Who Was the Last Defensive Player to Win NFL MVP?

Find out who was the last defensive player to win NFL MVP and why they deserved the award.

Lawrence Taylor

In 1986, Lawrence Taylor became the first and only defensive player to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award. This was a historic moment, as Taylor had an incredible season and was a major reason why the New York Giants went on to win the Super Bowl that year. Let’s take a look at Taylor’s career and what made him such a special player.

Taylor’s impact on the game

During his 13 seasons with the New York Giants, Lawrence Taylor changed the way NFL defenses played the game. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year a record three times (1981, 1982, 1986) and was voted to 10 Pro Bowls during his career. He was also named NFL MVP in 1986, becoming the first defensive player to win the award since 1971.

In 1999, The Sporting News named Taylor the “Greatest Defensive Player of the 20th Century,” and he was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Taylor’s individual stats

In his career, Taylor recorded 1,088 tackles, 132.5 sacks, forced 44 fumbles, recovered 19 fumbles and intercepted 9 passes for 296 yards. He is the only player in NFL history with double digit sacks and interceptions in a season. He was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team as well as the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Ray Lewis

The last defensive player to win NFL MVP was Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens in 2000. He was also the Super Bowl MVP that year. Lewis was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a thirteen-time Pro Bowler.

Lewis’ impact on the game

Lewis is considered one of the best defensive players of all time. He was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, 13-time Pro Bowler, and 10-time All-Pro. He won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2000 and was named the Super Bowl MVP. In 2002, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Ravens to another Super Bowl win.

Lewis’ individual stats

Ray Lewis was a linebacker who played his entire 17-year career for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He is considered one of the greatest linebackers of all time. Lewis was drafted by the Ravens in 1996 and was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, a 13-time Pro Bowler, and a 10-time All-Pro. He is also one of only 17 players in NFL history to achieve 20 or more sacks and interceptions in their career.

In Lewis’ final season, he helped lead the Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XLVII over the San Francisco 49ers, earning him the Super Bowl MVP award. He is the only defensive player to have won MVP in both the regular season and the Super Bowl.

J.J. Watt

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt became the first defensive player to win the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player award in 27 years when he earned the distinction Saturday night.

Watt’s impact on the game

Watt is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time first-team All-Pro. He is the only defensive player in NFL history to be named Defensive Player of the Year three times and is one of only three players to win the award in back-to-back seasons. He was also named the NFL’s Outstanding Defensive Player in 2012 by the Kansas City Committee of 101, making him the first Texans player ever to receive that honor. In 2014, he became the first player in NFL history to record two 20+ sack seasons in a career. In 2015, Watt became the first defensive player in NFL history to be voted MVP by a unanimous vote. He has also been voted to five straight Pro Bowls (2011–2015) and holds the Texans franchise records for both sacks (76) and forced fumbles (15).

Watt’s individual stats

In his first season, Watt became only the second rookie in NFL history to record at least 50 tackles, five sacks, and an interception in a season. He finished the season with 56 tackles and five sacks. In 2012, he had 69 tackles and 20.5 sacks, leading the league in both categories. He was voted first-team All-Pro and selected for the Pro Bowl. Watt was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after the 2012 season. He became only the second defensive player to receive the award since it was first presented in 1971 (Lawrence Taylor being the first).