As of the end of the 2022 NFL season,
linebackers have won the award seventeen times, more than any other position. A
defensive end has won fourteen times, followed by ten
defensive tackles, six
cornerbacks, and five
safeties. Only two winners of the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award have also won the AP's Most Valuable Player Award for the same season: defensive tackle
Alan Page in 1971 for the
Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986 for the
New York Giants.[6]
Gellerman, Jacob; Drexler, Sam; Marini, Matt; Cocchiaro, Nicolas; Zerkel, Alex, eds. (2016).
2018 Official NFL Record and Fact Book(PDF). National Football League. pp. 524–525.
Archived(PDF) from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
"NFL Defensive Player of the Year". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. February 6, 2016.
Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
^"Lambert defense winner". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 29, 1976. p. 15.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Broncos' Gradishar Wins Award". Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. January 12, 1979. p. 1D.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Seahawks' Easley top defender". The Sumter Daily Item. Associated Press. December 19, 1984. p. 2C.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Taylor sweeps post-season honors". The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press. December 31, 1986. p. 14.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Buffalo's Bruce Smith honored". Ellensburg Daily Record. Associated Press. January 10, 1991. p. 11.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Sanders are players of the year". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 29, 1994. p. 3C.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
As of the end of the 2022 NFL season,
linebackers have won the award seventeen times, more than any other position. A
defensive end has won fourteen times, followed by ten
defensive tackles, six
cornerbacks, and five
safeties. Only two winners of the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award have also won the AP's Most Valuable Player Award for the same season: defensive tackle
Alan Page in 1971 for the
Minnesota Vikings and linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986 for the
New York Giants.[6]
Gellerman, Jacob; Drexler, Sam; Marini, Matt; Cocchiaro, Nicolas; Zerkel, Alex, eds. (2016).
2018 Official NFL Record and Fact Book(PDF). National Football League. pp. 524–525.
Archived(PDF) from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
"NFL Defensive Player of the Year". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. February 6, 2016.
Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
^"Lambert defense winner". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 29, 1976. p. 15.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Broncos' Gradishar Wins Award". Lakeland Ledger. Associated Press. January 12, 1979. p. 1D.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Seahawks' Easley top defender". The Sumter Daily Item. Associated Press. December 19, 1984. p. 2C.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Taylor sweeps post-season honors". The Free Lance-Star. Associated Press. December 31, 1986. p. 14.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Buffalo's Bruce Smith honored". Ellensburg Daily Record. Associated Press. January 10, 1991. p. 11.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
^"Sanders are players of the year". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 29, 1994. p. 3C.
Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2016.