Newspaper Enterprise Association NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award


Beginning in 1966 the Newspaper Enterprise Association annually awarded the George S. Halas Trophy to the most outstanding defensive player in the National Football League. The winner was released via the NEA news service and also appeared in the World Almanac, which was an NEA publication. The award ran through 1996. It was considered one of the major awards and was included in the NFL Record and Fact Book and its winners still appear in the encyclopedia, Total Football II. In his book, A Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football, sportswriter Paul Zimmerman touted the NEA for its All-Pro team and its awards, since they involved polling the players, rather than being a sportswriter's poll like the AP, UPI, and the PFWA.

NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year

Winners are awarded George S. Halas Trophy

1966— Larry Wilson, S, St. Louis Cardinals

1967— Deacon Jones, DE, Los Angeles Rams

1968— Deacon Jones, DE, Los Angeles Rams

1969— Dick Butkus, MLB, Chicago Bears

1970— Dick Butkus, MLB, Chicago Bears

1971— Carl Eller, DE, Minnesota Vikings

1972— Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

1973— Alan Page, DT, Minnesota Vikings

1974— Joe Greene, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers

1975— Curley Culp, DT, Houston Oilers

1976— Jerry Sherk, DT, Cleveland Browns

1977— Harvey Martin, DE, Dallas Cowboys

1978— Randy Gradishar, ILB, Denver Broncos

1979— Lee Roy Selmon, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1980— Lester Hayes, CB, Oakland Raiders

1981— Joe Klecko, DE, New York Jets

1982— Mark Gastineau, DE, New York Jets

1983— Jack Lambert, MLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

1984— Mike Haynes, CB, Los Angeles Raiders

1985— Howie Long, DE, Los Angeles Raiders/
Andre Tippett, OLB, New England Patriots

1986— Lawrence Taylor, OLB, New York Giants

1987— Reggie White, DE, Philadelphia Eagles

1988— Mike Singletary, MLB, Chicago Bears

1989— Tim Harris, OLB, Green Bay Packers

1990— Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills

1991— Pat Swilling, OLB, New Orleans Saints

1992— Junior Seau, LB, San Diego Chargers

1993— Bruce Smith, DE, Buffalo Bills

1994— Deion Sanders, CB, San Francisco 49ers

1995— Bryce Paup, OLB, Buffalo Bills

1996— Kevin Greene, OLB, Carolina Panthers

1997—Dana Stubblefield, DT, San Francisco 49ers