1992 — CB/PR Dale Carter, Kansas City Chiefs
1993 — DT Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49ers
1994 — DT Tim Bowens, Miami Dolphins
1995 — DE Hugh Douglas, New York Jets
1996 — DE Simeon Rice, Arizona Cardinals
1997 — LB Peter Boulware, Baltimore Ravens
1998 — CB Charles Woodson, Oakland Raiders
1999 — DE Jevon Kearse, Tennessee Titans
2000 — LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears
2001 — LB Kendrell Bell, Pittsburgh Steelers
2002 — DE Julius Peppers, Carolina Panthers
2003 — LB Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens
2004 — CB Dunta Robinson, Houston Texans
2005 — LB Shawne Merriman, San Diego Chargers
2006 — LB DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
2007 — LB Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers
2008 — LB Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots
2009 — LB Brian Cushing, Houston Texans
2010 — DT Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
2011 — OLB Aldon Smith, San Francisco 49ers
2012 — LB Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers
2013 — LB Kiko Alonso, Buffalo Bills
2014 — DT Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams
2015 — CB Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs
2016 — DE Joey Bosa, San Diego Chargers
2017 — CB Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints
2018 — LB Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
2019 — DE Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers
2020 — DE Chase Young, Washington Football Team
2021 — LB Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys
2022 — CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, New York Jets
2023 — DE Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans
The PFWA’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award was presented in conjunction with Pro Football Weekly from 1992-2012.