Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was named the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press, announced live on NFL Network Monday night. He was not expected to win the award, with Rich Eisen’s interview of Green Bay Packers LB Clay Matthews moments before the announcement seeming to end any drama that could’ve been built up.
Troy Polamalu Wins NFL’s 2011 AP Defensive Player Of The Year Award Over Clay Matthews
Multiple media outlets reported Matthews as the winner before NFL Network actually made the announcement. He was the favorite coming in to the event, and finished only two votes short of the winner.
This year Polamalu accumulated seven interceptions in 14 games after missing most of 2009 due to injury. He’s a big reason Pittsburgh is one of two teams that still has football left to play.
Other prime vote-getters included one of Polamalu’s Super Bowl teammates, Pittsburgh Steelers LB James Harrison, along with players like Chicago Bears DE Julius Peppers and LB Brian Urlacher.
For more on Polamalu visit Behind The Steel Curtain.
See More:
