Pat Surtain II Crowned 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year!

Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II has officially cemented his place among the NFL’s elite, winning the 2024 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award at the NFL Honors on Thursday night.

Surtain’s dominance throughout the season earned him 26 first-place votes and 330 total points, finishing ahead of Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson (205 points) and last year’s winner, Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett (162 points). Steelers’ T.J. Watt (114 points) and Eagles linebacker Zack Baun (63 points) rounded out the top five.

Surtain becomes just the second defensive back to win the award since 2010, joining Stephon Gilmore, who claimed the honor in 2019 with the New England Patriots.

A Shutdown Corner in a Pass-Heavy League

Nicknamed “Surtain Island,” the Broncos’ lockdown corner has been a nightmare for opposing wide receivers, but in 2024, he elevated his game to new heights.

For a cornerback to win Defensive Player of the Year, they must not only lock down elite receivers but also make big plays—a tough challenge when quarterbacks are actively avoiding them. Surtain, however, managed to do both.

Despite being targeted on just 10.9% of his coverage snaps—the lowest rate among 83 qualifying cornerbacks with at least 300 snaps, according to Next Gen Stats—he still made a massive impact:

– 4 interceptions
– 11 passes defended
– 1 forced fumble & 1 fumble recovery
– 1 tackle for loss
– Allowed only 306 receiving yards on 516 coverage snaps

One of his signature moments came in Week 5 against the Las Vegas Raiders, when he picked off Aidan O’Connell and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown in the Broncos’ 34-18 victory.

Locking Down the NFL’s Best

Surtain didn’t just pad his stats against average receivers—he faced and shut down some of the league’s best playmakers:

– DK Metcalf (Seahawks)
– Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
– Garrett Wilson (Jets)
– Ja’Marr Chase (Bengals)
– Jerry Jeudy (Browns)
– Jakobi Meyers (Raiders)

Notably, he didn’t allow more than 50 receiving yards in a single game all season. Whether in man or zone coverage, Surtain was dominant. His passer rating allowed in zone coverage (46.6) was the lowest among cornerbacks with at least 20 targets in such situations.

Living Up to a Legacy

Pat Surtain II was born to play football. His father, Pat Surtain Sr., was a Pro Bowl cornerback for the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, racking up 37 career interceptions in an impressive 11-year career.

The younger Surtain was drafted ninth overall in 2021 and has quickly built his own résumé:

🏆 2024 Defensive Player of the Year
🏆 First-Team All-Pro (2022, 2024)
🏆 Pro Bowl Selection (2022, 2023, 2024)
💰 Signed a four-year, $96 million extension in September 2024

The Denver Broncos’ faith in him has paid off, as Surtain just delivered the best season of his young career.

Leading the Broncos Back to the Playoffs

Surtain’s lockdown coverage played a crucial role in Denver’s first playoff appearance since 2015—the year they won Super Bowl 50.

The Broncos clinched a postseason berth after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, breaking a decade-long playoff drought. Their defense, led by Surtain, ranked among the NFL’s top 10 in multiple categories:

🏈 3rd in points allowed
🏈 7th in yards allowed

His dominance helped Denver return to elite defensive status, reminiscent of the “Orange Crush” defenses of the past.

Notably, Surtain is the first Bronco to win Defensive Player of the Year since linebacker Randy Gradishar in 1978—a testament to just how special his season was.

The Future is Bright for Surtain and the Broncos

At just 24 years old, Surtain is only getting started. With a new contract, elite talent, and a rising Broncos squad, he could be the cornerstone of Denver’s defense for years to come.

If his 2024 season is any indication, quarterbacks may soon start avoiding “Surtain Island” altogether. But even that might not be enough to stop him.

One thing is clear: the best is yet to come for Pat Surtain II.