NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winners
Carson Schwesinger was the 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The award has been given in 59 seasons since 1967.
Every NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winner by season
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Carson Schwesinger · Cleveland Browns |
| 2024 | Jared Verse · Los Angeles Rams |
| 2023 | Will Anderson Jr. · Houston Texans |
| 2022 | Sauce Gardner · New York Jets |
| 2021 | Micah Parsons · Dallas Cowboys |
| 2020 | Chase Young · Washington Football Team |
| 2019 | Nick Bosa · San Francisco 49ers |
| 2018 | Shaquille Leonard · Indianapolis Colts |
| 2017 | Marshon Lattimore · New Orleans Saints |
| 2016 | Joey Bosa · San Diego Chargers |
| 2015 | Marcus Peters · Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2014 | Aaron Donald · St. Louis Rams |
| 2013 | Sheldon Richardson · New York Jets |
| 2012 | Luke Kuechly · Carolina Panthers |
| 2011 | Von Miller · Denver Broncos |
| 2010 | Ndamukong Suh · Detroit Lions |
| 2009 | Brian Cushing · Houston Texans |
| 2008 | Jerod Mayo · New England Patriots |
| 2007 | Patrick Willis · San Francisco 49ers |
| 2006 | DeMeco Ryans · Houston Texans |
| 2005 | Shawne Merriman · San Diego Chargers |
| 2004 | Jonathan Vilma · New York Jets |
| 2003 | Terrell Suggs · Baltimore Ravens |
| 2002 | Julius Peppers · Carolina Panthers |
| 2001 | Kendrell Bell · Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2000 | Brian Urlacher · Chicago Bears |
| 1999 | Jevon Kearse · Tennessee Titans |
| 1998 | Charles Woodson · Oakland Raiders |
| 1997 | Peter Boulware · Baltimore Ravens |
| 1996 | Simeon Rice · Arizona Cardinals |
| 1995 | Hugh Douglas · New York Jets |
| 1994 | Tim Bowens · Miami Dolphins |
| 1993 | Dana Stubblefield · San Francisco 49ers |
| 1992 | Dale Carter · Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1991 | Mike Croel · Denver Broncos |
| 1990 | Mark Carrier · Chicago Bears |
| 1989 | Derrick Thomas · Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1988 | Erik McMillan · New York Jets |
| 1987 | Shane Conlan · Buffalo Bills |
| 1986 | Leslie O'Neal · San Diego Chargers |
| 1985 | Duane Bickett · Indianapolis Colts |
| 1984 | Bill Maas · Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1983 | Vernon Maxwell · Baltimore Colts |
| 1982 | Chip Banks · Cleveland Browns |
| 1981 | Lawrence Taylor · New York Giants |
| 1980 | Al Richardson · Atlanta FalconsBuddy Curry · Atlanta Falcons |
| 1979 | Jim Haslett · Buffalo Bills |
| 1978 | Al Baker · Detroit Lions |
| 1977 | A. J. Duhe · Miami Dolphins |
| 1976 | Mike Haynes · New England Patriots |
| 1975 | Robert Brazile · Houston Oilers |
| 1974 | Jack Lambert · Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1973 | Wally Chambers · Chicago Bears |
| 1972 | Willie Buchanon · Green Bay Packers |
| 1971 | Isiah Robertson · Los Angeles Rams |
| 1970 | Bruce Taylor · San Francisco 49ers |
| 1969 | Joe Greene · Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1968 | Claude Humphrey · Atlanta Falcons |
| 1967 | Lem Barney · Detroit Lions |
Winners from Wikipedia's list of NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winners. A name links to the player's page when the player is on file.