Who won NFL Defensive Player of the Year? Pat Surtain's stats, voting results

Who won NFL Defensive Player of the Year? Pat Surtain’s stats, voting results

Posted by author February 7, 2025 NFL

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A first-time winner took home the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award at each of the last three NFL Honors ceremonies. A trio of finalists for the award were looking to make it four in a row in 2024.

Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun, Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain all could earn their first-ever Defensive Player of the Year win for their efforts during the 2024 season.

They faced stiff competition from a pair of edge rushers – T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett – who recently won the award and have been perennial finalists for it.

All five candidates had a strong case to win the award, but only one could take home the NFL’s top defense-oriented honor. Here’s who the voters decided who take home the award in 2024.

Who won NFL Defensive Player of the Year for 2024?

Pat Surtain was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year for 2024. The Broncos star became just the seventh cornerback to take home the NFL’s top defensive honor and is the first to do so since Stephon Gilmore with the New England Patriots in 2019.

Surtain racked up four interceptions while playing as part of a terrific Broncos defense that allowed the third-fewest points per game (18.3) in the NFL during the 2024 season. The 24-year-old helped Denver snap an eight-year playoff drought in Sean Payton’s second season with the franchise while continuing to establish himself as the league’s best cornerback.

Surtain becomes just the second Broncos player to win Defensive Player of the Year. The first was Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar, who achieved the feat in 1978 after recording four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 16 games.

Pat Surtain stats 2024

Surtain tied a career-high with four interceptions in 2024 and led the NFL in return yards off interceptions with 132, thanks in part to a 100-yard pick six against Gardner Minshew and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 5.

Below is a full look at Surtain’s full stats for the 2024 NFL season:

Tackles: 46
Pass defenses: 11
Interceptions: 4
Forced fumbles: 1
Defensive TDs: 1
Receptions allowed: 37
Passer rating allowed: 61.1
PFF grade: 83.8 (1st among cornerbacks)

NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting results 2024

Below are the top-10 vote getters for the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2024.

Note: A first-place vote is worth 10 points, a second-place vote is worth 5 points, a third-place vote is worth 3 points, a fourth-place vote is 2 points and a fifth-place vote is 1 point.

Pat Surtain, CB, Broncos: 330 (26 first-place votes, 11 second-place votes, 2 third-place votes, 4 fourth-place votes, 1 fifth-place vote)
Trey Hendrickson, EDGE, Bengals: 205 (11, 10, 9, 8, 2)
Myles Garrett, EDGE, Browns: 162 (5, 11, 12, 8, 5)
T.J. Watt, EDGE, Steelers: 114 (3, 7, 8, 11, 3)
Zack Baun, LB, Eagles: 63 (2, 2, 6, 5, 5)
Kirby Joseph, S, Lions: 60 (1, 3, 6, 4, 9)
Andrew Van Ginkel, EDGE, Vikings: 21 (1, 1, 0, 1, 4)
Xavier McKinney, S, Packers: 17 (0, 2, 1, 1, 2)
Kyle Hamilton, S, Ravens: 16 (0, 2, 1, 0, 3)
Nik Bonitto, EDGE, Broncos: 16 (0, 0, 2, 2, 6)