The Defensive Player of the Year Award is given annually to the National Lacrosse League player (not goaltenders) who is chosen as the best defensive player.
Season
Winner
Team
Win #
Other finalists
2024
Ryan Dilks[ 1]
Vancouver Warriors
2
Mitch de Snoo, Toronto Rock[ 2] Brad Kri, Toronto Rock
2023
Latrell Harris[ 3]
Toronto Rock
1
Graeme Hossack, Halifax Thunderbirds[ 4] Brad Kri, Toronto Rock
2022
Mitch de Snoo [ 5]
Toronto Rock
1
Steve Priolo , Buffalo Bandits[ 6] Kyle Rubisch , Saskatchewan Rush
2021
Season cancelled
2020
Graeme Hossack [ 7]
Halifax Thunderbirds
3
Robert Hope, Colorado Mammoth Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan Rush
2019
Graeme Hossack
Rochester Knighthawks
2
Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan Rush
2018
Graeme Hossack
Rochester Knighthawks
1
Robert Hope, Colorado Mammoth Kyle Rubisch, Saskatchewan Rush
2017
Jason Noble[ 8]
Georgia Swarm
1
Graeme Hossack, Rochester Knighthawks Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
2016
Ryan Dilks[ 9]
Saskatchewan Rush
1
Chris Corbeil , Saskatchewan Rush Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
2015
Kyle Rubisch [ 10]
Edmonton Rush
4
Chris Corbeil, Edmonton Rush Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
2014
Kyle Rubisch [ 11]
Edmonton Rush
3
Chris Corbeil, Edmonton Rush Steve Priolo, Buffalo Bandits
2013
Kyle Rubisch[ 12]
Edmonton Rush
2
2012
Kyle Rubisch[ 13]
Edmonton Rush
1
2011
Pat McCready [ 14]
Rochester Knighthawks
1
2010
Sandy Chapman [ 15]
Toronto Rock
1
2009
Billy Dee Smith [ 16]
Buffalo Bandits
1
2008
Ryan Cousins [ 17]
Minnesota Swarm
2
2007
Ryan Cousins [ 18]
Minnesota Swarm
1
2006
Brodie Merrill [ 19]
Portland LumberJax
1
2005
Andrew Turner [ 20]
Rochester Knighthawks
1
2004 (Tie)
Cam Woods [ 21]
San Jose Stealth
1
Taylor Wray
Calgary Roughnecks
2003
Jim Moss
Albany Attack
1
2002
Pat Coyle
Toronto Rock
1
^ "BUFFALO'S BYRNE, VANCOUVER'S DILKS, HALIFAX'S WITHERS AND TORONTO'S ROSE TAKE NLL POSITIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS" . NLL.com . May 16, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024 .
^ "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2023-24 NLL AWARDS" . NLL.com . May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2024 .
^ "Currier repeats as Transition Player of the Year, Del Bianco and Harris take home first awards" . NLL.com . May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023 .
^ "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2022-23 NLL AWARDS" . NLL.com . May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 23, 2023 .
^ "CURRIER, DE SNOO, VINC WIN NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE TRANSITION, DEFENSIVE PLAYER, GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR AWARDS" . NLL.com . June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022 .
^ "NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR 2021-22 END OF SEASON AWARDS" . NLL.com . June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022 .
^ "NLL announces 2019-20 NLL award winners" . NLL.com . June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2020 .
^ "2017 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR" . NLL.com . June 23, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017 .
^ "2016 NLL Season Awards & Hall of Fame Ceremony" . NLL.com . September 27, 2016. Retrieved September 28, 2016 .
^ "2015 NLL Season Awards & Hall Of Fame Ceremony" . NLL.com . September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2015 .
^ "League announces 2014 Season Award winners" . NLL.com . September 21, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2014 .
^ "Rush's Rubisch wins Defensive Player of the Year Award" . NLL.com . May 1, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013 .
^ "Rush's Rubisch wins Defensive Player of the Year" . NLL.com . 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2012-05-14 .
^ "Shattler, McCready, & Vinc Honored" . NLL.com . 2011-05-09. Retrieved 2011-05-09 .
^ "Merrill, Chapman, & Vinc Win Yearly Awards" . NLL.com . May 12, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-12 .
^ "Defense, Transition & Goaltender Awards" . NLL.com . May 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-12 .
^ "Cousins Named Edge Defensive Player of the Year" . NLL.com . May 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-12 .
^ "Cousins Named Defenseman of the Year" . NLL.com . May 1, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-12 .
^ "Merrill Wins Belmont.com Defensive Player of the Year" . NLL.com . May 2, 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-12 .
^ "Turner Named Sportsbook.com Defensive Player" . NLL.com . May 3, 2005. Retrieved 2008-05-12 .
^ "Wray & Woods Split Defensive Award" . NLL.com . April 27, 2004. Retrieved 2008-05-12 .