Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald has been named the 2020 AP Defensive Player of the Year, it was announced Saturday night during the annual NFL Honors awards show.
Per The AP, Donald received 27 of the 50 votes from a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league to win the award, while Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt received 20. Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard received the remaining three votes.
It's the third time in the last four seasons Donald has won the award; he also received it for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He joins Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt as the only three-time winners of the award in its history, which dates back to 1971.
Donald tied with Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson for second in the NFL in sacks with 13.5 in 2020, second-most in his career behind his 20.5 in 2018, and also chipped in 28 QB hits, 14 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
The 2020 AP Defensive Player of the Year award joins an already large collection of postseason honors for Donald, who was also a unanimous AP First Team All-Pro selection, the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year and Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year (as voted by his peers around the NFL). The PFWA also named Donald to its All-NFL and All-NFC teams for the 2020 season.
A dominant 2020 season for Aaron Donald led to unanimous all pro honors and a Defensive Player of the Year award. Check out top shots from AD's 2020 season.
Defensive linemen (90) Michael Brockers and (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams celebrate after a Brockers sack against the New England Patriots during the Rams 24-3 victory over the Patriots during an NFL regular season Week 14 football game, Thursday, December 10, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams against the New York Giants during the Rams 17-9 victory over the Giants in an NFL Week 4 regular season game, Sunday, October 4, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams against the Dallas Cowboys during the Rams 20-17 victory against the Cowboys in an NFL Week 1 regular season game, Sunday, September 13, 2020, in Inglewood,Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Defensive tackle (99) Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams assists on a sack of quarterback (9) Nick Foles of the Chicago Bears during the Rams 24-10 victory over the Bears in a Week 7 NFL Monday Night Football Game, Monday, October 26, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams makes a tackle during game action while playing against the New York Jets during the Rams 20-23 loss to the Jets during a Week 15 regular season game, Sunday, December 20, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jeff Lewis/LA Rams)
