It’s pretty hard to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award if you don’t also manage to make the first team on the All-Pro List. Generally, one would think that the best defensive player in the league would also be one of the best players at his position…generally.
I’m not sure quite frankly if it’s ever happened before that the Defensive Player of the Year was not a first-team All-Pro. I don’t think it’s necessary to do the research to make a rather insignificant point. But I’m willing to bet damn near all have done so. And in that regard, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.