The NFL Defensive Player of the Year as awarded by The Associated Press and selected by a nationwide media panel:
2011 - Terrell Suggs, Baltimore, LB
2010 - Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh, S
2009 - Charles Woodson, Green Bay, CB
2008 - James Harrison, Pittsburgh, LB
2007 - Bob Sanders, Indianapolis, S
2006 - Jason Taylor, Miami, DE
2005 - Brian Urlacher, Chicago, LB
2004 - Ed Reed, Baltimore, S
2003 - Ray Lewis, Baltimore, LB
2002 - Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay, LB
2001 - Michael Strahan, N.Y. Giants, DE
2000 - Ray Lewis, Baltimore, LB
1999 - Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay, DT
1998 - Reggie White, Green Bay, DE
1997 - Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco, DT
1996 - Bruce Smith, Buffalo, DE
1995 - Bryce Paup, Buffalo, LB
1994 - Deion Sanders, San Francisco, CB
1993 - Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh, CB
1992 - Cortez Kennedy, Seattle, DT
1991 - Pat Swilling, New Orleans, LB
1990 - Bruce Smith, Buffalo, DE
1989 - Keith Millard, Minnesota, DT
1988 - Mike Singletary, Chicago, LB
1987 - Reggie White, Philadelphia, DE
1986 - Lawrence Taylor, N.Y. Giants, LB
1985 - Mike Singletary, Chicago, LB
1984 - Kenny Easley, Seattle, S
1983 - Doug Betters, Miami, DE
1982 - Lawrence Taylor, N.Y. Giants, LB
1981 - Lawrence Taylor, N.Y. Giants, LB
1980 - Lester Hayes, Oakland, CB
1979 - Lee Roy Selmon, Tampa Bay, DE
1978 - Randy Gradishar, Denver, LB
1977 - Harvey Martin, Dallas, DE
1976 - Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh, LB
1975 - Mel Blount, Pittsburgh, CB
1974 - Joe Greene, Pittsburgh, DT
1973 - Dick Anderson, Miami, S