<P> Several organizations give out NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards that are listed in the NFL Record and Fact Book and Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League . The Associated Press (AP) has been giving the award since 1972; Pro Football Writers of America / Pro Football Weekly since 1970; and Sporting News has announced winners since 2008 . The Newspaper Enterprise Association was the originator of the award in 1966 . However, it became defunct after 1997 . Also going defunct was the United Press International (UPI) AFC - NFC Defensive Player of the Year Awards that began in 1975 . </P> <P> The AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every NFL season since 1971 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Player name </Th> <Th> NFL team </Th> <Th> Position </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1971 </Td> <Td> Page, Alan Alan Page </Td> <Td> Minnesota Vikings </Td> <Td> Defensive tackle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1972 </Td> <Td> Greene, Joe Joe Greene </Td> <Td> Pittsburgh Steelers </Td> <Td> Defensive tackle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1973 </Td> <Td> Anderson, Dick Dick Anderson </Td> <Td> Miami Dolphins </Td> <Td> Safety </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Greene, Joe Joe Greene (2) </Td> <Td> Pittsburgh Steelers (2) </Td> <Td> Defensive tackle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Blount, Mel Mel Blount </Td> <Td> Pittsburgh Steelers (3) </Td> <Td> Cornerback </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1976 </Td> <Td> Lambert, Jack Jack Lambert </Td> <Td> Pittsburgh Steelers (4) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1977 </Td> <Td> Martin, Harvey Harvey Martin </Td> <Td> Dallas Cowboys </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> Gradishar, Randy Randy Gradishar </Td> <Td> Denver Broncos </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1979 </Td> <Td> Selmon, Lee Roy Lee Roy Selmon </Td> <Td> Tampa Bay Buccaneers </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1980 </Td> <Td> Hayes, Lester Lester Hayes </Td> <Td> Oakland Raiders </Td> <Td> Cornerback </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1981 </Td> <Td> Taylor, Lawrence Lawrence Taylor - R </Td> <Td> New York Giants </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1982 </Td> <Td> Taylor, Lawrence Lawrence Taylor (2) </Td> <Td> New York Giants (2) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Betters, Doug Doug Betters </Td> <Td> Miami Dolphins (2) </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1984 </Td> <Td> Easley, Kenny Kenny Easley </Td> <Td> Seattle Seahawks </Td> <Td> Safety </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1985 </Td> <Td> Singletary, Mike Mike Singletary </Td> <Td> Chicago Bears </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> Taylor, Lawrence Lawrence Taylor (3) </Td> <Td> New York Giants (3) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> White, Reggie Reggie White </Td> <Td> Philadelphia Eagles </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1988 </Td> <Td> Singletary, Mike Mike Singletary (2) </Td> <Td> Chicago Bears (2) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1989 </Td> <Td> Millard, Keith Keith Millard </Td> <Td> Minnesota Vikings (2) </Td> <Td> Defensive tackle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1990 </Td> <Td> Smith, Bruce Bruce Smith </Td> <Td> Buffalo Bills </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1991 </Td> <Td> Swilling, Pat Pat Swilling </Td> <Td> New Orleans Saints </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1992 </Td> <Td> Kennedy, Cortez Cortez Kennedy </Td> <Td> Seattle Seahawks (2) </Td> <Td> Defensive tackle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1993 </Td> <Td> Woodson, Rod Rod Woodson </Td> <Td> Pittsburgh Steelers (5) </Td> <Td> Cornerback </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1994 </Td> <Td> Sanders, Deion Deion Sanders </Td> <Td> San Francisco 49ers </Td> <Td> Cornerback </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1995 </Td> <Td> Paup, Bryce Bryce Paup </Td> <Td> Buffalo Bills (2) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Smith, Bruce Bruce Smith (2) </Td> <Td> Buffalo Bills (3) </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1997 </Td> <Td> Stubblefield, Dana Dana Stubblefield </Td> <Td> San Francisco 49ers (2) </Td> <Td> Defensive tackle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> White, Reggie Reggie White (2) </Td> <Td> Green Bay Packers </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> Sapp, Warren Warren Sapp </Td> <Td> Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2) </Td> <Td> Defensive tackle </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2000 </Td> <Td> Lewis, Ray Ray Lewis </Td> <Td> Baltimore Ravens </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2001 </Td> <Td> Strahan, Michael Michael Strahan </Td> <Td> New York Giants (4) </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> Brooks, Derrick Derrick Brooks </Td> <Td> Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> Lewis, Ray Ray Lewis (2) </Td> <Td> Baltimore Ravens (2) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Reed, Ed Ed Reed </Td> <Td> Baltimore Ravens (3) </Td> <Td> Safety </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005 </Td> <Td> Urlacher, Brian Brian Urlacher </Td> <Td> Chicago Bears (3) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> Taylor, Jason Jason Taylor </Td> <Td> Miami Dolphins (3) </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2007 </Td> <Td> Sanders, Bob Bob Sanders </Td> <Td> Indianapolis Colts </Td> <Td> Safety </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2008 </Td> <Td> Harrison, James James Harrison </Td> <Td> Pittsburgh Steelers (6) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> Woodson, Charles Charles Woodson </Td> <Td> Green Bay Packers (2) </Td> <Td> Cornerback </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Polamalu, Troy Troy Polamalu </Td> <Td> Pittsburgh Steelers (7) </Td> <Td> Safety </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> Suggs, Terrell Terrell Suggs </Td> <Td> Baltimore Ravens (4) </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012 </Td> <Td> Watt, J.J. J.J. Watt </Td> <Td> Houston Texans </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> Kuechly, Luke Luke Kuechly </Td> <Td> Carolina Panthers </Td> <Td> Linebacker </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> <Td> Watt, J.J. J.J. Watt (2) </Td> <Td> Houston Texans (2) </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2015 </Td> <Td> Watt, J.J. J.J. Watt (3) </Td> <Td> Houston Texans (3) </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016 </Td> <Td> Mack, Khalil Khalil Mack </Td> <Td> Oakland Raiders (2) </Td> <Td> Defensive end </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Year </Th> <Th> Player name </Th> <Th> NFL team </Th> <Th> Position </Th> </Tr>

Who won defensive player of the year nfl 2016