Named after the legendary Minnesota Gophers and Chicago Bears player, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy honors the best defensive player in college football, as decided by the Football Writers Association of America.
The trophy has been awarded annually since 1993, and all the Bronko Nagurski Trophy winners are listed by year below.
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Winners Listed by Year
- 2024 – Kyle Kennard, DE, South Carolina
- 2023 – Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
- 2022 – Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alabama
- 2021 – Will Anderson Jr., OLB, Alabama
- 2020 – Zaven Collins, LB, Tulsa
- 2019 – Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
- 2018 – Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky
- 2017 – Bradley Chubb, DE, North Carolina State
- 2016 – Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
- 2015 – Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple
- 2014 – Scooby Wright III, LB, Arizona
- 2013 – Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
- 2012 – Manti Te’o, LB, Notre Dame
- 2011 – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
- 2010 – Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson
- 2009 – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
- 2008 – Brian Orakpo, LB, Texas
- 2007 – Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU
- 2006 – James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State
- 2005 – Elvis Dumervil, DE, Louisville
- 2004 – Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas
- 2003 – Derrick Strait, CB, Oklahoma
- 2002 – Terrell Suggs, DE, Arizona State
- 2001 – Roy Williams, S, Oklahoma
- 2000 – Dan Morgan, LB, Miami (FL)
- 1999 – Corey Moore, LB, Virginia Tech
- 1998 – Champ Bailey, CB, Georgia
- 1997 – Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan
- 1996 – Pat Fitzgerald, LB, Northwestern
- 1995 – Pat Fitzgerald, LB, Northwestern
- 1994 – Warren Sapp, DT, Miami (FL)
- 1993 – Rob Waldrop, DT, Arizona
In 2024, South Carolina Gamecocks pass rusher Kyle Kennard joined the list of Bronko Nagurski Trophy winners. Kennard led the SEC with 11.5 sacks in 2024, tallying 16 tackles for loss and forcing three fumbles in a dominant campaign for the Gamecocks.
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