Award seasons, curated
Greatest NFL Defensive Player of the Year seasons.
The defenders whose production changed game plans for an entire league.
Official award history ↗#1
Player season →1986 · New York Giants
Lawrence Taylor
20.5 sacks · NFL MVP · Super Bowl title
The definitive defensive season: Taylor also won league MVP, a rarity no modern defender has matched.
#2
Player season →2012 · Houston Texans
J.J. Watt
20.5 sacks · 39 TFL · 16 passes defended
Watt's disruptive total is one of the most complete defensive statistical lines ever.
#3
Player season →2018 · Los Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald
20.5 sacks · 25 TFL
A defensive tackle produced edge-rusher numbers and reached the Super Bowl.
#4
Player season →2000 · Baltimore Ravens
Ray Lewis
137 tackles · 3 INT · Super Bowl title
The center of one of football's all-time great defenses captained Baltimore to a title.
#5
Player season →2009 · Green Bay Packers
Charles Woodson
9 INT · 3 defensive TD · 4 forced fumbles
Woodson created turnovers at an extraordinary rate from the secondary.
#6
Player season →2021 · Pittsburgh Steelers
T.J. Watt
22.5 sacks · 21 TFL
Watt tied the official single-season sack record.
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