Chuck Bednarik Award

Given every year since 1995 to the defensive player of the year, chosen by the Maxwell Football Club. Penn State has won it most, four times (three players). Paul Posluszny and Pat Fitzgerald won it twice. Share

Every winner

Season	Player	Position		School
2025	Jacob Rodriguez	LB		Texas Tech
2024	Travis Hunter	CB		Colorado
2023	Payton Wilson	LB		NC State
2022	Will Anderson Jr.	LB		Alabama
2021	Jordan Davis	DT		Georgia
2020	Zaven Collins	LB		Tulsa
2019	Chase Young	DE		Ohio State
2018	Josh Allen	LB		Kentucky
2017	Minkah Fitzpatrick	S		Alabama
2016	Jonathan Allen	DT		Alabama
2015	Tyler Matakevich	LB		Temple
2014	Scooby Wright	LB		Arizona
2013	Aaron Donald	DT		Pittsburgh
2012	Manti Teʻo	LB		Notre Dame
2011	Tyrann Mathieu	CB		LSU
2010	Patrick Peterson	CB		LSU
2009	Ndamukong Suh	DT		Nebraska
2008	Rey Maualuga	LB		USC
2007	Dan Connor	LB		Penn State
2006	Paul Posluszny	LB		Penn State
2005	Paul Posluszny	LB		Penn State
2004	David Pollack	DE		Georgia
2003	Teddy Lehman	LB		Oklahoma
2002	E.J. Henderson	LB		Maryland
2001	Julius Peppers	DE		North Carolina
2000	Dan Morgan	LB		Miami (FL)
1999	LaVar Arrington	LB		Penn State
1998	Dat Nguyen	DE		Texas A&M
1997	Charles Woodson	CB		Michigan
1996	Pat Fitzgerald	LB		Northwestern
1995	Pat Fitzgerald	LB		Northwestern

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.