The National Football League's Defensive Rookie of the Year named by the Associated Press and selected each year by a nationwide panel of sportwriters and broadcasters:
2014 -- Aaron Donald, St. Louis, DT
2013 -- Sheldon Richardson, New York Jets, DT
2012 -- Luke Kuechly, Carolina, LB
2011 -- Von Miller, Denver, LB
2010 -- Ndamukong Suh, Detroit, DT
2009 -- Brian Cushing, Houston, LB
2008 -- Jerod Mayo, New England, LB
2007 -- Patrick Willis, San Francisco, LB
2006 -- DeMeco Ryans, Houston, LB
2005 -- Shawne Merriman, San Diego, LB
2004 -- Jonathan Vilma, New York Jets, LB
2003 -- Terrell Suggs, Baltimore, LB
2002 -- Julius Peppers, Carolina, DE
2001 -- Kendrell Bell, Pittsburgh, LB
2000 -- Brian Urlacher, Chicago, LB
1999 -- Jevon Kearse, Tennessee, DE
1998 -- Charles Woodson, Oakland, CB
1997 -- Peter Boulware, Baltimore, LB
1996 -- Simeon Rice, Arizona, DE
1995 -- Hugh Douglas, New York Jets, DE
1994 -- Tim Bowens, Miami, T
1993 -- Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco, T
1992 -- Dale Carter, Kansas City, CB
1991 -- Mike Croel, Denver, LB
1990 -- Mark Carrier, Chicago, S
1989 -- Derrick Thomas, Kansas City, LB
1988 -- Erik McMillan, N.Y. Jets, S
1987 -- Shane Conlan, Buffalo, LB
1986 -- John Offerdahl, Miami, LB
1985 -- Duane Bickett, Indianapolis, LB
1984 -- Bill Maas, Kansas City, NT
1983 -- Vernon Maxwell, Baltimore, LB
1982 -- Chip Banks, Cleveland, LB
1981 -- Lawrence Taylor, N.Y. Giants, LB
1980 -- Buddy Curry, Atlanta, LB, and Al Richardson, Atlanta, LB
1979 -- Jim Haslett, Buffalo, LB
1978 -- Al Baker, Detroit, E
1977 -- A.J. Duhe, Miami, T
1976 -- Mike Haynes, New England, S
1975 -- Robert Brazile, Houston, LB
1974 -- Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh, LB
1973 -- Wally Chambers, Chicago, T
1972 -- Willie Buchanon, Green Bay, CB
1971 -- Isiah Robertson, Los Angeles, LB
1970 -- Bruce Taylor, San Francisco, CB
1969 -- Joe Greene, Pittsburgh, T
1968 -- Claude Humphrey, Atlanta, E
1967 -- Lem Barney, Detroit, CB