<P> Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt are the only three - time winners of the award . Joe Greene , Mike Singletary , Bruce Smith , Reggie White , and Ray Lewis have each won it twice . Taylor is the only player to win the award as a rookie , doing so in 1981 . In 2008 , James Harrison became the only undrafted free agent to win the award . White is the only player to win the award with two different teams , winning in 1987 with the Philadelphia Eagles and again with the Green Bay Packers in 1998 . Watt is the only player to win the award unanimously , receiving 50 out of 50 first place votes in 2014 . He was also a near - unanimous winner in 2012 as he earned 49 out of 50 votes . </P>
<P> Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt are the only three - time winners of the award . Joe Greene , Mike Singletary , Bruce Smith , Reggie White , and Ray Lewis have each won it twice . Taylor is the only player to win the award as a rookie , doing so in 1981 . In 2008 , James Harrison became the only undrafted free agent to win the award . White is the only player to win the award with two different teams , winning in 1987 with the Philadelphia Eagles and again with the Green Bay Packers in 1998 . Watt is the only player to win the award unanimously , receiving 50 out of 50 first place votes in 2014 . He was also a near - unanimous winner in 2012 as he earned 49 out of 50 votes . </P>
who has the most defensive player of the year awards nfl
who has the most defensive player of the year awards nfl
Lawrence Taylor J.J. Watt
Lawrence Taylor J.J. Watt