Denver Broncos star cornerback Pat Surtain has been named the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced during NFL Honors on Thursday evening.
Surtain, 24, is just the seventh cornerback to ever win the award and the second Bronco in franchise history to take home the honor, joining Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar (1978).
The previous six cornerbacks to win the award were Stephon Gilmore (2019), Charles Woodson (2009), Deion Sanders (1994), Rod Woodson (1993), Lester Hayes (1980) and Mel Blount (1975). Of those defensive backs, only Gilmore (an active player) and Hayes are not in the Hall of Fame.
Surtain also earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2024, becoming the third cornerback in club history to receive that honor multiple times, joining Louis Wright and Champ Bailey.
PS2 ranked first in passing yards allowed (306), yards allowed per coverage snap (0.6) and target rate (10.9) in 2024 among qualified cornerbacks (at 400 coverage snaps), according to NFL NextGen Stats.
Keep following the blueprint, @PatSurtainll. 👏
📺: NFLN pic.twitter.com/8YzpJPhvIH
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) February 7, 2025
Surtain totaled four interceptions and 11 pass breakups in 2024, marking his fourth-straight year with double-digit PBUs. His four takeaways tied a career-high, and his 100-yard pick-six last fall was a career-long.
Surtain is widely considered the best cornerback in the NFL, and this season, he was the best defensive player in the league.
