It feels like forever ago, but the 2015 NFL season was a weird, transitional time for the league. Peyton Manning was physically falling apart on his way to a Super Bowl ring, Cam Newton was dabbing on everyone’s head, and the defensive side of the ball was being absolutely terrorized by a guy in Houston who basically looked like a create-a-player with the "strength" and "speed" sliders turned up to 99.
When we talk about the nfl defensive player of the year 2015, there isn’t really a "debate" about who won. J.J. Watt took home the trophy. Again.
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But honestly, looking back, the context of that win is way more interesting than just the name on the plaque. This was Watt’s third DPOY in four years. He joined Lawrence Taylor as the only players at the time to ever pull off a triple-crown like that. Aaron Donald eventually joined the club, but in 2015, Watt was the undisputed king of the mountain. He didn't just win; he dominated a field that included some of the best defensive talent we've seen in the modern era.
The Absolute Statistical Absurdity of J.J. Watt
People remember Watt was good, but I don't think they remember how good. In 2015, the dude was basically playing a different sport. He led the league in sacks with 17.5. That’s a career year for most Hall of Famers, and for him, it was just another Tuesday.
He also led the NFL in:
- Tackles for loss (29)
- Quarterback hits (50)
- Passes defensed for a lineman (8)
Think about that 50 QB hits number for a second. That is a staggering amount of physical punishment to dish out over 16 games. He was hitting the quarterback more than three times a game, every single week, despite being double and triple-teamed. Teams were literally shifting their entire offensive lines to account for where he lined up, and he still split the double teams like they were high schoolers.
It Wasn't Just a One-Man Race
Even though Watt won 37 out of 50 votes, the guys he beat were legit. This wasn't a "down year" for defense.
You had Aaron Donald just starting his reign of terror with the Rams. He got 7 votes. Then you had the Carolina Panthers duo of Luke Kuechly and Josh Norman. That 2015 Panthers team went 15-1, and Norman was playing like the best "shutdown" corner in the league at the time. Kuechly was the brain of that operation, a middle linebacker who seemed to know the offensive play-call before the quarterback did.
There was also the "Honey Badger," Tyrann Mathieu, who was doing things for the Cardinals that safeties aren't supposed to do. If Mathieu hadn't torn his ACL late in the season, the voting might have been a lot closer. He was the heart of a scary Arizona defense.
The "Broken" Version of J.J. Watt
What most people forget about the nfl defensive player of the year 2015 is that Watt was playing through an absurd amount of pain. He finished the season with a broken hand. He had five partially or fully torn muscles in his core and groin area.
He was essentially held together by medical tape and sheer willpower.
The Texans started that season 2-5. They looked like a disaster. Then, the defense—led by Watt and Whitney Mercilus—went on a tear. From Week 8 to the end of the year, Houston’s defense was the best in the NFL. They dragged a team with Brian Hoyer at quarterback into the playoffs and won the AFC South.
Why 2015 Was the End of an Era
In hindsight, 2015 was the peak of the "Classic Watt" era. Shortly after, the injuries started to really pile up. Back surgeries, leg fractures—the physical toll of playing with that much intensity finally caught up to him.
But for that one year, he was the perfect defensive weapon. He could play interior tackle, edge rusher, or even line up as a tight end (though he didn't have any receiving touchdowns in 2015 like he did in 2014).
If you’re looking at why he won, it’s the "Run Stuffs." He had 21.5 run stuffs that year—plays where the runner gained zero or negative yardage. He wasn't just a pass rusher; he was a wall.
What You Should Do Now
If you really want to appreciate what happened in 2015, go back and watch the "All-22" film of the Texans vs. Saints game from that November. The Saints tried to move their Pro Bowl left tackle, Terron Armstead, over to the right side just to help block Watt. It didn't work. Watt still got two sacks and hit Drew Brees repeatedly.
To truly understand the impact of a DPOY season, don't just look at the sacks. Look at the "gravity."
Actionable Insight: Look up the "Pass Rush Win Rate" metrics if you’re comparing modern players like Myles Garrett or Micah Parsons to the 2015 era. While that specific stat wasn't as popularized back then, the raw "QB Hits" data from 2015 shows that Watt was winning his matchups at a higher frequency than almost anyone in the PFF era.
Next Steps for Stats Junkies:
Check out the Pro Football Reference "Play Index" to see how many players have ever recorded 50+ QB hits in a season. Spoiler: It's a very short list, and J.J. Watt owns the top spots.