Colts safety Bob Sanders wins NFL Defensive Player award
Ava Hudson
Updated on April 04, 2026
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New York - Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders is The Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Sanders is the main reason for the Colts' dominating defense, which ranked third overall and allowed a league-low 262 points all season.
Sanders did enough to earn 31 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. That was particularly impressive because it was a strong season for individual defensive performances.
Next closest in the balloting were Seattle end Patrick Kerney and Tennessee tackle Albert Haynesworth with four votes each.
Sanders also was a huge factor in the Colts' surge to the Super Bowl title last year. He missed most of the regular season, got healthy for the playoffs, and suddenly teams couldn't run or pass effectively on Indy.
With Sanders in the lineup for 15 games this season, the Colts were superb defensively on their way to a 13-3 record and the AFC South crown.
The Colts open the playoffs on Sunday at home against San Diego.
(Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This story may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.)
