1992 — DT Cortez Kennedy, Seattle Seahawks
1993 — DE Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills
1994 — CB Deion Sanders, San Francisco 49ers
1995 — LB Bryce Paup, Buffalo Bills
1996 — DE Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills
1997 — DT Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49ers
1998 — DE Reggie White, Green Bay Packers
1999 — DT Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2000 — LB Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens
2001 — DE Michael Strahan, New York Giants
2002 — LB Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2003 — LB Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens
2004 — S Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens
2005 — LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears
2006 — DE Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins
2007 — S Bob Sanders, Indianapolis Colts
2008 — LB James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers
2009 — CB Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers
2010 — LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
2011 — LB Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens
2012 — DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
2013 — DE Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams
2014 — DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
2015 — DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
2016 — DE Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders
2017 — DE Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars
2018 — DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
2019 — CB Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots
2020 — DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
2021 — LB T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers
2022 — DE Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
2023 — DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
The PFWA’s Defensive Player of the Year award was presented in conjunction with Pro Football Weekly from 1992-2012.