The Associated Press has been honoring the Defensive Player of the Year since 1971!
1971 - Alan Page, DT Minnesota
1972 - Joe Greene, DT Pittsburgh
1973 - Dick Anderson, S Miami
1974 - Joe Greene, DT Pittsburgh
1975 - Mel Blount, CB Pittsburgh
1976 - Jack Lambert, LB Pittsburgh
1977 - Harvey Martin, DE Dallas
1978 - Randy Gradishar, LB Denver
1979 - Lee Roy Selmon, DE Tampa Bay
1980 - Lester Hayes, CB Oakland
1981 - Lawrence Taylor, LB NY Giants
1982 - Lawrence Taylor, LB NY Giants
1983 - Doug Betters, DE Miami
1984 - Kenny Easley, S Seattle
1985 - Mike Singletary, LB Chicago
1986 - Lawrence Taylor, LB NY Giants
1987 - Reggie White, DE Philadelphia
1988 - Mike Singletary, LB Chicago
1989 - Keith Millard, DT Minnesota
1990 - Bruce Smith, DE Buffalo
1991 - Pat Swilling, LB New Orleans
1992 - Cortez Kennedy, DT Seattle
1993 - Rod Woodson, CB Pittsburgh
1994 - Deion Sanders, CB San Francisco
1995 - Bryce Paup, LB Buffalo
1996 - Bruce Smith, DE Buffalo
1997 - Dana Stubblefield, DT San Francisco
1998 - Reggie White, DE Green Bay
1999 - Warren Sapp, DT Tampa Bay
2000 - Ray Lewis, LB Baltimore
2001 - Michael Strahan, DE NY Giants
2002 - Derrick Brooks, LB Tampa Bay
2003 - Ray Lewis, LB Baltimore
2004 - Ed Reed, S Baltimore
2005 - Brian Urlacher, LB Chicago
2006 - Jason Taylor, DE Miami
2007 - Bob Sanders, S Indianapolis
2008 - James Harrison, LB Pittsburgh
2009 - Charles Woodson, CB Green Bay
2010 - Troy Polamalu, S Pittsburgh
2011 - Terrell Suggs, LB Baltimore