seattle |
| 1983 | Doug Betters · Miami |
| 1982 | Lawrence Taylor · NY Giants |
| 1981 | Lawrence Taylor · NY Giants |
| 1980 | Lester Hayes · Oakland |
| 1979 | Lee Roy Selmon · Tampa Bay |
| 1978 | Randy Gradishar · Denver |
| 1977 | Harvey Martin · Dallas |
| 1976 | Jack Lambert · Pittsburgh |
| 1975 | Mel Blount · Pittsburgh |
| 1974 | Joe Greene · Pittsburgh |
| 1973 | Dick Anderson · Miami |
| 1972 | Joe Greene · Pittsburgh |
| 1971 | Alan Page · Minnesota |
Winners from Wikipedia's list of NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners. A name links to the player's page when the player is on file.