In 1971 Alan Page won the initial Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and since its inception, seven Pittsburgh Steelers have went on to win the coveted award. In 1972 Mean Joe Greene would win the first of two, also winning it in 1974. Mel Blount in 1975 and Jack Lambert in 1976, giving the Steelers three consecutive winners and four out of five.
...oh the 80’s
No Steeler would win the award again until 1993, with Rod Woodson bringing the Steelers their fifth Defensive Player of the Year. After another long drought, James Harrison would win it in 2008 and Troy Polamalu in 2010.