Latest news with #DefensivePlayeroftheYearAward
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Which 10 players have recorded the most sacks ever in an NFL season?
If quarterback play is the most valuable thing in football, then the most valuable thing on the defensive side of the ball is getting after the quarterback. NFL teams seem to agree with that sentiment as well. In this offseason, three edge rushers have earned extensions that will pay them at least $35 million per year in average annual salary – Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, and Danielle Hunter – as money at that position continues to rise. But with a higher salary comes higher expectations. As each of those players looks to prove their team right by investing in them, let's take a look at the 10 highest-sack seasons in NFL history. T8. Lawrence Taylor: 20.5 (1986) Taylor's 1986 campaign is viewed by some as one of the best ever by a defensive player. He won his third Defensive Player of the Year Award and became the first defensive player in NFL history to unanimously win MVP. In the postseason, Taylor recorded a pick-six off Joe Montana in the divisional round en route to winning a Super Bowl. T8. J.J. Watt: 20.5 (2012) After impressing as a rookie in 2011, Watt popped off in his second season. He recorded 20.5 sacks and had an NFL-record 39 tackles for loss that year. He also had two forced fumbles, helping him win his first of three Defensive Player of the Year Awards. T8. J.J. Watt: 20.5 (2014) Two years after he crossed the 20-sack threshold, Watt did it again in 2014. Even though he set the tackles for loss record in 2012, some not only regard 2014 as the best year in Watt's career, but also the best season ever for an edge rusher. Watt led the league in fumble recoveries (four) and tackles for loss (29) to go with five forced fumbles that season. Additionally, he recorded an interception, which he returned 80 yards for a touchdown. Watt's 2014 season was also historic by Pro Football Focus' standards. He recorded 119 pressures that season, the most ever recorded by a player since PFF began tracking the stat in 2006. T8. Aaron Donald: 20.5 (2018) Along with Watt and Taylor, Donald is one of three players in NFL history to win Defensive Player of the Year three times. The best of those three seasons for the former Los Angeles Rams star came in 2018, when he recorded 20.5 sacks, 59 total tackles, a league-leading 25 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. He also had 106 pressures that year, per PFF. T-6. Reggie White: 21 (1987) You don't fall two sacks short of having the most sacks in NFL history without having an all-time great sack season. White had 21 sacks, along with 76 total tackles, when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1987. It marked the first of two straight years in which White led the league in sacks, which only a few other players have ever done. It was also one of his five seasons with 15-plus sacks and nine with 10-plus sacks, which are both the most in NFL history. T-6. Chris Doleman: 21 (1989) Nearly two decades after the Minnesota Vikings had their "Purple People Eaters" defense, they had someone who would've fit right in with that group in the late 1980s. Doleman recorded 21 sacks in 1989, marking a surge into stardom for him as he also had 94 total tackles and five forced fumbles that year. T-3. Mark Gastineau: 22 (1984) In the final years of the Jets' "New York Sack Exchange" era, Gastineau had what was at the time the best season ever for a pass rusher in NFL history. He recorded 22 sacks in 1984, getting a scoop-and-score touchdown that year. T-3. Jared Allen: 22 (2011) In the midst of his seven-year streak of double-digit sacks, Allen broke the 20-sack mark in 2011. He had 22 that year, leading the league in sacks for the second time in his career. He also had 66 total tackles and four forced fumbles, falling just seven votes short of winning Defensive Player of the Year. T-3. Justin Houston: 22 (2014) While Watt's 20.5-sack season won him Defensive Player of the Year in 2014, he didn't have the most sacks that season. Houston recorded 22 sacks with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014, adding 69 combined tackles and four forced fumbles to go with them. Four of his sacks came in the Chiefs' regular-season finale, surprisingly bringing him within a half-sack of the all-time record. T-1. Michael Strahan: 22.5 (2001) Strahan broke Gastineau's 17-year record in 2001, doing so when he took down Brett Favre in the New York Giants' regular-season finale loss to the Green Bay Packers. Some have debated whether Favre purposely took a dive in that game to allow Strahan to break the record, but it still went down as a sack. Strahan actually recorded 3.5 sacks in the week prior, giving him the opportunity to break Gastineau's record. T-1. T.J. Watt: 22.5 (2021) Watt matched Strahan's record in 2021. While the 2021 season marked the first year the NFL played 17 regular-season games, Watt only played in 15 games. Just like Strahan, Watt also went off in the penultimate week of the regular season to allow him to match the record, recording four sacks in a game against the Cleveland Browns. The Pittsburgh Steelers' great recorded 64 total tackles and five forced fumbles that year, too. Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
