5 Best NFL Defensive Players Of The Year

Here are our picks for the 5 best NFL Defensive Players of the Year. Winning the Defensive Player of the Year award is not an easy feat. The Defensive Player of the Year is no doubt the anchor of his teams defense. More importantly, the Defensive Player of the Year is that guy that strikes fear in the hearts of the opposing team's offensive players. He's the black hole; opposing teams know they wont get anywhere challenging this guy. The Defensive Player of the Year is such an intimidating factor, that offenses draw up plays to try to eliminate him from the play. He controls the flow of the game even more so than a hot shot quarterback or wide receiver. So, who are the 5 best NFL Defensive players of the year. We've chosen the guys that at least won the award twice.

1. Joe Greene (1974).  "Mean" Joe Greene was the centerpiece to the near perfect defense of the 1974 Pittsburgh Steelers. He's considered by a lot of folks to be the greatest defensive lineman of all time. He was rage incarnate. He would literally pummel the opposing team. He got penalized in many a game for beating up on opposing players. But, no one could deny that he had special defensive talents. His physical ability made it possible for the Steelers to work that "steel curtain" defense that helped the Steelers win four championships in the 1970's.
2. Ray Lewis (2000). This guy was a beast for the Baltimore Ravens. He was at the helm of a defense that set the record for the fewest points allowed in a season at 165. He also hit like a freight train. Lewis made 137 tackles in the regular season. Not only that, this NFL Defensive player of the year won the Super Bowl MVP honors for the year as well.
3. Mike Singletary (1985). The defensive leader of the Historic 15-1 season for the Chicago Bears. Not only was this defense ranked number one due to his efforts, his personal stats were simply amazing as well. He had 109 solo tackles, 52 assists, 3 sacks and three fumble recoveries. Oh, and we cant fail to mention that the Bears defense was first against the rush and third against the pass for 1985.
4. Reggie White (1987). The future Minister of defense was a killer for the Philadelphia Eagles. During the 1987 season, he averaged 1.75 sacks a game. You know what this means right? It meant that the quarterback of an opposing team was going to meet the business end of White's 6'5" 291 pound frame at least twice a game. It's said that by the time he finished playing for the Eagles, he had collected more sacks then games played. This Defensive player of the year was voted the best Eagles player of all time.
5. Lawrence Taylor (1986). By 1986 Lawrence Taylor had already collected two Defensive player of the year awards. He was known as the guy that could end careers. Not cause injuries, end careers. His physical ability was such that he could totally demolish his opponent and anyone that got in his way. In 1986 he recorded 20.5 sacks and nabbed an MVP trophy as well.