| 2024 | Trey Hendrickson (Cin) | 17.5 |
| 2023 | T.J. Watt (Pit) | 19.0 |
| 2022 | Nick Bosa (Sf) | 18.5 |
| 2021 | T.J. Watt (Pit) | 22.5 |
| 2020 | T.J. Watt (Pit) | 15.0 |
| 2019 | Shaquil Barrett (TB) | 19.5 |
| 2018 | Aaron Donald (LAR) | 20.5 |
| 2017 | Chandler Jones (Az) | 17.0 |
| 2016 | Vic Beasley (Atl) | 15.5 |
| 2015 | J.J. Watt (Hou) | 17.5 |
| 2014 | Justin Houston (KC) | 22.0 |
| 2013 | Robert Mathis (Ind) | 19.5 |
| 2012 | J.J. Watt (Hou) | 20.5 |
| 2011 | Jared Allen (Min) | 22.0 |
| 2010 | DeMarcus Ware (Dal) | 15.5 |
| 2009 | Elvis Dumervil (Den) | 17.0 |
| 2008 | DeMarcus Ware (Dal) | 20.0 |
| 2007 | Jared Allen (KC) | 15.5 |
| 2006 | Shawne Merriman (SD) | 17.0 |
| 2005 | Derrick Burgess (Oak) | 16.0 |
| 2004 | Dwight Freeney (Ind) | 16.0 |
| 2003 | Michael Strahan (NYG) | 18.5 |
| 2002 | Jason Taylor (Mia) | 18.5 |
| 2001 | Michael Strahan (NYG) | 22.5 |
| 2000 | La’Roi Glover (NO) | 17.0 |
| 1999 | Kevin Carter (StL.Rams) | 17.0 |
| 1998 | Michael Sinclair (Sea) | 16.5 |
| 1997 | John Randle (Min) | 15.5 |
| 1996 | Kevin Greene (Car) | 14.5 |
| 1995 | Bryce Paup (Buf) | 17.5 |
| 1994 | Kevin Greene (Pit) | 14.0 |
| 1993 | Neil Smith (KC) | 15.0 |
| 1992 | Clyde Simmons (Phi) | 19.0 |
| 1991 | Pat Swilling (NO) | 17.0 |
| 1990 | Derrick Thomas (KC) | 20.0 |
| 1989 | Chris Doleman (Min) | 21.0 |
| 1988 | Reggie White (Phi) | 18.0 |
| 1987 | Reggie White (Pi) | 21.0 |
| 1986 | Lawrence Taylor (NYG) | 20.5 |
| 1985 | Richard Dent (Chi) | 17.0 |
| 1984 | Mark Gastineau (NYJ) | 22.0 |
| 1983 | Mark Gastineau (NYJ) | 19.0 |
| 1982 | Doug Martin (Min) | 11.5 |
| 1981 | Joe Klecko (NYJ) | 20.5 |
| 1980 | Gary Johnson (SD) | 17.5 |
| Al Baker (Det) | 17.5 |
| 1979 | Jack Youngblood (LAR) | 18.0 |
| 1978 | Al Baker (Det) | 23.0 |
| 1977 | Harvey Martin (Dal) | 20.0 |
| 1976 | Coy Bacon (Cin) | 21.5 |
| 1975 | John Dutton (Bal) | 17.0 |
| 1974 | Fred Dryer (LAR) | 15.0 |
| Jack Youngblood (LAR) | 15.0 |
| 1973 | Bill Stanfill (Mia) | 18.5 |
| 1972 | Jack Gregory (NYG) | 18.5 |
| 1971 | Cedrick Hardman (SF) | 18.0 |
| 1970 | Tony Cline (Oak) | 17.5 |
| 1969 | Steve DeLong (AFL, SD) | 15.5 |
| Carl Eller (Min) | 15.0 |
| Deacon Jones (LAR) | 15.0 |
| 1968 | Deacon Jones+ (29) | 22.0 |
| Gerry Philbin (27) | 14.0 |
| 1967 | Deacon Jones (LAR) | 21.5 |
| Ike Lassiter (AFL, Oak) | 17.0 |
| 1966 | George Andrie (Dal) | 18.5 |
| Verlon Biggs (AFL, NYJ) | 12.5 |
| 1965 | Deacon Jones (LAR) | 19.0 |
| Larry Eisenhauer (AFL, Bos) | 9.5 |
| 1964 | Deacon Jones (LAR) | 22.0 |
| Tom Sestak (AFL, Buf) | 15.5 |
| 1963 | Jim Katcavage (NYG) | 20.5 |
| Larry Eisenhauer (AFL, Bos) | 8.0 |
| 1962 | Jim Katcavage (NYG) | 16.0 |
| Ed Husmann (AFL, Hou) | 10.0 |
| 1961 | Gene Lipscomb (Pit) | 17.5 |
| Ed Husmann (AFL, Hou) | 8.0 |
| Ron Nery (AFL, SD) | 8.0 |
| 1960 | Gino Marchetti (Bal) | 11.0 |
| Mel Branch (AFL, Dal.Texans) | 10.0 |
| Riley Morris (AFL, Oak) | 10.0 |