13-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Seahawks' biggest Achilles heel since 2020
Seahawks' biggest Achilles heel since 2020 Pro Football Focus recently released a list compiling all 32 teams' most difficult opponents since the 2020 season. Almost every player is active except the Seattle Seahawks' one. The Seahawks' biggest Achilles heel has been former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. "Aaron Donald's second appearance on this list comes about due to his production against a divisional foe," Dalton Wasserman wrote. "In seven matchups against Seattle from 2020 to 2023, Donald recorded a 92.1 PFF pass-rush grade. He generated a ridiculous 47 pressures, six sacks, a batted pass, and a 21.9% pass rush win rate. Statistics like that are simply a reminder of how dominant Donald was." Donald announced his retirement in 2023 after an illustrious 10-year career. The Seahawks were thrilled to see him hang up his cleats. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Award winner is arguably the greatest defensive player of all time. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, the rival Rams quickly reloaded their defensive line following Donald's premature retirement. The likes of Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner have formed a fierce pass rush in L.A. They're no Aaron Donald, though, who routinely tormented the Seahawks throughout his career.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Boston Celtics insider pulls out crucial statistic as Derrick White bags important title in 2025 Awards Series
Boston Celtics insider pulls out crucial statistic as Derrick White bags important title in 2025 Awards Series (Image Credit: Getty Images) Derrick White from the Boston Celtics has bagged the Defensive Player of the Year Award in the 2025 Awards Series. The Boston Celtics insider took to X to highlight why the star shot-blocking guard deserved the recognition by sharing a crucial performance statistic. According to the tweet, White achieved 1.6 blocks/100 possessions, topping the list of players who had played at least 400 games. Boston Celtics insider highlighted why Derrick White deserved DPOY in 2025 Awards Series It is a celebration time in the Boston Celtics camp as their star shot-blocking guard, Derrick White, has bagged the Defensive Player of the Year Award in the 2025 Awards series. The team's insider, Taylor Snow, wrote about White's achievement on X. He tweeted: 'Derrick White is the NBA's all-time leading guard in blocks/100 possessions (min. 400 GP), per @bball_ref: 1. D. White – 1.6 BLK/100 2. Danny Green – 1.5 3. Dwyane Wade – 1.3 4. Michael Jordan – 1.2 Todd Day – 1.2 Ron Harper – 1.2 SGA – 1.2 Brandon Rush – 1.2' According to the statistic shared by Snow, the 6'4' Celtics guard surpassed all NBA star guards in the parameter of the number of blocks per 100 possessions. While White's score is 1.6 Block/100, the next one trailed behind him at 1.5. His achievement is precious as he has surpassed records of biggies like Michael Jordan and Dwyane Wade, who had scored only 1.3 and 1.2 blocks/100, respectively. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hunstetten: Gutes Hören sucht 700 Testhörer für Hörgeräte ohne Zuzahlung Gutes Hören Undo While the Celtics' star guard has height issues to deal with, he has achieved this honor by not letting his physical attributes get in the way of his dreams. White has registered his presence with sheer athleticism and impeccable IQ, giving other 7-footers of the team a run for their money. Top Derrick White quotes that reflect his leadership skills, camaraderie, and competitive spirit Derrick White creates magic on the court with an unprecedented show of alacrity and sharp IQ. And, off the court, his words reflect the stature he has acquired in his NBA journey. When the Celtics lost the playoff game to the New York Knicks, leading to their exit, White could not keep his emotions and said at the postgame presser: 'It sucks. You'll never get this season back. You're never going to have the exact same team again. So obviously there were some highs and obviously some lows of the season, but at the moment it's just kinda down.' Jaylen Brown and Derrick White on Celtics' season ending: 'Losing to the Knicks feels like death' His quote summed up the emotion of the entire team, which reportedly was the fourth reigning NBA champion who had to face the exit. Earlier, the Celtics star shut the critics down after the Finals win in 2024 and said to the reporters, 'They kept saying we weren't battle-tested. What, did the last two years mean nothing?' It showed how he used criticism as a power and employed it to master the craft. White stood by injured Jayson Tatum and sent him a heartfelt message, filled with motivation, as per the Celtics blog, by saying: 'All I can do … is text him and tell him I believe in him and know he's gonna have a great comeback from this setback. I know he's gonna do whatever he needs …' Also Read: Jrue Holiday's $32.4M cap hit makes him trade candidate for cost-cutting Boston Celtics Derrick White's achievement placed him above all the star NBA guards. NBA mentioned that he foiled about 80 shot attempts, leading the other contenders by a big margin.
