2025	Myles Garrett	Cleveland Browns	23.0*
2024	Trey Hendrickson	Cincinnati Bengals	17.5
2023	T.J. Watt	Pittsburgh Steelers	19.0
2022	Nick Bosa	San Francisco 49ers	18.5
2021	T.J. Watt	Pittsburgh Steelers	22.5
2020	T.J. Watt	Pittsburgh Steelers	15.0
2019	Shaquil Barrett	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	19.5
2018	Aaron Donald	Los Angeles Rams	20.5
2017	Chandler Jones	Arizona Cardinals	17.0
2016	Vic Beasley	Atlanta Falcons	15.5
2015	J.J. Watt	Houston Texans	17.5
2014	Justin Houston	Kansas City Chiefs	22.0
2013	Robert Mathis	Indianapolis Colts	19.5
2012	J.J. Watt	Houston Texans	20.5
2011	Jared Allen	Minnesota Vikings	22.0
2010	DeMarcus Ware	Dallas Cowboys	15.5
2009	Elvis Dumervil	Denver Broncos	17.0
2008	DeMarcus Ware	Dallas Cowboys	20.0
2007	Jared Allen	Kansas City Chiefs	15.5
2006	Shawne Merriman	San Diego Chargers	17.0
2005	Derrick Burgess	Oakland Raiders	16.0
2004	Dwight Freeney	Indianapolis Colts	16.0
2003	Michael Strahan	New York Giants	18.5
2002	Jason Taylor	Miami Dolphins	18.5
2001	Michael Strahan	New York Giants	22.5
2000	LaRoi Glover	New Orleans Saints	17.0
1999	Kevin Carter	St. Louis Rams	19.0
1998	Michael Sinclair	Seattle Seahawks	16.5
1997	John Randle	Minnesota Vikings	15.5
1996	Kevin Greene	Carolina Panthers	14.5
1995	Bryce Paup	Buffalo Bills	17.5
1994	Kevin Greene	Pittsburgh Steelers	14.0
1993	Neil Smith	Kansas City Chiefs	15.0
1992	Clyde Simmons	Philadelphia Eagles	19.0
1991	Pat Swilling	New Orleans Saints	17.0
1990	Derrick Thomas	Kansas City Chiefs	20.0
1989	Chris Doleman	Minnesota Vikings	21.0
1988	Reggie White	Philadelphia Eagles	18.0
1987	Reggie White	Philadelphia Eagles	21.0
1986	Lawrence Taylor	New York Giants	20.5
1985	Richard Dent	Chicago Bears	17.0
1984	Mark Gastineau	New York Jets	22.0
1983	Mark Gastineau	New York Jets	19.0
1982	Doug Martin	Minnesota Vikings	11.5

*: NFL-Rekord

Anmerkung: Die offiziellen NFL-Statistiken werden seit 1932 erhoben. Neben ihren eigenen Statistiken sind von der NFL auch die Statistiken der AFL (1960-1969) offiziell anerkannt.