J.J. Watt was named Sporting News Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season.
Despite playing with a broken hand for the last month of the season, Watt still led the league in sacks (17.5), tackles for loss (29), quarterback hits (50), and multiple-sack games (6). He became the second-fastest player in NFL history, behind Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White, to reach 70.0 career sacks, doing so in his 75th career game.
Watt received 116 votes with Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly in a close second with 113 votes.
After his 2015 season, Watt was also named to the All-Pro first-team by a unanimous selection and voted to the 2016 Pro Bowl.