USA Today
08-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New York Giants' Dexter Lawrence among stars 'on the radar' for potential new contract
New York Giants' Dexter Lawrence among stars 'on the radar' for potential new contract Star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence is the engine that drives the New York Giants' defense. Though he still has three years remaining on the four-year, $87.5 million contract extension he signed during the 2023 offseason, there's a chance discussions of a new deal may arise sooner rather than later. When looking at the potential big deals coming down the pike, Anthony Holzman-Escareno of included Lawrence as a player who could be on the radar for a new deal following the 2025 campaign. Lawrence is the best interior defensive linemen this side of Chris Jones. Lawrence led the NFL in sacks through the first eight weeks of the 2024 season, despite being double-teamed at the league's highest rate (63.8%). He has three years remaining on his current deal, but if he can put together a dominant 2025 season, Lawrence is the type of building block you make sure to keep around and keep happy. Lawrence was firmly in the discussion for the Defensive Player of the Year Award before he suffered a season-ending elbow injury in Week 12. Per Pro Football Focus, Lawrence recorded 36 total pressures to go along with nine sacks and 16 QB hits. Over the next three seasons, Lawrence carries salary-cap hits of $23.7 million, $26.96 million, and $26.5 million, respectively, per Spotrac. A new deal may seem premature, but an extension could help the Giants free up some future money with Malik Nabers (after 2026) and Kayvon Thibodeaux likely seeking new contracts soon as well. If Lawrence continues to play at this elite level, which is possible for defensive tackles going into their 30s, there is certainly a conversation that will need to be had potentially after the 2025 season.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins MVP: Thunder star becomes eligible for 5-year, $380 million contract, largest in NBA history
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the 2024-25 NBA MVP. That's going to make him a very rich man. With his first MVP win, Gilgeous-Alexander is now eligible to sign the largest contract in the history of the NBA at five years, $380 million, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. The one catch is he will have to wait until the 2026 offseason to sign it. That contract, which Gilgeous-Alexander can get no matter what happens next season, would pay him $76 million annually, which would exceed even Shohei Ohtani's average annual value (even counting the Los Angeles Dodgers star's deferral money). Even better, because he split with his agent a few months ago, none of that money will be going to agent fees. The Thunder have also been pretty clear they're ready to give him that contract, despite their small market. Gilgeous-Alexander was already on track to cash in this summer, as his two All-NBA selections made him eligible for a four-year, $293 million extension, which works out to 30% of the salary cap. However, players become eligible for 35% of the salary cap (the supermax) if they enter their eighth or ninth season with either an MVP award in the past three seasons (check) or All-NBA selections or a Defensive Player of the Year Award in either the past season or two of the past three seasons (also check). The player also has to be playing for either the team that drafted him or one that acquired him during his rookie contract (check). So Gilgeous-Alexander only needed to make an All-NBA team, even the third team, to be supermax-eligible next year, but he ended up winning MVP and (you would assume) a third straight All-NBA first-team selection. Gilgeous-Alexander is already under contract for three more seasons, by virtue of his earlier five-year, $172 million extension. Between that contract, the supermax and his original $17 million rookie deal, he will have $576 million in career earnings through the first 14 years of his career. No wonder he was feeling so generous he bought Rolex watches for the entire Thunder team. SGA GOT THE WHOLE TEAM ROLLIES 😮💨 @Jay_MWilliams_ @shaiglalex — Overtime (@overtime) May 21, 2025
