The defensive player of the year often is a guy who gets a lot of sacks or a lot of interceptions. Broncos Patrick Surtain II did neither. He was still the finest defensive player in the NFL for the 2024 season. And so Surtain is the PFT 2024 NFL defensive player of the year.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton, cornerback Pat Surtain II and rookie quarterback Bo Nix have been named finalists for NFL honors.

The reaction was overwhelming on social media almost immediately, though one of the most prominent voices to comment belonged to Denver Broncos star cornerback Patrick Surtain II. "C'mon man, what we supposed to do when he sliding?" Surtain posted .

Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II is the 101 Awards' 2024 AFC Defensive Player of the Year, The Committee of 101 announced Wednesday. Surtain is the third Alabama alumnus to win the award, following Buffalo Bills linebacker Cornelius Bennett in 1988 and Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas in 1991.

The Denver Broncos have three finalists for the NFL awards handed out by the Associated Press, including quarterback Bo Nix for Rookie of the Year, coach Sean Payton for Coach of the Year, and cornerback Pat Surtain for Defensive Player of the Year.

The Denver Broncos have three representatives for the NFL's Associated Press end of of the year awards. Who has the best chance to win?

After winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award a year ago, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is once again a finalist.

On Thursday, Garrett was officially named a finalist for the prestigious Associated Press (AP) NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, recognizing his dominant performance during the 2024 season despite the team's 3-14 record.

The Browns have made it official ... The defensive player of the year often is a guy who gets a lot of sacks or a lot of interceptions. Broncos Patrick Surtain II did neither. He was still the finest defensive player in the NFL for the 2024 season.

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was named a Defensive Player of the Year finalist. Watt, who was a longtime favorite to win the award but has now dropped in odds, had at least one vote go his way to earn his way onto the finalist panel.

On Thursday, the NFL announced finalists for all of the major end-of-the-year awards. The Pittsburgh Steelers were shut out of all the awards except for Defensive Player of the Year where outside linebacker T.

Two Wisconsin natives are among the finalists for NFL defensive player of the year. Also, each NFL team remaining has a UW alumnus on the roster.